Maritzburg College hand Hilton first loss
WRAP: Maritzburg College stunned Hilton while Paarl Gim and Paul Roos racked up massive victories this past Saturday.
Maritzburg College have slipped down the KwaZulu-Natal pecking order over the years, with the likes of Durban High School, Westville and Northwood bossing the provincial scene, and with Hilton and Michaelhouse controlling the Midlands.
This season, however, College have claimed big wins against DHS and Northwood.
This past Saturday, they made their biggest statement when they beat Hilton 14-9 at home – and snapped Hilton’s 10-game winning streak in the process.
Elsewhere, Paarl Gim and Paul Roos strengthened their respective bids for the unofficial schoolboy title when the recorded emphatic wins against Western Cape opposition.
Some suggested that a visit to the farm in Riversdale would demand a change in tactics, but in the end, Pieter Rossouw’s charges romped to a 49-13 win over Oakdale.
The result stretches Gimmies’ winning record to 12 matches, and they will head into a tough next Saturday brimming with confidence against Paul Roos.
Paul Roos delivered a statement of their own recently, when they thrashed Bishops 68-3. Corné Uys’s side has built up plenty of momentum in recent weeks – and like Gimmies, have only lost one of their 13 matches to date (also to Stellenberg).
Up north, Garsfontein and Monument continued their impressive run in the the Noordvaal Cup – with Garsfontein hammering Rustenburg 57-28, and Monument thrashing Menlopark 82-24.
Garsfontein remain on course for a fourth-consecutive Noordvaal Cup title, and given their overall results this season – 10 wins in 12 matches – they are still in the running for the unofficial No 1 ranking.
Monnas have won their last 10 matches and will have the benefit of facing Garsies at home this coming Saturday.
The clash may well decide which of these teams finish at the top of the Noordvaal Cup standings.
Down in the Eastern Cape, the race for top spot in the region remains wide open.
Nico Malan started the season with a disappointing 0-45 loss to Outeniqua, but have hit back in recent months with wins against Queens College, Framesby and EG Jansen.
This past Saturday, they held Graeme College to a 27-27 draw – a massive result given that Graeme won 10 of their previous 11 fixtures, and were on the top teams in the Eastern Cape last season.
Meanwhile, Dale racked up yet another win when they thumped Marlow 69-31. Dale have won 12 of their 14 matches to date. Grey High thrashed Daniel Pienaar 94-5 this past Saturday, and will also bear watching when they resume after the mid-year break.
SELECTED RESULTS MAY 30
NOORDVAAL
Garsfontein 57-28 Rustenburg
Noordheuwel 29-14 Helpmekaar
Monument 82-24 Menlopark
Jeppe 66-21 St Johns
St Benedicts 6-38 KES
Parktown 24-24 St Albans
St Davids 36-26 Northcliff
CENTRAL
Diamantveld 81-12 Noord-Kaap
Fichardtpark v17-51 St Andrews (Free State)
EASTERN CAPE
Queens College 15-14 St Andrews
Dale College 69-31 Marlow
Kingswood 66-19 Brandwag
Selborne v Grey College (cancelled)
Nico Malan 27-27 Graeme
Daniel Pienaar 5-94 Grey High
KWAZULU-NATAL
Michaelhouse 53-17 Pretoria Boys
Clifton 14-58 Glenwood
DHS 24-19 Westville
Maritzburg College 14-9 Hilton
Kearsney 34-45 Northwood
St Charles 33-31 St Stithians
WESTERN CAPE
Paul Roos 68-3 Bishops
Oakdale 13-49 Paarl Gim
SACS 16-32 Paarl Boys
Rondebosch 55-19 Durbanville
Drostdy 41-7 Worcester Gim
