Match Report: Maritzburg College vs Affies
A dominant and clinical performance by Affies ensure victory for them away from home against Maritzburg College in a SupaQuick Premier Interschools match on Saturday 23 July at Goldstones in Pietermaritzburg. (Halftime: Maritzburg College 7-19 Affies)
It was a half riddled with physicality from the Affies forward pack as they flexed their muscle upfront to dominate the opening 19 minutes of the match, running in three unanswered tries all through a solid platform given to them by their forwards.
The first try of the match came in the 8th minute from right winger Gustav Maritz (14) after compounding pressure, phase play and good hands finished it off in the corner. Affies, Flyhalf and Captain Stehan Heymans, missed his first kick of the match by striking the uprights but failed to miss another in the contest. Affies 5 – 0 Maritzburg College.
Cob webs were nowhere to be found in Affies’ play as they mauled their way over from outside the 22m of College unbelievably handing their hooker Hanro Venter his 17th try of the season. The conversion by Heymans extended their lead with 12 minutes played. Affies 12 – 0 Maritzburg College.
The half got even worse for the home side Maritzburg College in the 17th minute as their tight head prop Mbusu Kwenyama was handed a yellow card after repeated maul collapses from College as they tried to stem the Affies tide to no avail.
The resulting penalty allowed Affies the chance to set their maul once more this time against seven men inside the College 22m. As the theme continued the Affies pack rumbled forward before the break away from their hooker, Venter came. He fell short of the line and it was a quick pick and go from lock Anton Grotius that extended their lead. Heymans’ conversion was successful with 19 minutes played. Affies 19 – 0 Maritzburg College.
Maritzburg College were suffocated of possession for the majority of the first half and it wasn’t until a moment of brilliance on counter attack from Fullback Sphakanyiswa Ngcobo that sparked the Red, Black and White into life. His run resulted in a penalty at the break down from Affies only 5 meters from their line. College opted for a scrum which was positioned in the centre of the field. A set play from the base of the scrum and a short pass from College scrumhalf and captain AJ Knoetze to SA schools centre Lili Bester gave them the try they needed to get back into the match just before halftime. Knoetze successfully converted his kick. Maritzburg College 7 – 19 Affies.
Maritzburg College ended the first half with a small amount of hope and belief that they could turn things around in the second half. At half time the visitors led 19 points to the hosts 7.
It was a slow start to the second half as unforced errors from both teams mean’t that neither side were gaining any ascendancy or go forward against the other.
Maritzburg College however, began to build pressure through sustained territory and possession deep inside the Affies half. It was College’s fullback Ngcobo that once more lifted his team through a moment of quick thinking to spot no cover defense in behind Affies’ defensive line and guided an accurate grubber kick through which he regathered after a favourable bounce to cross the line for College’s second try of the match. Knoetze’s conversion was unsuccessful. Maritzburg College 12 – 19 Affies.
Die wit bulle began to feel the pressure from College as their discipline started to slip, offering Knoetze and his side opportunities for points from the kicking tee. Knoetze unfortunately missed both his chances narrowly which came from breakdown infringements from Affies.
It would prove to be the only opportunities Affies would offer up as they began to get back into their stride. The game opened up as both teams ran the ball from well within their own halves and had clear chances to extend their lead or fight back.
With 5 minutes left in the encounter it was College’s over eagerness on defense that gave Heymans the chance to put the scoreboard beyond a converted try for Affies. He stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty to take the lead to 10 points. Affies 22 – 12 Maritzburg College.
Maritzburg College chased down the try that would bring them close once more but Affies’ defense held strong and turned possesion over. Affies then worked their way down field and back into College’s half with only 2 minutes remaining. Their forward dominance showed once more against a visibly tired College outfit and it was their big tighthead prop Zack Maritz that dived over. Captain Stehan Heymans’ conversion sealed a clinical and dominant 29 -12 win for Affies away from home on Goldstones.
SupaQuick Man of the Match: Number 7 Flanker – Erick Jooste – Affies
Scorers:
For Affies 29
Tries: Gustav Maritz, Hanro Venter, Anton Grotius, Zack Maritz
Cons: Stehan Heymans (3/4)
Pens: Stehan Heymans
For Maritzburg College 12
Tries: Lili Bester, Sphakanyiswa Ngcobo
Con: Knoetze (1/2)
Pens: Knoetze (0/2)
Yellow card: Mbusu Kwenyama
Teams:
Affies: 15 JL van Rensburg, 14 Gustav Maritz, 13 Tiaan De Wet, 12 Heinrich Horn, 11 Risima Sambo, 10 Stehan Heymans ©, 9 Armand Shahia, 8 CF Delport, 7 Erick Jooste, 6 Abel Pretorius, 5 Andreas Burger, 4Anton Grotius, 3 Zack Maritz, 2 Hanro Venter, 1 Steyn Truter
Replacements: 16 FC van Rooyen, 17 Chris Steyn, 18 Mikail Kohler, 19 Francois Smit, 20 Dian Du Toit, 21 Stephan Brits, 22 Migael De Lange, 23 Karel van der Westhuizen
Maritzburg College: 15 Sphakanyiswa Ngcobo, 14 Ivan Chirenende, 13 Lili Bester, 12 liam Prinsloo, 11 Kuhann van den Berg, 10 Luc du Toit, 9 AJ Knoetze ©, 8 Sasha Kadira, 7 Travis Walton, 6 Kyle Wilken, 5 Kuhle Mthimkhulu, 4 Kevin Ayliff, 3 Mbusu Kweyama, 2 Elbie Mouton, 1 Diego Antionades
Match Officials:
Referee: Yanga Sotshangane
AR1: Wayne van Rensburg
AR2: Danie Joubert
Previous results:
2019: Affies 78-16 Maritzburg College
2018: Affies 17-13 Maritzburg College
2017: Affies 40-25 Maritzburg College
2016: Affies 59-7 Maritzburg College
2015: Affies 50-19 Maritzburg College
2014: Maritzburg College 37-10 Affies
2013: Affies 51-20 Maritzburg College
2012: Affies 33-7 Maritzburg College
2011: Affies 19-6 Maritzburg College
2011: Affies 55-7 Maritzburg College
2010: Affies 32-20 Maritzburg College
2009: Affies 10-0 Maritzburg College
2008: Affies 52-15 Maritzburg College
2007: Affies 31-19 Maritzburg College
2006: Maritzburg College 19-15 Affies
2005: Affies 32-7 Maritzburg College
2004: Affies 33-3 Maritzburg College
2003: Affies 25-24 Maritzburg College
2002: Affies 20-19 Maritzburg College
2001: Affies 20-5 Maritzburg College
2000: Maritzburg College 16-10 Affies
1999: Affies 29-7 Maritzburg College
1998: Affies 36-15 Maritzburg College
1997: Affies 21-16 Maritzburg College
1996: Affies 12-9 Maritzburg College
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Erick Jooste of Affies during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Lili Bester of Maritzburg College scoring a try during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Sphakanyiswa Ngcobo of Maritzburg College during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Affies celebrate the win during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Erick Jooste of Affies during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Armand Shahia of Affies during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: JL van Rensburg of Affies during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
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PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 23: Affies chase the loose ball during the Premier Interschools match between Maritzburg College and Affies at Maritzburg College on July 23, 2022 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)
