Maritzburg College downs DHS, Hilton comes from behind to beat Glenwood
Maritzburg College and Hilton College overturned deficits on their way to victories over Durban High School (DHS) and Glenwood High, respectively, in their derby matches on Saturday.
Playing at home, on Pape’s Astro, Maritzburg College recorded a battling 2-1 win, while Hilton cruised to a 5-3 victory at the 3 Schools Astro, in Durban, after falling behind early.
In Pietermaritzburg, it was a tight affair, with neither side able to break the deadlock in the first half.
“We stuck to our guns defensively. We had to be tactically aware and defensively smart against DHS,” Mark Sanders, the Maritzburg College coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
However, despite College’s resolute defensive work, it was DHS who drew first blood midway through the third chukka. That drew a furious response from the Red, Black, and White, and Rory Schirge converted a penalty corner variation three minutes later.
In the final chukka, Maritzburg College goalkeeper Viwe Ndlovu, a member of the SA Schools u17 side that participated in the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia last year, showed why he is so highly rated, keeping the Horseflies at bay.
With just over six minutes left in an absorbing contest, Luthando Shelembe scored the winner for the home team. The remaining five minutes featured a see-saw of attacks on either side, but there were no more goals to be had.
College’s hard-won victory owed much to Siphiwe Mchunu and Andile Lembethe, who excelled in the midfield.
Hilton vs Glenwood
Hilton met a determined Glenwood side at the 3 Schools Astro, with the Durban team a much-improved unit this season. Coach Damian Kimfley’s side received a rude awakening.
Glenwood came out firing from both hips and made hay in the first chukka, charging into a 2-0 lead through goals from their u16 star, Ithani Doyi, and their captain, Murray Wicks, who is enjoying a fruitful season.
“We started the game slowly. Our boys have played a lot of hockey in the past three weeks, and there was a bit of fatigue in the legs,” Ziyaad Solomons, the Hilton team manager, told SuperSport Schools News.
The visitors absorbed the double blow and knuckled down to put on a dominant performance in the remaining three chukkas, which brought them five goals – a hat-trick from Ben Wilson, and further strikes from Nicandro Padayachee and Oyena Zulu.
Murray Wicks secured Glenwood’s third goal in the final minutes of the fourth chukka as the hosts, with typical spirit, kept fighting to the final whistle.
Reflecting on the match, Braydon Naidoo, the Glenwood Director of Hockey, said: “One of the key takeaways from that game was that the boys can get results if they go forward with intent.”
Solomons said Hilton plays better and finds more success when they stick to their brand of hockey. He said they run into problems when they try to employ other styles. Once they forced their imprint onto the contest in the second quarter, they wrestled control from the hosts.
On the AH Mason Astro in Botha’s Hill, the hosts, Kearsney College, played to a 1-1 draw with Michaelhouse.
Results
Maritzburg College 2-1 DHS
Hilton 5-3 Glenwood
Kearsney 1-1 Michaelhouse
