Maritzburg College earns a 36-14 victory in an epic battle against the Knights

When Maritzburg College and Northwood took the field on Saturday, it was fast paced from the get-go.

Within one and half minutes, a penalty was awarded to Maritzburg. Rhett Quin went for the tap and go, offloading to the forwards to break through the defence. 

Thirty seconds later, College was awarded another penalty. There was clearly a plan of action as to how they would approach this; Luc du Toit kicked for the left corner, and it was lineout two metres off the Knights try line. 

College gained possession and it was a push towards Northwoods try line, Maritzburg did not cease and the sheer force broke through the defence; Phiwayinkosi Kubheka scored the first try for Maritzburg and of the game. Du Toit succeeded in the conversion and Maritzburg was seven up. 

It did not take long for College to strike again; with the backline wanting in on the action this time. Swelihle Mbatha charged down the far right of the field and scored Maritzburg their second try. When Luc du Toit made the second conversion, they had really taken control of the game. 

Northwood would not allow half-time to come without putting some points on the board and they were ready for a fight. Luthando Makula made a long pass to Nokuthenda Gunda who seized the opportunity ahead of him, sprinting up left field to score a try for Northwood and get them back in the game. Cade Latham put the conversion through and narrowed the gap. 

Despite the fight from both sides for the next seventeen minutes, the score remained at 14-7 until the end of the first half. 

The second half followed the same trajectory as the first with Maritzburg opening the scoring and earning the first try by way of Rhett Quin. With Luc du Toit making the conversion, Maritzburg had a decent cushion at 21-7. 

This lead was only extended when College was granted a penalty kick and Du Toit once again converted to get them the extra three points. 

When time was almost up, with less than seven minutes on the clock, Maritzburg once again found themselves just metres off Northwood’s try line. Du Toit goes for the tap and go, offloading to Luyanda Kunene who easily breaks through the defence and scores another try for College. When Du Toit converted the fourth try, the window was closing for the Knights to make a comeback. 

Minutes later, Luyanda Kunene sprinted from the fifty-metre line to score his second try and what would be Maritzburg’s final play of the game. 

Northwood put the final points on the board with a try from Siyanda Nkosi and subsequently the conversion from Cade Latham. 

This was not, however, enough to secure them the victory against Maritzburg, who had gained a massive lead throughout the game. The Knights and College both put up a great fight, but it was College who were victorious and left the field as champions today. 

Scorers:

Maritzburg College 36 – Tries: Luyanda Kunene (2), Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, Swelihle Mbatha, Rhett Quin. Conversions: Luc du Toit (4). Penalty: Luc du Toit. Northwood 14 – Tries: Nokuthenda Gunda, Siyanda Nkosi. Conversions: Cade Latham (2). 

Other results: 

Michaelhouse 36, Westville Boys’ High 22; Glenwood 37, St Charles College 31; Hilton College 28, Kearsney College 12.