A postponed water polo fixture isn’t usually cause for celebration, at least not a Maritzburg College but in this case, the delay has provided Ryan Strudwick with a unique opportunity to field a fairly strong pre-season line-up for the school’s first run out of the year at the KFC Voortrekker Night Series.
Under new headmaster Chris Luman, College has and still is in the process of taking some big steps forward in all aspects of the school. The core values of the 150 year old school have however not been effected by the changes. College still promotes a holistic education and all the character building benefits that come with it. As a result rugby has it’s part to play but is not allowed to dominate school proceedings. It makes sense considering that fewer than 1% of all school leavers are able to make a viable career out of playing professional rugby down the line.
As a result, at this time of the year College rugby players who are all-rounder in terms of sport, give their summer sports activities priority and are generally not available to be used in the rugby programme until the conclusion of the summer sport season. The cutoff process is helped by College kicking off their regular season two weeks after many of the other KZN Top Schools. It also means that Strudwick will only have full access to his players ahead of their first regular season game against Northwood on 28 March.
So for today’s game barring injury to the likes of flyhalf Koekemoer, hooker Mazwi and the unavailability of a couple of other players, a useful team will take the field against Greytown at Voortrekker. Next Friday at the same venue College will however be forced to field an under-strength side against Westville and will also be forced to play with what is available against Sarel Cilliers at the Wartburg Festival on 08 March.
Maritzburg College squad for tonight’s game against Greytown at 18h30
| # | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Steyn |
| 2 | Swanepoel |
| 3 | Dlamini |
| 4 | Gold |
| 5 | Van Selm |
| 6 | Tharratt |
| 7 | Le Roux |
| 8 | Goodson |
| 9 | Seba |
| 10 | Vd Linde |
| 11 | Guma |
| 12 | Hanlon |
| 13 | Coetsee |
| 14 | Watson |
| 15 | Holder |
| 16 | Arntzen |
| 17 | Prentice |
| 18 | Jacobs |
| 19 | Commons |
| 20 | Rattray |
| 21 | Munangi |
| 22 | Edwards |
| 23 | Kriel |
I think College will lead the pack with Glenwood not far behind –
College at Goldstones will NOT lose to Glenwood this year , I’m willing to bet on this , not after the 150th – I hear College are quietly confident and have good reason to be and my gut feeling at this stage is that GWD may not meet expectations – Westville too are quiet – Roll on the 15th !!!
I think that MHS are going to be a fair side but will be middle of the road when it comes to results. Bader will be watched like a hawk and I think the change up to 1st team level where space and time is limited , will have his work cut out to make an impact this year. We have them on Founders Day and should be a real battle but I believe that we can put one over them.
Voortrekker on Friday will be our first game out and cannot take them lightly . They have size up front and a good player in Luyke in the backs to punish you if you aren’t precise in your planning.
I have a very amped boy wanting to get out there and play after watching countless games at Port Natal . Bring on the next 10 days. Vryheid on Monday 3rd and Pioneer on the 5th. Will post the results on both games.
@Amalekite: Agreed and MHS don’t have a crazy schedule so will be fresh for their KZN games…..I think they only play about 12 games a season….focused but focused to win all of them…and they have this kid Bader that everyone is raving about…
@Buffel: I believe that the dark horse this year could be MHS. They have been very quiet, but I remember that their U16 team in 2012 were unlucky to lose against College and Westville.
My apologies, it was 17-3
15-3 to Westville. Very average performance hampered by a ref who was over eager to use his whistle.
Westville have a lot of work to do. I think that there are too many players who can talk the talk but now need to walk the walk. They also need to realise that this is a team game even though they are trying to secure their position in the team.
@NW_Knight: IMO ,I think this is how it will pan out. But as sure as nuts, I will probably get it horribly wrong and eat humble pie. Maybe a little bias towards Kearsney but think the rest is very close. Could swop Hilton and Northwood around but DHS going to be the surprise package. We up against Voortrekker next Friday and they too won’t be a push over on their home patch. @Gungets Tuft: What was the Westville score?
College 35 – Greytown 0
@Tjoppa: Good to hear, College take their hosting quite seriously, always aim to get every tourist hosted in peoples homes. We have hosted the same kids from PBHS for 3 years, look forward to the 4th this year.
I am not being coy about College’s chances this year, I just don’t like making predictions. I have seen what Old Boy pressure does to boys and it’s not fair on them. Ou Grassy can call it what he likes, my word for the team, if they see this or I get a chance to say it, is go out and have fun, do what they do. If they are good enough (I think they are), then they will win. If not, then they will need to know how to lose with honour. Call it anything you like, it’s the way it is, I don’t have a personal stake.
@Gungets Tuft: Gungets take it from me they are going to be cooking.
Had the honour to be hosted at the same home at two occasions and I must admit, to my disbelief, I was the one sent to my bedroom early.
But when visiting two years ago one of the chaps introduced me to his parents and I was invited to stay over by the dad. What a memorable evening.
Therefore definitely bias but I also do know a little bit rugby. Mark my words no 1 in KZN and top 10.
@Buffel: I think you may be in for a surprise. I think you’re overestimating some schools and underestimating others.
My prediction
1- COLLEGE/GLENWOOD
3 – WESTVILLE/KEARSNEY
5- MHS
6 – DHS
7 – HILTON
8 – NORTHWOOD
9 – CLIFTON
10 – GEORGE CAMPBELL
11 – THE REST.
Goody to captain craven week with a good mix from the other schools.
Time will tell but the College / Glenwood fixture to be another humdinger.
@Grasshopper: “How many grade 12 in this side. My personal and must admit biased opinion is that this team will be the best in years that College have seen. And consider this year’s grade 12 group as the strongest in Natal.”
Only one question in there, and I answered it. What more were you looking for?
@Gungets Tuft: Nice politicians response there, waffle and then avoid the hard questions. You know College secretly believe they going to have a good season, we all can see the squad is well balanced. It’s going to be very interesting this year.
@Tjoppa: Embarrassed to say I don’t rightly know. I count 8 Grade 11’s in the squad above. Will confirm with my lightie tonight.
The majority of the side have a good history but we know that counts for very little. There are some very good players from last years U16 side which came good and had some good results, I know they will step up.
Remember that Westville also have a great set of players coming in from their 2012 U16’s that was so successful, so it’s not all 1-way traffic. Glenwood had a very successful U16 squad last year, just missing a talisman from that squad, time will tell how important that will be.
I am not comfortable talking up College’s chances, prefer that whatever is going to happen, happens on the field. In Goodsen they have probably the best schoolboy rugby leader I have ever seen, he is also the head boy this year, and that team has the talent and attitude to do really well.
We hope, as always, for a good year, trust the boys that pull on the Red, Black and White will do what they always do, play like College boys. I will be in the South West corner …
@Gungets Tuft: How many grade 12 in this side. My personal and must admit biased opinion is that this team will be the best in years that College have seen. And consider this year’s grade 12 group as the strongest in Natal.
@Gungets Tuft: is he over 2m? Heavy or bean pole?
@Grasshopper: Played U16B last year, come through the ranks from 2nd Form, just hitting his straps now.
Who is Van Selm? Never heard of him…
Xolisa Guma will surely be another youngster watched with keen interest. He recently got an invite to be part of the SA u18 Sevens Squad and he’s still only u17.
Here one of the players of interest has to be Van Selm who has the height to redefine College’s lineout success rate.