Wins for Clifton and Maritzburg College as derby seasons starts

Both Clifton College and Maritzburg College enjoyed victories in derby clashes over the weekend. Sharpened by competing in two festivals each during the break at the end of the first term, they claimed similar 1-0 wins.
The Saturday encounter between Clifton and Glenwood at the Riverside Sports Club in Durban was the second time the sides have met this year. The first time was in January, when the teams were preparing for the forthcoming season, in a practice match in which the coaches experimented with personnel and structure.
That contest gave Calvin Price, the Clifton coach, insight into his team’s abilities and weaknesses. Pryce, who has taken over as the Director of Hockey from Keegan Pearce this year, is not a stranger to the school, however, He previously served an internship at Clifton.
“I found the team in a good place. They played well and were well organised, but we lacked experience in front of goal,” he shared.
Price’s mission has not been to revolutionise how Clifton plays. Rather, he has focussed the team on making incremental improvements and becoming a better unit. The key is building a culture that reflects the values he espouses.
“It is a respect-based culture, respecting the people around you, your teammates, your opponents, and the umpires. We also want the boys to develop and enjoy the brotherhood of playing and supporting each other. Then, the pride of wearing the Clifton badge,” he explained.
On the Astro, Price wants his team to play an exciting brand of attacking hockey that is built off of a foundation of firm defensive principles. He also wants his players to be engaged and to think outside out of the box.
In his short period with the team, Price has witnessed some of his experienced players taking the lead, with Daniel Hompes, Jared Pearson, Zach Williamson and Ryde Brisset setting a strong example, and the remainder of the team coalescing around them. One of those four, Hompes, was on target in Clifton’s win over Glenwood on Saturday.
Ahead of the derby, Pryce had been preparing for a tough encounter against an opponent that has shown clear improvement this season already, and they got one. The only downside was that Clifton spurned numerous chances in the D.
Those missed chances reflected Clifton’s inexperience in front of goal, but Pryce was not discouraged by them. Rather, he said he was happy to see his charges are creating opportunities and venturing into the opposition’s final third with confidence.
On Pape’s Astro, Maritzburg College drew first blood in their annual two-leg derby against Pretoria Boys High School.
In two of their past four derby encounters, the sides had finished deadlocked, with no outright winner in 2022 and 2023. Saturday’s game was fiercely contested, which was no less than College coach Kyle Emerson expected.
“Boys High arrive with intense energy and always have extra in the tank when they come here,” he told Supersport Schools Plus before the match.
Over recent years, the contests between the two teams were determined by a one-goal difference or ended in draws. Saturday’s clash followed the same script, with College scoring the all-important only goal of the game late in the first chukka.
Meanwhile, at Balgowan, the two-match Michaelhouse–Garsfontein derby games were played as practice matches on Saturday and Sunday, although, for the record Garsfontein enjoyed a clean sweep.
With Michaelhouse coach Nick Bérichon having been in charge of Garsfontein until taking up his position at ‘House this year, it was a matchup of teams playing the game in a similar manner. His successor at Garsies, Steve Paulo, wisely chose not to reinvent the wheel and has largely stuck to Bérichon’s successful methods while adding a few tweaks of his own.
Bérichon, whose Michaelhouse team is still adjusting to the structure the coach believes will serve them best, won’t be too unhappy with his charges’ efforts, despite them losing both encounters.
There have been encouraging signs of his players’ development and they appear to be on the right track after a difficult 2023.
Despite that growth, however, it was Garsfontein who won 3-0 and 1-0 on the Punchbowl Astro.
Results
Saturday: Michaelhouse 0-3 Garsfontein, Maritzburg College 1-0 Pretoria Boys High, Clifton College 1-0 Glenwood High
Sunday: Michaelhouse 0-1 Garsfontein
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