Bumper matches on the cards for KZN boys’ sides
Nine of KwaZulu-Natal’s top hockey-playing schools will be in action on Friday and Saturday, with six of them doing duty inside the province and three travelling up to the Highveld.
Two wounded buffaloes kick off the weekend’s action at Westville Boys High on Friday.
Expect fireworks when coach Cameron Mackay‘s charges welcome Glenwood into their lair. The Griffin will be keen to get back to winning ways after a narrow 2-3 loss to Durban High School (DHS) last week.
Glenwood, on the other hand, had some soul-searching to do after a humbling 1-8 defeat at the hands of Northwood. Glenwood was competitive in the first half of that contest, but the wheels came off after halftime. Coach Michael Labuschagne‘s side will be keen to prove that the loss to The Knights was an anomaly.
Also on Friday evening, in Johannesburg, St Charles College faces a difficult challenge. They take on the Aitken Cup runner-up, St Stithians College, at Superpark Red. The Joburg Saints will be favoured in that one.
DHS returns to The Coliseum on Saturday after visiting Westville last week. Their 3-2 win there followed a 2-1 home triumph over Kearsney College.
The Horseflies will be keen to add another win to their streak when they host Hilton College on their Old Boys’ Day. The presence of School‘s alumni will be an added incentive for DHS to bag another victory.
They will, though, be expecting a stiff challenge from the visitors. Coach Damian Kimfley’s charges come into the tie with fresh legs after enjoying a week off last weekend. Before the bye, Hilton was extended by Glenwood but fought their way to a 3-2 win.
Coach Mark Sanders’ Maritzburg College side will roll out the red carpet for Kearsney College, who will join them for Reunion Day, on Saturday. However, that is as far as the pleasantries will go. College will not be hospitable on Pape’s Astro, where they will be pursuing a dominant display in front of a big crowd.
Coach Keagan Pearce’s young Kearsney side won’t make it easy for College. They’re seeking redemption after their 1-2 loss to DHS. They might have lost to the Horseflies, but Kearsney showed their mettle in that contest, and any win over Maritzburg College on Pape’s would be a significant victory.
Calvin Price‘s Clifton College side will be in action in Gauteng. They visit St David’s Marist Inanda for a derby encounter. Price’s charges head into the contest off the back of a healthy 3-1 win over St Charles in their most recent fixture. Two on the trot will be their aim.
Nick Bérichon’s Michaelhouse team travels to Pretoria Boys High (PBHS) for what should be a tightly contested derby.
Michaelhouse is another of those sides that had last weekend off, so they should have fresh legs. They’ve put together a good season, but last time out an inspired Northwood overcame a 1-2 deficit to edge past ‘House 3-2 on the Punchbowl Astro.
Like Clifton, they’ll be aiming to make the most of their journey upcountry.
FIXTURES
Friday
Westville vs Glenwood
St Stithians College vs St Charles College
Saturday
DHS vs Hilton
Maritzburg College vs Kearsney
St David’s vs Clifton
PBHS vs Michaelhouse
