SuperSport Schools Plus

Unpredictability the name of the game at Primo Big 10


This goal, from Andile Ngubane, lifted Clifton to a 1-0 win over Glenwood and set the cat among the pigeons in Group B.
This goal, from Andile Ngubane, lifted Clifton to a 1-0 win over Glenwood and set the cat among the pigeons in Group B.

The opening day of the Primo Big 10 began with a mouthwatering repeat of the 2023 final, with Maritzburg College facing Glenwood High School, who had recently been crowned the champions of the KZN High Schools Football Association’s 2nd term Coastal League.

Last year, College captured the Primo Big 10 title after a hard-fought 1-0 win but, on Saturday at Hilton College, Glenwood fought back from a goal down to win 2-1.

That defeat put the Red, Black and White‘s title defence in danger, but Glenwood, then, saw their chances of reaching the quarterfinals undermined when Clifton College handed their Durban counterparts a 1-0 loss.

The last of the Group B matches, between Maritzburg College and Clifton, became very consequential, but the defending champions rose to the challenge to claim a 3-1 win.

Then, the teams’ last pool games, which were, in fact, cross-pool matches, proved decisive. Maritzburg College handled St Charles, winning 2-0, Glenwood beat Durban High School (DHS) 2-0, and Clifton went 1-2 down against Hilton College.

In the end, Maritzburg College and Glenwood finished level on points, but College’s goal difference was just one goal better. Clifton, however, advanced to the quarterfinals as the second best of the third placed teams.

The hosts, Hilton College, edged out DHS for first place in Group A. Again, it was super-tight.

DHS beat Hilton when they met, winning 1-0. They also beat St Charles by the same score, and Hilton won 3-2 against Saints.

After falling 0-1 behind, Hilton College fought back to beat St Charles 3-2.
After falling 0-1 behind, Hilton College fought back to beat St Charles 3-2.

Hilton’s win over Clifton in the cross-pool matches proved to be the difference, though, as Glenwood’s 2-0 win over their Durban rivals, gave Hilton a one-goal advantage over DHS on goal difference.

Group C featured four teams – Westville, Michaelhouse, Northwood and Kearsney – and it was the Griffin who made a statement by winning all three of their matches.

They opened with a 2-1 win over Michaelhouse and followed up with a 2-0 victory over Northwood before completing their group assignments with another 2-0 win, this time over their neighbours, Kearsney.

Michaelhouse, who were under the cosh in their opener against Westville, responded well to that setback, edging out Kearsney 1-0 and then beating Northwood 1-0 in a crucial clash to claim second spot in the group.

Both of Westville's goals against Michaelhouse were scored from the penalty spot.
Both of Westville’s goals against Michaelhouse were scored from the penalty spot.

Northwood took third. While they were beaten by Westville and Michaelhouse, they scored the biggest win of the day when they crushed Kearsney 5-0.

That big victory proved pivotal because it left them with a plus-two goal difference, which was enough to take them through to the last eight as the best of the third-place finishers.

On Sunday, Kearsney and St Charles will meet for ninth and 10th places. The other eight teams will still be in the running for the Primo Big 10 title.

The Westville vs Maritzburg College clash catches the eye. It’s a showdown between the team that was, arguably, the most impressive on the opening day, Westville, and the defending champions. Also, Westville’s football programme is headed up by Dan Haswell, while College’s is led by his brother, Nic.

Hilton has also been drawn against Michaelhouse in the last eight, and that sells itself. The rivalry between the two schools is healthy and seldom anything less than exciting.

A big win over Kearsney showed off the exciting and winning football Northwood is capable of producing.
A big win over Kearsney showed off the exciting and winning football Northwood is capable of producing.

DHS faces an unpredictable opponent in Clifton, and that’s a challenge in itself. While Clifton has not been the most consistent of teams, they have already notched up some notable victories this season, including their win over Glenwood.

At the Kearsney Soccer Tournament, a 2-1 victory over the runners-up, Siyajabula, and a 4-0 dismantling of TuksSport High School were excellent results.

Like Clifton, Northwood is also somewhat unpredictable. Glenwood will take heart from a 1-0 win over the Knights in the Coastal League, but that was not a comfortable victory, so they will know a big test awaits them,

RESULTS

Group A

Hilton College 3-2 St Charles
DHS 1-0 St Charles
DHS 1-0 Hilton College

Group B

Glenwood 2-1 Maritzburg College
Clifton 1-0 Glenwood
Maritzburg College 3-1 Clifton

Group C

Westville 2-1 Michaelhouse
Northwood 5-0 Kearsney
Michaelhouse 1-0 Kearsney
Westville 2-0 Northwood
Michaelhouse 1-0 Northwood
Westville 2-0 Kearsney

Cross-Group Matches (A and B)

Glenwood 2-0 DHS
Maritzburg College 2-0 St Charles
Hilton College 2-1 Clifton College

SUNDAY FIXTURES

Quarterfinals

09:00 – DHS vs Clifton, Zungu (QF1)
09:00 – Glenwood vs Northwood, Etheridge (QF2)
10:00 – Westville vs Maritzburg College, Zungu (QF3)
10:00 – Hilton College vs Michaelhouse, Etheridge (QF4)

9th/10th
11:00 – Kearsney vs St Charles, Zungu

Semi-finals

12:00 – W QF1 vs W QF 4, Zungu
12:00 – W QF 2 vs W QF 3, Etheridge

Final

14:30 – W SF1 vs W SF2, Zungu

Brad Morgan
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.