College celebrate

In the midst of their 150th birthday celebrations Maritzburg College had yet another reason to celebrate as they beat King Edward VII School of Johannesburg 30-8.

It was wonderful occasion with big contingents of both schools – KES in red tracksuits, College wearing their bashers – sang and shouted their support.

There was a big KES contingent as they had brought down 10 buses of participants for this inter-schools competition. The .logistics of the visit are not inconsiderable.

The College side – as did all their sides on the day – wore pink hose, pink ribbons were on sale to visitors, and pink balloons were released before the match – all in support of a campaign to deal with breast cancer.

The match was broadcast on television in English and Afrikaans.

From the very first stoppage – a line-out, College attacked through many phases and scored first, a penalty goal by Marcell Coetzee who was on the left wing. 3-0 after 3 minutes.

Then it was the turn of KES to go through phases and score from a penalty goal, by flyhalf Brad Meyer. 3-3 after 14 minutes.

Marcell Coetzee was off  having a bloodied eye attended to after a collision with a team-mate and Jordan Koekemoer took over the kicking, His first kick was a conversion in front of the posts from the  try of the match, a brilliant run by speedy right wing Lindo Ngcobo. College won a turnover and Simon Culverwell gave to Ngcobo on an overlap and he raced the 61 metres to the KES goal-line and then round under the posts. 10-3 after 21 minutes.

Three minutes later Koekemoer kicked a penalty 13-3.

Captain and headboy Seko Buthelezi broke with power and the ball went out to Culverwell who scored. Again Koekemoer converted. 20-3 after 30 minutes.

Just before half-time Kyle Melville burst down the midfield with nobody between him and the goal-line but fullback Kelvin Elder caught him from behind.

Coetzee was back and early in the second half kicked a penalty goal. College's were now up 23-3 but then KES struck a purple patch. It started with a speedy run by Godfrey Ramaboea and then a burst by tall Dylan Pieterse.. College were penalised under their posts. Pieterse tapped and sturdy hooker Naas du Plessis picked up behind a tackle and burst over for a try. 23-8 after 52 minutes.

Coetzee had a long penalty attempt which was well short. KES ran it out of trouble and Culverwell charged down a chip kick, gathered and scored, his second try. Coetzee converted. 30-8 with 10 minutes to play. Ramaboea and Bradley Naudé had promising attacks and then replacement Renard le Roux had a strong burst and run. But there was no further scoring.

Scorers:

For Maritzburg College:

Tries: Lindo Ngcobo, Simon Culverwell 2

Cons: Jordan Koekemoer 2, Marcell Coetzee

Pens: Marcell Coetzee 2, Koekemoer

For KES:

Try: Naas du Plessis

Pen: Brad Meyer

Teams:

Maritzburg College: 15 Kelvin Elder, 14 Lindo Ngcobo, 13 Jordan Koekemoer, 12 Simon Culverwell, 11 Marcell Coetzee, 10 Jason Alexander, 9 Lucas Booysen, 8 Darren Goodsen, 7 Jacques Conradie, 6 Hayden Tharratt, 5 Seko Buthelezi (captain), 4 Wiaan Jacobs, 3 Njubulo Gumede, 2 Masikani Mazwi, 1 Tiaan Steyn.

Replacements: 16 Vuyo Khatide, 17 Zims Zuma, 18 Renard le Roux, 19 Gavin Geach, 20 Keaton Edwards, 21 Byron Watson, 22 Brandon Holder.    

KES: 15 Khoro Makhesha, 14 Godfrey Ramaboea (captain), 13 Bradley Naudé, 12 Calvin Hansell, 11 Keketso Maphate, 10 Brad Meyer, 9 Trent Lucas, 8 Sheldon De Robillard, 7 Kyle Melville, 6 Brendan O'Donoghue, 5 Dylan Pieterse, 4 Brian Leitch, 3 Conor Lourens, 2 Naas du Plessis, 1 Ameer Williams.     

Replacements: 16 Mlungisi Machere, 17 Seholono Lehlononoho, 18 John Riley, 19 Keegan Mills, 20 Vincent Jordaan, 21 Brad Wright, 22 Seilio Champion

Referee: Gregory Wedderburn (KZN Referees' Soiciety)

Assistant referees: Schalk Smith (KZN Referees' Soiciety), Brad Swift (KZN Referees' Soiciety)

Results Down the Years

1959: Maritzburg College won 22-3

1983: Maritzburg College won 21 -9

1985: Maritzburg College won 25-9

1992: Maritzburg College won 31-12

1996: King Edward VII School won 13-10

2001: Maritzburg College won 14-12

2009: King Edward VII School won 52-14

2010: Maritzburg College won 26-14

2011: King Edward VII School won 28-20

2012: King Edward VII School won 42-25

2013: Maritzburg College won 30-8