Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 August 2010

Prep first hockey XI

Meeting of top sides at festival

A 3-1 RESULT AGAINST DPHS and a 1-all draw against Virginia Preparatory School at the Maritzburg College hockey festival are no mean feats. Playing at 11:30 this morning in 34 degree C temperatures against Virginia Preparatory School (Durban North), the first half more than belonged to the coastal side - with all the action in the Saints half of the field. Virginia are always a good side and the first half saw them stamp their authority on the game. Had it not been for the excellent goal work of Michael Darroch (below), the single goal scored in the first 25 minutes could have been a couple more. After the break the Saints returned a completely different side - as they camped in the Virginia half of the field, they built and maintained pressure on the visitors and finally, off a short-corner, Zac Koutsouros (above) punched home a ball which deflected off the goalie, past a defender, and into the back of the net. A brief foray into the Saints territory in the last two minutes of the game had all hearts in mouths, but the defending of the Maritzburg boys earned them a well-deserved draw.

The second game of the day, against DPHS, saw the Saints trot home with a conservative 3-1 victory. Goals were courtesy of Zac Koutsouros (2) and Declan Cox (1). Well played guys!

Sunday morning 8:30am was the time for the Saints' encounter with their mates from city rivals, Merchiston Preparatory School - in a game under grey skies in cool conditions which again had two distinct halves - the first one of which belonged completely to Merchiston with 3 goals; and the second which saw a resurgence of form from the St Charles boys as they drove home a powerful shot into the net off the stick of Riley Cootes in the centre of the D from a perfectly placed pass from Mark Bray - this in the first minute of the half. This resurgance was short-lived, however, as the Mud Rats saw home another two goals - and a score of 1-5.

The fourth and final game of the Festival for the Saints was at 3:30pm against Chelsea Drive Primary School, Durban. As anticipated, this was a much easier game than the three previous ones had been, in which St Charles Prep came away with a 5-1 win: a great drag flick from Nicholas Karlsen opened the scoring, Zac Koutsouros was back in form with two goals while there was one each from Samuel Hines and Riley Cootes.

Well done Saints and all the opponents! Thanks to the opposing schools for the games, the referees and to Maritzburg College for hosting the festival.

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman)
Top: The scene at Maritzburg College in the Saints vs Virginia 11:30am Saturday game
1. (above) Zac Koutsouros (right), green stick following through, drives home the ball off the arm of the goalie and past a defender into the net
2. (below) A busy St Charles Prep goalie, Michael Darroch, kicks away a threatening ball
3. Zac Koutsouros on the attack
4. William Squires was an excellent link
5. Declan Cox cool control during the Merchiston game
6. Jeremy Davidson was excellent in defence
7. Ayden Smith leaves a trail of water
8. Samuel Hines had some startling runs in the game against Merchiston
9. Nicholas Karlsen sweeps the ball to Ayden Smith
10. James Searle gets the ball away to his left
11. A rather tense collection of early-bird SCC parents during the 8:30am Merchiston game

Webmaster | Pape's Field | 2010 08 28 and 29

Saturday 28 August 2010

Inter-House matches

Staff meet the Chicken Invaders

THE COLLEGE'S FIFTH FOOTBALL TEAM otherwise known as the Chicken Invaders, and comprising mainly non-football-playing members of the First XV rugby squad, took to Harwin Field this morning for a run against the staff. Far from being a giggle, it was played with determination - and resulted in a 2-all draw. The first goal was courtesy of the rugby captain, Richard Bromilow (above two photos - easy game, this) who slipped a wide ball past two defenders - and the goalie, Mr Darren Holcomb (also in the bottom photo knocking away a threatening ball with Mr Wayne Naidoo watching). Many of the staff team members were Old Boys who coach at the College - Christopher Parsons (below left); Kevin Streicher, Matthew Mitchell and Callum Cox (below right). Other staff included Ryan Kiepiel and Rodwyn Isaacs (in the next photo with Iain Knox and Graham Koch). The goalie is Zane Marks

With the public schools taking the morning off because of the strike (this morning was originally scheduled to be a fixture against Carter High School), St Charles gave its boys a morning of relaxed football in the form of an Inter-House competition. With 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw (loss = 0), Smith House came away victorious as the House football champions for 2010.

Webmaster | Harwin Field | 2010 08 28

Thursday 12 August 2010

Senior football thriller

Welcome visiting Peterhouse team from Zimbabwe

PETERHOUSE, ZIMBABWE, HAS ONE OF THAT COUNTRY'S top schools' football teams - who are in South Africa for a winter tour. When one of their fixtures fell away this week and they faced the prospect of five days without a match, a friendly against St Charles College was organised for Thursday afternoon to coincide with the Saints football practice afternoon. It was billed, therefore, as a practice game. Early on, as the visitor's skills outwitted the precision passing of the Saints, it seemed as if a lot of learning was on the cards for the hosts. A goal from a lofted ball over the head of Saints' keeper, Dundas Clark, and a second, similar ball a few minutes later, which hit the crossbar and bounced back into the field of play, shook the Saints as they went into the half-time break. After half-time the Maritzburg team came back with a vengeance to dominate play and to score two wonderful goals - a header from Mabhida Martins followed a few minutes later by a hard, wide drive from Mzamo Cele - to seal the fate of the visitors. Just the sort of practice the Saints enjoyed. Thanks, Peterhouse, for the entertaining game and the visit! Well played to all.

Webmaster | Pietermaritzburg | 2010 08 13

PHOTOS: (Justin Waldman) 1. (above) Saints open team take time off from their practice on Conway field to watch the first XI in action on Harwin; 2. (below left) Lizwi Duma and Kivar Mohinlall; 3. (below centre) Mzamo Cele; 4. (below right) Kevin Seturumane; 5. Kevin Seturumane; 6. Group in the stands; 7. Mabhida Martins; 8. Mabhida Martins (right) heads the ball into the Peterhouse net; 9. Teams, coaches and line judges.

Thursday 29 July 2010

Prep tennis

Great nursery for the Saints

THE ST CHARLES PREP TENNIS TEAMS ply their trade on Thursday afternoons around Maritzburg. Here the second team is in action at Wembley College.

Webmaster | Pietermaritzburg | 2010 08 13

PHOTOS: (Justin Smit) 1. (above) Mark Bray; 2. (below left) James Searle; 3. (below centre) Ross Campbell; 4. (below right) James Searle

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Great run this afternoon

Saints wind up sevens tournament

THE ST CHARLES COLLEGE SEVENS TEAMS completed their participation in this year's Midlands Rugby Sevens Tournament with an A team versus the B team game and, in the semi-final, the A team were up against Maritzburg College. In failing light at 5:10pm, the first half belonged to the opposition as they ran in two easy tries, one of which was converted. The second half was all Saints who, with sustained pressure on the defenders' try-line, ran in a converted try in the hands of Victor de Beer (photos 4 and 5). It was a great run-around for the boys - a perfect way to get the blood flowing on this very chilly afternoon - thanks for the games and participation, Maritzburg College - well played to all, and thanks to Midlands Rugby Academy for organising and running this enjoyable event.

Webmaster | Pietermaritzburg | 2010 08 11

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman - all photos are of the A team unless otherwise indicated.) 1. (above) B team: Johan de Beer passes the ball - Daniel Capsopoulos, left, Bruce Scott, right; 2. (below left) Victor de Beer and Kwenzo Majola; 3. (below right) Liam O'Connell; 4. (left) While defenders pay attention to Andrew Botha (without the ball as he had just passed it) to Victor de Beer (back) who crosses the try-line into in-goal and... 5. (right) Victor is hassled while running to the centre of in-goal to dot down the ball moments later; 6. Lance Howden and Sachin Bangaru (B team); 7. Zamile Khumalo; 8. Vince Potgieter sets off - Andrew Botha watches; 9. Andrew Botha.

Monday 9 August 2010

Day of athletics - in the mizzle

Happy Women's Day mums and sisters!

THE PREP SCHOOL HAD THEIR INTER-HOUSE athletics morning - on this 2010 Women's Day. With temperatures right down again reminding us that winter is never far away in August - particularly after the warm days just past - a lot of running and jumping on the College's oval was just what got the blood (and adreneline) flowing. Thanks to Justin Smit and Justin Wilde for braving the drizzle for these photos, and the staff, particularly organisers Messrs Irons and Cootes, for braving the less-than-ideal conditions. We thank Mrs Sally Hines, mother of Sam Hines in Grade 7, for handing out the prizes.

Webmaster | Pietermaritzburg | 2010 08 09

(PHOTOS: Justin Wilde) 1. (above) Matthew Skea; 2. (below) Smith House's Cameron Barker leading; 3.Unako Nowele; 4. Sam Hines putting the shot; 5. Gregory Küsel - high jump; 6. Bayanda Maseko, Jamie Couling, John Burchmore - sack race; 7. JP sprint: Joel McIlvenny, Kgothatso Majoro, Lufuno Mukhithi, Monde Mabena, Adrian Thompson

Saturday 7 August 2010

St Charles College football

Morning of fixtures vs Michaelhouse

FOOTBALL THIS MORNING SAW THE GAMES equally shared between Balgowan and Harwin Road - with the senior games being at home.

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman - all shots are First XI unless otherwise indicated) 1. (above) Dundas Clark saves; 2. (below left) Gareth Dukes; 3. (below right) Ricardo Cassola - Second XI; 4. Captain Uli Fischer; 5. and 6. Tux Khumalo; 7. David Krone.

Webmaster | Harwin | 2010 08 09

Saturday 7 August 2010

St Charles Prep hockey treble

Firsts play two matches - winning both

THE ST CHARLES PREP SCHOOL hockey teams played a series of games against Cowan House and city rivals, Pelham Senior Primary School across all age-groups from U9 to the Open sides. With the main games on Saints Hockey this morning, the Junior First XI played a match against Cowan House coming away with a 3-0 win and, some 50 minutes later, took on Pelham - to trot away with a similar scoreline of 3-0, making it a treble win including last Saturday's win over Clifton, Nottingham Road. The photos here are of the First and Second Prep hockey sides.

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman) 1. (above) First XI after their second win of the morning; 2. (below left) Jody Saayman; 3. (belowright) Cousins, Brendan and Jody Saayman; 4. Jason de Rauville; 5.Mark Bray; 6. Jeremy Davidson; 7. Luke Barnard; 8. William Squires; 9. Wandile Mpofu, Samukelo Gcaba, Nduduzo Ngcobo and Ian Bray; 10. Post match coach chats on Saints Hockey; 11. Mr Rowan Irons; 12. Ross Campbell.

Webmaster | Saints Hockey | 2010 08 09

Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 August 2010

St Charles Prep athletes

In action at local Inter-Prep Meeting

THE ST CHARLES PREP SCHOOL took part on Wednesday and Thursday this week at Merchiston in an Inter-Prep Schools' athletics meeting - in the company of Merchiston, Thomas More, Clifton Durban, Cordwalles and Highbury.

(PHOTOS: Justin Smit) 1. (above) Guy Morgan received the batton from Sean McCord; 2. (below left) Romano Green; 3. (below middle) Shayur Sewsunker; 4 (below right) Bruce Dunbar; 5.Luke Muir and Sam Gcaba; 6. Lukas Cronje.

Webmaster | Pietermaritzburg | 2010 08 09

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Saints field two Sevens teams

Midlands Schools' Sevens tournament

THE TWO OUTER FIELDS AT WOODBURN saw two teams of St Charles College Sevens boys have a good and enjoyable run as they took on their opposite numbers from Weston and Maritzburg College - in the Midlands Schools' Sevens tournament hosted by the Maritzburg Rugby Academy. In the game against Weston the Saints B side lost by a predictably high margin, while the A squad's run against Maritzburg College produced two tries for each side, with the opponents converting both to St Charles's one - and a result of 12-14.

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman) 1. (above) Andrew Botha ("A team") about to score between the posts; 2. (below) Matthew Tweddle ("A team") scores out wide; 3. James Groom ("B team"); 4. Johan de Beer and Lance Howden ("B team"); 5.Matthew Tweddle ("A team"); 6. Vincent Potgieter ("A team"); 7. Liam O'Connell ("A team"); 8. ("A team") Graham Koch, Andrew Botha, Zamile Khumalo, Matthew Tweddle

Webmaster | Woodburn outer fields | 2010 08 05

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Grade 1 hockey

Saints Hockey a hive of energy

SAINTS HOCKEY THIS AFTERNOON was a hive of activity as we welcomed the Grade 1 hockey boys from Scottsville Primary School to a series of ten-minute games. Much fun was had by all. With the whole St Charles Prep School involved in hockey, the carpet hockey field is in full use.

(PHOTOS: Justin Waldman) 1. (above) Gary Scott; 2. (below left) Saints Hockey; 3. (below right) Matthew Boast and Luke Truter; 4. Unako Nowele; 5.Gary Scott; 6. Braced for the game areJarrod Lottering, Hunter Mason, Kelvin Da Silva, Thulani Langa and Luthando Mpunzana; 7.Unako Nowele; 8.Luke Truter; 9.Matthew Boast and Kelvin Da Silva.

Webmaster | Saints Hockey | 2010 08 04