View from the Dugout #59

BASKETBALL

Our basketball teams played a full-fixture at a hot and humid Clifton College last Saturday. The outdoor courts presented a tough playing environment for our boys who were not acclimatised to the conditions. It was clear from early on in the day that Clifton had spent a lot of time preparing their A teams as they presented stiff opposition in the U14A, U15A and U16A team matches but not so much in the lower divisions. In fact, in all three A team games our boys had to make repeated comebacks to eventually subdue their opponents eventually winning 15 – 11, 24 – 23 and 16 – 15 respectively. These games were enthralling encounters and I was delighted with the grit that our boys showed to come out on top. This was not the case in the B and C team games, where our superior skill and fitness made for one-sided affairs. Going into the 1st team match we had played 12 and won 12 matches a good day regardless of the pending result. The main game was a thriller – Clifton took the early 9 point advantage for us to only reel them in and cruise ahead by 5 points near the half way mark. Clifton came out stronger after the break going ahead once more and leaving us with a daunting 8 point deficit to overcome in the last quarter. Bit by bit we clawed our way back into contention until with less than a minute remaining and with scores even, we were awarded two free throws to take the lead. Tanaka Matsa stepped to the mark converting one of his two chances for us to lead 52 – 51. With 3 seconds remaining the unimaginable happened. In desperation, a Clifton player launched a last gasp shot from deep within his half as the final whistle sounded. In a fashion only seen in Hollywood movies, the ball, seemingly in slow motion, miraculously travelled the distance and found its mark; Clifton winning 52 – 54. I guess, if you have to go down, that’s the way you want it to happen…

CRICKET

Our first XI were far too strong for a young Clifton College 1st team; a 115 run partnership between Colby Dyer and Josh Watt eventually proved to be the difference as Clifton were never on track to chase the 204 set by Hilton College. Early wickets by John Turner and the persistence of the other bowlers told on the Clifton batsmen as Colby Dyer wrapped up the tale for Clifton to be bowled out for 97. The 2nd XI continued where they left of last year as they were successful by 9 wickets. Campbell Wilmot’s maiden 100 made the chase of 165 by Clifton look easy on a good wicket. The 4th and U16B teams played in a 10/10/10 match. The cricket on the day was of a good standard as the U16B team ran out the winners in the runs-to-wickets ratio calculations. The U16A team were in the pound seats as Jack Gillham’s 5 for 11 ripped the heart out of their U16A team. The target of 77 was easily knocked off in 12 overs by Chris Pistorius and Craig Yammin. Our U15A team’s batsmen did not have the best of days as tight bowling by their opposition saw the team miss out in their chase of 168. The U15B team fared much better as Daniel den Bakker’s 109 catapulted his team to 249, winning the game by 122 runs. The U14 age group had a great day winning all but the A team match and although they showed good fight to restrict the Clifton team to 181 after being 141 for 3, they let it slip with the bat, ending 40 runs short. Well done to all involved in the day’s cricket and we look forward to the challenge of Kearsney this week end.

(Thanks to Warren Kirsten for this report)

TENNIS

The 3rd team squared up against Michaelhouse in Balgowan on Monday. Our boys showed their class by humbling the hosts 17 – 1.

The 1st and 2nd teams welcomed top ranked Kearsney to a home fixture on Wednesday. Our boys were sublime, shrugging off the underdog tag, they immediately took the fight to the visitors. In the 1st team match we entered the doubles with 3 points apiece and needing 2 points from the last three on offer to win the fixture. Spurred on by the heroics of Sam Black and Joe Hill, who outed the Kearsney No. 1 and No. 2, the team grabbed the last point to win 5 – 4. The 2nd team lost 3 – 6 with all of the matches going down to the wire.

SQUASH

Our Squash boys continued to show pleasing progress in their midweek clash with Kearsney. Although the boys went down, they did so with great fight taking a number of matches to the 5th game.

SWIMMING

Our swimmers have participated in two galas so far, but both of these have been called off halfway through due to stormy weather which is unfortunate. In the first of these, Hilton hosted the Invitational Gala and we were doing very well against our competitors. The social co-ed Dimont Gala was being enjoyed by the boys and they were doing admirably being paired with St John’s and Epworth girls before this event was cancelled.

Tonight the boys take on the best swimming schools in the country at the Westville Gala, whilst on Sunday we will be at the Midmar Mile. We have entered 58 swimmers for the open water event. There will be a Hilton-branded gazebo at the end of the race with a few refreshments for any parents who wish to join us there.

The Independent Schools Gala will be hosted by us next Wednesday the 13th of February. We hold the trophy for this so we would like to retain it. The swimmers are looking forward to the Valentine Swimming Social which will happen after the gala.

Our Inter-house Championship Gala is calendared for Monday the 18th of February. We are hoping to make this a festive event and have many records broken. Please come and show your support.

We have managed to gain the services of a professional swimming coach, Mandy Wheeler who is training our A Squad on Monday and Friday mornings. Should you desire further training for your son in the afternoons, then this can be organised through the Penguins Swimming Club for your own account.

(Thanks to Carolyn van Zuydam for this swimming report)

WATER POLO

With Clifton’s 1st and 2nd teams away on tour, our water polo club travelled sans these teams to Durban. This is traditionally our hardest match, with Clifton, arguably the strongest water polo school in the country, usually winning the lion’s share of the matches. Our boys, however, arrived determined to compete and our bellicosity was rewarded from early on with significant victories for top performing sides, the 5th (10 – 3) and U15B (11 – 4). The U14A and U15A matches were very exciting encounters with the U14A ending victors 4 – 1 and the U15A sustaining a tough loss 4 – 7. All-in-all we were delighted with the overall stats, winning 5, drawing 1 and only losing 1 match on the day. The 1st and 2nd teams will “catch-up” their matches this coming Saturday.

The water polo club continued their good form in the midweek bagging 6 wins, drawing 1 and only losing 1 in a down-the-line fixture against Kearsney. Our dominance was encapsulated by the 1st team performance. Although we were a little “leaky” on defence at times, it was a game which we dominated most facets of play. In the end a comfortable 20 – 11 victory for the white, a margin for the record books. Well done boys!

Tony Shuttleworth
Executive Director – Sport