Maritzburg College Head of Rugby Ryan Strudwick has had to perform a bit of a juggling act this week ahead of the important home match against Affies. With the regular Sharks under-19 coach away on tour with the Sharks senior Super Rugby Team, Strudwick was roped in to assist acting head coach Butch James. On Saturday he will however be at Goldstones and not the Kings Park outer field, which I guess isn’t ideal for the Sharks u19’s in what is a very important home game against WP game.
The verdict on whether or not this has been a successful College season is still not out. Remember this age group has been very successful since under-14 but in 2014 although the results have generally been good, they are yet to beat a really good team. Significantly College has completed a local private school grand slam. It might not mean much to those greater than 20 years out of school MCOB’s who were probably use to such achievements in their days but it’s worth noting that before this season College had not beaten Kearsney, Hilton and Michaelhouse in the same season since 2007. The current team have not enjoyed the same success against their big KZN state school rivals Glenwood (loss) and Westville (draw). Westville’s come from behind last minute try to earn the draw also means that it is impossible for College to finish the season as KZN’s no.1 team, even if they beat Glenwood in the return home game.
In their history College has only beaten Affies twice and lost 17 times. Affies are always a force to be reckoned with. They are however experiencing a bad year, something that looks unlikely to reoccur for a good few years to come. Given that College are at home and have a fully fit team, this has to be defined as as good an opportunity as they will ever get to claim a rare victory against Affies and with it that first major scalp of 2014.
Affies arrive in Pietermaritzburg without a few players ruled out due to injuries. The visitors’ biggest setback may however be the absence of their world class under-18 fullback Eduan Keyter who will be attending SA Schools trials in Kempton Park.
| MARITZBURG COLLEGE | AFFIES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiaan Steyn | 1 | DP du Plessis |
| 2 | Masikane Mazwi | 2 | Kobus du Plessis |
| 3 | Disi Dlamini | 3 | Strauss Koekemoer |
| 4 | Renard Le Roux | 4 | Human Bodenstein |
| 5 | Wian Jacobs | 5 | Pierre Pienaar |
| 6 | Hayden Tharratt | 6 | Gavin Foster |
| 7 | Slade Stuart | 7 | Rohan Roelofze |
| 8 | Daryn Goodson | 8 | Eduan Lubbe |
| 9 | Matt Seba | 9 | Carlo de Nyschen |
| 10 | Mac vd Linde | 10 | Eddie Fouche |
| 11 | Byron Watson | 11 | Janco Booysen |
| 12 | Jordan Koekemoer | 12 | Christiaan Beyers |
| 13 | Marcell Coetsee | 13 | Ryno Laurens |
| 14 | Xolisa Guma | 14 | Jan van der Merwe |
| 15 | Matt Kriel | 15 | Pieter Coetser |
@Grasshopper: While I understand that the 1st Fifteen game attracts the attention, all the talk about Affies seems to disregard the strength of their sides at the age group levels.
Open age group College 4, Affies 3, Drawn 1.
Age group – College 0, Affies 16, Drawn 0
Affies set themselves a very high standard to be disappointed by that result.
Other results on the day:
Hockey – College 14-1
Chess – College 6.5, Affies 7.5
Golf – College 2, Affies 2
Table Tennis – College 3-1
Tennis – Affies 9-0
The scale of the sport on the day is brilliant – I believe 600 boys made the trip down. 24 rugby, 15 hockey, 14 chess, 4 T-T, 9 tennis. Long may that last.
Run in for the season – the same scale of tour to Pretoria Boys this weekend, then an even bigger derby against Glenwood, followed by a season closing 600-boy trip to Bloemfontein. Going to take some serious intestinal fortitude.
Well done to College! Grey Bloem in Bloem will be another very tough assigment. Glenwood have Affies in Pretoria this weekend, eish! Especially for the lower teams…….eina!
@OudAffie: Perspective right there. Affies win every age group match. Lots of work to do.
Hier is die volledige tellings van die dag, baie geluk aan College met hul puik oorwinning op die dag.
http://www.affiesrugby.co.za/uploads/1/5/9/1/15915132/9270810.jpg?295
@Studebaker: @Ooorkant Loftus: Die feit dat ons die 1ste span en n paar ander ope wedstryde gewen het beteken geensins dat ons respek verloor het vir Affies nie. Inteendeel, mens kan sien dat hierdie ouens weet van vasbyt en hulle het nooit opgegee nie. Ek hoop dat die mense wat soveel slegte dinge oor die kinders te se het, in die toekoms twee keer sal dink voordat hulle inklim en afknou. Dit is onnodig neerhalend en hoort nie op hierdie forum nie.
Julle het alle rede om trots te wees op julle manne – hulle het alles gegee.
@GreenBlooded: I fully agree with your assessment on the MC boys – I noticed this too when I was watching some of the lower games and I trust that the MMWC ( “main manne what counts” for those not in the know) will look at strengthening the depth and general play of these boys. I was mightily impressed by the general sharpness of the Affies boys in applying the basics. My sons team lost by 24 points on the day, and a lot of this could have been prevented had they been a bit more rounded at the rucks and mauls and in their tackling.
Well done to College. According to all reports you guys played well and deserved the win. Again well done.
To all the Affies sides that lost, better luck next time. Thank you for participating in the manner in which you played versus College.
We are proud of you.
Well done College on an impressive result. Even more impressive are the lower results. Something healthy is cooking up in Burra!
@Woltrui:
Daar was 8 graad 11’s in die 1e span teen MC. Dit sluit 2 reserwes in wat opgekom het. Van die 31 spelers wat vanjaar vir die Witbulle gespeel het was 16 graad 11. Van die beseerde spelers wat nie Saterdag gespeel het nie is 4 graad 11.
25 Spelers het vir die 1e keer vir die 1e span gespeel vanjaar. Van die 6 wat in 2013 gespeel het is 2 nie meer in die beginspan nie en het 1 net 1 wedstryd verlede jaar gespeel.
@Woltrui: Daar was 9 graad 11’s in die 1e span teen MC. Dit sluit 2 reserwes in wat opgekom het. Van die 31 spelers wat vanjaar vir die Witbulle gespeel het was 17 graad 11. Van die beseerde spelers wat nie Saterdag gespeel het nie is 4 graad 11
Fantastic result for M College, well done. To Affies, hard luck, but we know the mighty Wit Bulle will be back with a bang.
Studebaker….ek hoor dat daar ‘n gesegde by Affies is: ‘n Affie gly dalk, maar hy val nooit nie. Ons sien dus met groot verwagting uit na volgende jaar as Affies weer opgestaan het het saam kan gesels met Kloof, Garsies en Menlo. Hats off aan ql die jong seuns die jaar wat enduit baklei het, hulle hou verseker ook die respek van hulle mede skoliere.
@woltrui: dankie vir positiewe kommentaar tov die Affies span, die feit dat jy trots is! Ek wens meer mense het die jaar agter die span gestaan met positiewe en opbouende kritiek ipv die heel tyd verwys na ‘n “swak jaargroep”. Ek het baie te sê daaroor maar sal uithou tot heelwat later…
Re the Gr11’s in yesterdays starting line-up: 6(5)
#’s 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15(already u18 due to primary school change)
@4×4: Ek praat onder korreksie maar ek dink 7 of 8 Graad 11 spelertjies in gister se beginspan. Tjoppa kan dalk n meer akurate antwoord gee. Ek dink nie daar is n abnormale hoë getal graad 11’s in die 1ste span groep nie.
@GreenBlooded: you have nailed it in that review , its what all KZN teams need to relearn, basics, passing and tackling is the start , srumming , get back to winning the ball from first phase and then learing to wining it at the break down ,
@sparkie:
U14A – 7-57
U15A – 0-47
I spent most of the morning on the outer fields and refereed one of the matches. A general comment on the Affies teams – they are drilled to perfection. The basics of ball-retention, making tackles and creating space on the outside are like second nature to them – from A team downwards. Their responses to on-field situations are like knee-jerk reactions. Lovely to watch. A general comment on the College Teams: they certainly do not lack belief, heart and mongrel which is what the scorelines seem to suggest. Not the case at all. They just do not execute the basics properly and the tackling needs to be worked on. The lads need to learn to put the shoulder into the midriff rather than tugging the jersey at arms length – many soft tries were scored simply through poor tackling technique. I think the College brains-trust need to start next season early and spend many hours with all the teams simply getting back to basic rugby – that was always the hallmark of every College team that I ever faced, uncompromising and perfect execution of the basics – from A to G team.
What were the 14a and 15a results?
must hve been a great day in PMB, wel done College , It will be good to see what GW do over the next two weeks then , Affies @ Affies adn College @ College
@woltrui. I’ve heard that there is approximately 10 or 11 Grade 11’s playing for Affies XV this year, is that true?
@Gungets Tuft: Thank you Mr Tufts
@Woltrui: You are right to be proud of your boys, on the field and off. Off the field they are gentlemen, polite, confident, our boys came looking for us again after the match. On the field, it was t over till the whistle. You can’t ask for more. See you up there next year.
@Woltrui: And that goes for the hockey as well. Some you win and some you learn!
I for one is f@#$n proud of this Affies team. They will never quit. No matter what the odds. Affies boitjies. Proud of you. Sometimes a loss is good for character building. Be Proud. Heads up. The best Blue Bulls side’s have lost and came back with a bang….
@GreenBlooded: Tbought Mazwi was pretty active, made some good runs, by that probably backs up your point of backline loitering at times. I think that 9-15 all did well, agree about Mac and Matt, clicking nicely now. The backs look to have good balance. The loosies speak for themselves, you mentioned Slades workrate, he didn’t disappoint today. The line outs generally worked well, despite the giant redwoods in the Affies team. Team performance, still not the finished article but much much closer now. Pleasure to watch today.
@Gungets Tuft: He was outstanding!! Also thought that Mac vd Linde had a stormer along with Matt Seba who has really stepped up and made the No 9 jersey his own. They have become a great halfback pairing. Jordan Koekemoer was outstanding on defence making some massive and crucial hits when they mattered. Goi and Hayden – massive performances as well. Some of the tight 5 I though spent a little too much time loafing in the backline when they should have been cleaning out rucks and supporting the man in contact – maybe a July holiday lying on the beach?
@Redblack White: He eventually got 3 – yes. I couldn’t see the one in Kwela’s corner, the “loose ruck”, try, but his support run for the first was brilliant, the run down the left wing just magic.
@beet: most of the scoring in the last 15 minutes or so. Affixes guys just never gave up either. Great game to watch though.
@Gungets Tuft: was sitting between the old and new scoreboard in the second half so saw Goodsen’s runs from a great vantage point. Wow is all I can say
Not one to single out individuals, Mr Goodsen will sleep very well tonight. Brilliant display, he will remember outpacing the Affies wing (twice) , but generally great running from him. All round performance from the team against an Affies that didn’t stand back or slacken off once.
@GreenBlooded: Oh – also needs to be said: well done to my MRRSS colleague Jean Pretorius who took his first opportunity refereeing at this level and nailed it!! Great performance.
Great win for College – massive result. Probably lost more than they one today with some big negative score differentials in the lower age groups where the clockwork skills of the Affies boys were plain to see and College generally let themselves down with poor tackling and basic structure. But the 1st and 2nd XV were very impressive and the magnitude of the result will have College faithful celebrating tonight.
Must also say – besides the inevitable bouts of hand-bagging – a well behaved and respectful group of tourists with great sportsmanship on display both for the team that won and for those that lost. The 2 lads which I hosted – uit die boonste rak uit!!! Wecome back anytime……
Geez well done College. Expectations were there that MC would win but the margin of victory is impressive. This year’s Affies 1sts are not the kind of team that ever goes down without a fight so College must have played very well. 37-10
@Woltrui: Rugby only really at open level. Under age groups was a different story. Some good rugby though all the way down.
@Gungets Tuft: Thank you for the updates Mr Tufts. Look as if we(Affies) got well and truly beaten today!! On the hockey and rugby fields.
Congrats to MC. Well done!
Final score 37-10
2nds was College 12 – 20
1sts. HT College 7 – 3.
@Gungets Tuft: Sorry, 3rds 20-0.
@Gungets Tuft: OUCH!!!! 8-2 first team hockey. Must be the coaching….
2nds College 20-0
@Gungets Tuft: good results there for College – Affies usually very strong down the line
@Gungets Tuft: Hockey so far
U14b 2-0
U16C vs U16B 2-0
3rds College 1-0
2nds College 3-1
1st College 8-2
Rugby
5th College 15-10
4th College 12-10
3rd College 13-0 at HT
U16A College 3-45
U16B College 13-17
U14B College 5-48
@Woltrui: Hahaha, indeed. We send them out as moles, dig away at the foundations daarso.
College U16C vs Affies U16B 2-0
@Gungets Tuft: MC Old boys
If we loose the hockey we at least got somebody to blame
@Woltrui: Oy, College boys, no ex-College. We hope we didn’t teach them toooo well
Rugby
5th College 15-10
4th College 12-10
@Gungets Tuft: Hehehehe…. The famous Beet “no reception zone”!
Hopefully some “inside knowledge” can help spring a surprise or two!
U/14a hockey Affies 2-3 MC. MC apparently won in the dying seconds
U/14b hockey Affies 0-2 MC. By all accounts a very good and even game. Well done boitjies.
I heard all the Affies hockey coaches slept at home last night? Apparently our(Affies) coaching staff is all ex MC old boys
@star: Bend the knee to the Queen, as long as that is a lady (which I know Cynds is) but if the Queen is a guy, just send flowers …
@Woltrui: Will do my best boet. Game spread across 2 different Astro’s about 1km apart, but will gather the results and post ’em. Hope I don’t stumble into any “Beet No-Reception Zones” .. know what I mean :-)
@Gungets Tuft: Mr Tufts is it possible you can keep us up to date with the scores please. Especially the hockey scores if possible. Would be much appreciated!
@ Gungets- wow 5 boys. I complain when I get 2. Very impressive.
As the only lady on the blog there is nothing wrong to go on bended knee to the new queen. 
Even those old crusty chauvinists ( Tjoppa and Bog) would have to agree.
Also if Cynz takes line honours that means that the Sharks have won and I think we would all be over the moon if that happens.
@star: Sadly the link to the Star family has left the lift club, we have filled that with my B-i-l who will not be joining us.
Brilliant evening esor with 5 Affies boys, 2 hockey and 3 rugby, all a credit to their school and folks. It’s always a pleasure, even if being constantly
called Sir and Oom had me looking around for an uninvited guest. No amount of asking could convince them that Gungets, or Supreme Ruler was a better way of being addressed. {sigh} …
Superbru – tjaaa, well, blind luck has to run out sometime, what does a hockey dad know about rugby. Just don’t trip up now, I see Cynds has taken a little opposite to you in the Sharks game, wouldn’t do to swallow your tongue so close to the line …
@GreenBlooded: Wanna watch out for those tjikkins boet, cannae be causing the guests to grow moobs due to hormone overdose, ou Tjoppa will have to come down here and bliksem someone.
Had to relegate the kids to sleeping under overturned canoes, with splashcovers as blankets. Too many to share the narrow space under the stairs with the dog, the mutt likes to stretch out his paws, might get all territorial and then bite one of them. Wouldn’t want to be accused of being a bad host …
@ Gungets- ‘whole lift club” – then send my regards to the family
I hope your dog is still around to sort out the leftovers. I also noticed your crown in the Superbru is starting to look a little shaky. Time for the return of the true king 
There is however a stayers match on Monday against a touring English team so that might get the juices going again.
We play House soccer tomorrow ( 29 matches which is quite a thing). The feel is not the same though and for some reason the female support is conspicuous by its absence.
Anyway all the best to both GW and College for their respective matches tomorrow. As RBugger says let us start putting some markers down for the local schools and an Affies/Grey C scalp on the mantelpiece will do very nicely indeed.
@Gungets Tuft: We’ve got 3 of them heading our way. The wife pulled out 3 spatchcock chickens for dinner – gave me one of her looks when I asked what the main course was.
I trust your lads get the piece of corrugated asbestos under the outside stairs again?
@Redblack White: @Tjoppa: Agree ou Tjoppie, you neded to make this trip at least once while my boykie was still at school, but you have missed that boat. I think I offered to personally do pancakes next to Goldstones if you pitched.
As for the team – they are either souries or honourary souties, beste van twee werelde, flexible esor in the Last Outpost ..
Hosting 4 of your boys tonight – will be sure to report back. I did take the precaution on the catering. 2 years ago there was a near disaster with a tjikkin, butternut and brocolli bake which one of the lighties regarded as a chemical weapon and couldn’t eat. His defection to Pizza Boys lead a mass exodus from the dinner table. So this time the whole lift club is getting together for a shisa nyama ….. just my luck I score the only ‘kaans vegetarians in the known universe ..
@Tjoppa: Die “gehuggie” staan ook bekend as Sleepy Hollow. Hoekom nie self afry dan wys ek vir u wat alles hier in ons “gehuggie” aangaan. Sal sommer die game saam kyk en lekker bollie gesels.
So terloops – die kinders lees ook hierdie blog en daars n hele paar manne op die spanlys wat hulle self beslis nie as Souties sal beskou nie ( 1,4,5,13,14)
@Redblack White: Yeah College have been playing musical chairs with that lock position for a while now. Stuart and Goodson have both had to do second row duty. To be honest le Roux is the strongest of the loose-forward lot so makes sense for him to be there at scrum-time but I’m not sure I’d want my star player playing anywhere but in the position in which he has excelled all season – blindside flank.
@Redblack White: I think College’s main strength this season has been their work at the breakdown – with the physical presence of Goodie and Goi, the exceptional ball-stealing skills of Tharrat and the super-human work-rate of Stuart, one of the most under-rated players I’ve seen in a long time.
Interesting to see Goi le Roux at 4. So effectively playing 4 very good loosies. College will have to be good at the breakdown and everyone here knows there is no such thing as a “weak” Affies team, on the day they will bring their A- game – no doubt!
College by 10
@Ooorkant Loftus: Val daai gehuggie in en neem dit oor manne. Skop die Souties se gatte behoorlik. Die span ook lekker vol matrieks.
Think this should be a good game. Very glad that Carlo is back behind the scrum. Well done my boy, you deserve it. Sorry that Eduan will be at the trials in Kempton. He will be missed. Hopefully he can impress those also watching them trials. Good luck to all the Affies boys traveling down to KZN. Enjoy it.