Soccer

MASTER IN CHARGE:  Mr B Bosch

Soccer achieved prominence at College in the early 1880's when the introduction of the Association Cup made the sport even more popular than rugby at the time. Sometimes both codes would be played on the same day, with the soccer kickoff at 2pm and then the rugby at 4pm, with 4 players added for the latter match. There were fewer boys at College in those days.

MARITZBURG College retained the Raw Junior Challenge Cup in 2012 when they defeated traditional rivals DHS 2-1 in Durban.

College have now won three of the five Challenge Cup matches played between the two schools since it was revived in 2008.

The Cup was first played for in 1889 when College beat DHS in the inaugural match but the Cup seemingly fell into obscurity in 1951 until it reappeared after 54 years in 2005 when it was discovered at a flea market and the new owner, Robert Buck, was persuaded by the DHS archivist, JJ Oddy, to donate it to DHS.

DHS hosted the first of the new Challenge Cup series in 2008 when they were beaten by College under floodlights.  They got their revenge a year later in Pietermaritzburg and retained the title in 2010 in Durban with a 3-1 victory.  College won it back last year in a penalty shoot-out after the teams were deadlocked 2-2 in regulation time.

The 2012 match had added significance as it launched the Soccer Against Rape campaign in support of the Jes Foord Foundation. 

 It took College only 12 minutes to score the first goal when midfielder Calvin Augustus split the DHS defence wide open with a pass which was collected by Ayren Bond in the clear.  As Bond advanced on the DHS goals he was unceremoniously “grassed” by a DHS defender and the referee awarded College a penalty kick.

Ryan Moon made no mistake with the spot kick, sending the ball into the roof of the DHS net with goalkeeper Wayne Jean-Louis powerless to save it. (0-1).  DHS came close to equalising four minutes later when his shot was fumbled by College ‘keeper, Brylon Petersen, who ultimately managed to prevent the ball crossing the goalline.

Both sides had produced solid, constructive football during an evenly contested first half but play became scrappy during the second half and the referee’s whistle had to work overtime as he blew for a succession of fouls and at least three players received a yellow card caution.

College scored a second goal with 10 minutes left on the clock when Moon got the ball out on the right and took it to the edge of the DHS penalty area and lobbed it into the net. (0-2)

This seemed to galvanise DHS into action and they drove an unstoppable shot past Petersen. (1-2)

But it was a case of too little too late for DHS as they pondered what might have been had they taken their chances.

The cup was presented to College captain, fullback Simphiwe Mathupa, by DHS Acting Principal, Marie Vermaak.