Kearsney go up to Maritzburg
In the early years Maritzburg College ( called College in KwaZulu Natal) dominated but in recent years Kearsney have more than held their own, winning five of the last seven encounters. College are notoriously hard to beat at home on Goldstones but this will hardly deter Kearsney. In fact their first victory over College was on Goldstones.
Anyway, it's only some 55 km up the N3 from Botha's Hill to Pietermaritzburg, not room enough for a vast change in climate.
There will be 21 rugby matches between the two schools, starting at a genteel hour. Of course, the 1st XV match will be the one that counts most. "We beat" means that the 1st XV won.
Season so Far
Neither school shies away from tough opposition but both schools this year may not be quite at their usual best. Neither is on the FNB Top 20.
College have lost half of their 10 matches, Kearsney three of their eight. College have played four teams on the Top 20, including formidable Grey Bloem; Kearsney have played two. Those seven matches were lost.
Results against Common Opposition
Michaelhouse: Maritzburg College won 30-20; Kearsney won 64-22
Northwood: Maritzburg College won 43-18; Kearsney won 45-23
SACS: Maritzburg College lost 27-20; Kearsney won 39-36
Noteworthy Performers
Craven Week
Maritzburg College: Xolisa Guma (2014 & 2015)
Academy Week
Kearsney: Cameron Ritchie
Grant Khomo Week
Maritzburg College: Fez Mbatha, Njabulo Mjara. Xolisa Guma played for Boland at the 2013 Grant Khomo Week.
Kearsney: Dylan Richardson
1st XVs
Maritzburg College: 15 Jaco Truter, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Njabulo Mjara, 12 Ayanda Duma, 11 Ruben van Blerk, 10 Chris Reed, 9 Lodewyk Muller, 8 Matthew Diedricks, 7 Craig Glover (captain), 6 Andile Khanyile, 5 Liam Cameron-Macintosh, 4 Myles Hancock, 3 Andrew Reintges, 2 Austin Landman, 1 Matthew King
Kearsney College: 15 Lindo Nkabinde, 14 Matthew Blair, 13 Matthew Watts, 12 Cameron Craze, 11 James Sutherland, 10 Cameron Ritchie, 9 Warren Driver, 8 Brady Erlich, 7 James Miller, 6 Luke Croshaw, 5 David Weaver, 4 Ryan Lewarne, 3 Greg van Noordwyk (captain), 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Nicholas Hudson
Date: 21 May 2016
1st XV kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Goldstones, Maritzburg College
Expected weather conditions: After rain in the week, a clear day with a high of 26°C, dropping to 12°C
Rugby Programme
Maritzburg College vs Kearsney College
Goldstones
10.00: 5th XV
11.10: 4th XV
12.20: 3rd XV
13.40: 2nd XV
15.00: 1st XV
Nicholsons
10.00: Under-16C
11.10: 10th XV vs Kearsney 8th XV
12.20: 9th XV vs Kearsney 7th XV
13.00: Under-16F vs Kearsney E
13.30: 6th XV
Snows
10.00: Under-14A
11.00: Under-15A
12.00: Under-16A
13.10: Under-16B
Leachs
10.00: Under-14E vs Kearsney D
11.00: Under-14D vs Kearsney C
12.00: Under-14B
13.00: Under-16D
Lamonds
10.00: Under-15B
11.00: Under-15D
12.00: Under-15C
Results Down the Years
This list is clearly defective. Most of them are gleaned from the history of College rugby that Skonk Nicholson and Tony Wiblin wrote. The 1990s are especially absent.
It would be good to get a complete list. Please, send results and corrections to paul@sportsmedia365.com.
1945: Maritzburg College won 20-0
1949: Maritzburg College won 15-0
1950: Maritzburg College won 9-3
1951: Maritzburg College won 5-0
1952: Maritzburg College won 18-5
1953: Maritzburg College won 8-3
1954: Maritzburg College won 30-8 & 23-3
1955: Maritzburg College won 40-0
1956: Maritzburg College won 29-5
1957: Maritzburg College won 12-0
1958: Maritzburg College won 33-0
1959: Maritzburg College won 57-0
1961: Maritzburg College won 14-0
1962: Maritzburg College won 12-0
1963: Maritzburg College won 30-0
1964: Maritzburg College won 30-3
1966: Maritzburg College won 14-6
1967: Maritzburg College won 12-3
1968: Kearsney won 12-11 in Pietermaritzburg
1969: Maritzburg College won 22-11
1970: Maritzburg College won 22-3
1971: Maritzburg College won 13-9
1972: Maritzburg College won 23-3
1973: Draw 10-10
1974: Maritzburg College won 18-9
1975: Maritzburg College won 15-4
1976: Maritzburg College won 20-10
1977: Maritzburg College won 27-4
1978: Maritzburg College won 52-9
1979: Maritzburg College won 7-3
1980: Maritzburg College won 18-6
1981: Maritzburg College won 6-0
1982: Draw 6-6
1983: Maritzburg College won 17-10
1984: Maritzburg College won 34-9
1985: Maritzburg College won 33-18
1986: Maritzburg College won 14-3
1987: Maritzburg College won 20-10
1988: Maritzburg College won 33-0
1989: Maritzburg College won 22-0
1990: Maritzburg College won 26-10
2002: Maritzburg College won 17-8
2003:
2004: Kearsney won 25-10
2005: Kearsney won 11-0
2006: Maritzburg College won 20-10
2007: Maritzburg College won 25-22
2008: Maritzburg College won 45-17
2009: Kearsney won 23-22
2010: Maritzburg College won 29-10
2011: Kearsney won 28-12
2012: Kearsney won 30-10
2013: Kearsney won 22-14
2014: Maritzburg College won 29-17
2015: Kearsney won 23-20