Matthew Smith and Sbuyiselwe Mchunu were on target in Maritzburg College’s 3-2 win over Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) on Pape’s Astro at Maritzburg College on Saturday.
College headed into the match intent on creating as many opportunities as possible. At the same time, they were also wary of the threat that Affies posed, especially from penalty corners. So, they focused on conceding as few of them as possible.
“We were aware of their threat at penalty corners, and they had two in the game. So, I thought we did really well. We managed a really good Affies side,” Mark Sanders, the College coach, said after the game.
Affies took the fight to the hosts and spent large swathes of the first half in College’s final third. To their credit, the Red, Black, and White defended superbly, maintaining discipline and composure at the back.
“The guys were on point today defensively. We spoke a lot about our counter cover. We spoke a lot about how well we have to man-mark and so on. So, the boys did nicely. They stuck to the plan,” a satisfied Sanders said.
Despite spending most of the first half in their own half, it was College who drew first blood through Matthew Smith, who slammed the ball into the Affies’ backboard in the first chukka with a rocket-like reverse stick shot.
That goal spurred Affies into action, and just before the end of the chukka, they drew level, with Ruard Nienaber providing the finish.
Sbuyiselwe Mchunu enjoyed a fruitful SASHOC Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) with KZN Inland and cracked the nod for SA u17A selection. He carried that form into the match against Affies and restored College’s lead in the second chukka, with a stunning strike.
He drove across the top of the circle from left to right, then, under heavy pressure, fired off a blistering shot, much like Smith had done, but from his strong stick side, to put the hosts ahead.
“It was nice to see we scored field goals, which has not been the luxury this season,” Sanders reflected.
However, just like in the first chukka, College’s lead was short-lived. Nienaber was, once again, on target for the visitors after a superb counterattack tore open the home side’s defence, giving Nienaber a simple finish.
If Nienaber was the face of Affies’ refusal to accept defeat, then Smith was the symbol of College’s determination to collect maximum points.
He restored College’s lead in the second half, and this time, there was no way back for the visitors. Their coach, Jaydon Lincoln, pulled off the goalkeeper for a forward in the last five minutes of the match, but that brave decision went unrewarded.
“I think it just speaks about their mentality, on how much they want to win and how much they value winning,” Sanders enthused.
“It’s lovely to see. I like how schools and teams do that. But it’s risky. It’s either they’re all in or not. So, yeah, I enjoyed it.”
Faced with the extra field player, the College defenders did what they had done all match long: defended with determination, discipline, and composure.
Affies, though, won a penalty corner with time up on the clock. Unfortunately for the visitors, their push was off target, and Maritzburg College claimed a hard-fought victory.
Result
Maritzburg College 3-2 Affies
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