Westville were hosted by Maritzburg College in the last weekend of summer sports. Both schools matched each other team for team across four sports codes: Basketball, Cricket, squash and Water polo. Fifty three sports team participated in the day which saw several great sporting performances from both schools. Westville proved to be dominant in the pool and on the squash court, but the other two codes were far more closely contested with College gaining the bragging rights for winning both 1st Team games and Westville coming out on top in overall wins.
In cricket news, Westville just shaded College by winning 13 of the 25 games played. College, who are a cricketing force in the province, won the 1st and U16A games, Westville won the 2nds, U15A and U14Agames. The Westville1st team were given a solid start by their openers who posted a 53 run open stand, but once College introduced their spin attack, they pegged Westville back and the highway team could only post a modest total of 166. Westville needed early wickets to place College under pressure but this did not materialise and despite decent bowling from Tyrone Koen and Tristan Vermaak, College reached the total with relative comfort to win by 4 wickets.
The U14A team game was a real thriller with Westville winning the game by two runs right at the death. Daniel Trevethan and Jarred Oosthuizen posted a 124 run partnership for the 2nd wicket and Trevethan was to be the mainstay of the innings scoring an impressive century (106). Luke Allen was Westville’s best bowler with 3/39 but it was the fielding that finally won them the game with Junior Zuma running out the last College batter two runs short of Westville’s total.
In Basketball news, Westville won eight of the fourteen games played. As with the cricket, the competition between the schools was fierce with many of the games decided on the final hooter. College won the 1st and 2nd team games, and Westville won the U14, 15 and 16A team games.
1st Team Water polo player, Grant Hewitt in action in the pool.
In Water polo news, Westville proved to be completely dominant, winning all nine games with a healthy 77 goal difference. The 1st team recorded another impressive victory to close their season on a high. The victory was built on the Westville team’s superior fitness with many of the goals scored from breakaways in the large College pool. The 14A team who remain unbeaten this season in the province, and after beating College travelled up to Jeppe to participate in the Ken Short National U14 Water Polo Festival. This annual event features 20 of the top schools in the country. The U14’s reached the semi finals before losing to Bishops, but then won the Bronze Medal by beating St Davids to cap a fine season.
In Squash news, the 4 Squash teams recorded a clean sweep against College with the 1st team dominating 5 – 0. The 1st Team also beat Michaelhouse 5 – 0 in the midweek, Super 8 League to remain unbeaten this term.
In Golf news, the 3rd team beat St Henrys 1st team 5 – 3
Finally, in Swimming news, Kings Park hosted the final gala of the swim season: the Durban and District Schools A League Gala. The Westville Swim team maintained their dominance with yet another convincing performance to stretch their unbeaten run to eight years. The Swim Team has now won 74 consecutive galas .