{"id":29393,"date":"2023-07-18T15:13:38","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hockey.supersportschools.com\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2023-07-18T15:13:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T13:13:38","slug":"the-1998-college-first-hockey-team-sas-greatest-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=29393","title":{"rendered":"The 1998 College First hockey team, SA’s greatest ever"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

THE FACTS AND THE FIGURES<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/header>\n

The numbers are astonishing, the record incredible, and the claim that the Maritzburg College 1st hockey team of 1998 was, quite possibly, the best schoolboy team in the history of South Africa is extremely compelling.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s put forward those statistics for the College case: they played 24 matches, including eight in England (and not only against school teams), and won 23 of them. The 24th was a draw, which really should have been a College win. They did, in fact, score a winner, but\u2026 More on that later.<\/p>\n

It gets better, though. With only College boys on the field, the Midlands (now KZN Inland) A team won the Inter-provincial under-18 A Tournament, which was played in Pietermaritzburg.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

With every member of the team making the Midlands A team, they also became the only side in the history of Maritzburg College to all be awarded Honours.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This article was first published on Pinnacle South Africa<\/a><\/strong> by Brad Morgan.<\/p>\n

Eight of the 1998 1st<\/sup>\u00a0team also played for the Midlands under-21 A team. They, too, won the A IPT. Two College boys, Craig Maud and Iain Evans, were selected for the South African under-21 side.<\/p>\n

Five players \u2013 Iain Evans, Craig Maud, Rich Stewart, Rob Dauncey and Charl van der Merwe \u2013 represented the Midlands men\u2019s team, which finished fourth in the National Men\u2019s Hockey League.<\/p>\n

\"Journalist
Journalist Ken Borland wrote about the massive impact of Maritzburg College\u2019s class of 1998, not only on school hockey, but also on national under-21 and men\u2019s hockey.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS<\/h3>\n

Six of the players \u2013 Iain Evans (captain), Craig Maud, Gareth Carr, Gary Royston, Rich Stewart and Charl van der Merwe \u2013 were chosen for the South African Schools A side. Dale Isaacs was selected for the SA Schools B team, with Ryan van der Riet a non-travelling reserve, and Marc Holness captained the South African under-16 team.<\/p>\n

Four members of the 1998 Maritzburg College 1st<\/sup>\u00a0team \u2013 Iain Evans, Gareth Carr, Charl van der Merwe and Ayden Shrives (indoor) \u2013 went on to win South African men\u2019s caps.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, 12 of the players that represented the College 1st<\/sup>\u00a0team that year received South African Schools colours.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

As the captain Iain Evans noted to\u00a0Pinnacle Schools<\/em>: \u201cComing off the bench, you had Ayden Shrives, Tony Holness, and you had Leroy Nel, who are probably three of the most talented guys to ever sit bench for any high school 1st team. All of them played for SA Schools, and they were our bench players.\u201d<\/p>\n

A LEGENDARY COACH<\/h3>\n

The team was coached by a legend of schoolboy sport in South Africa, Mike Bechet. A product of DHS, he played hockey for Eastern Province, Western Province, Natal, and the South African under-21 team. \u00a0As a coach, he led Natal to IPT honours. Later, he became the convenor of selectors for the South African men\u2019s team for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n

Bechet\u2019s records as coach of the Maritzburg College 1st<\/sup>\u00a0hockey team and 1st<\/sup>\u00a0cricket team, alone, stand as among the best. Combined, they are unchallenged.<\/p>\n

The SA School Sport website ran a poll on the greatest South African schoolboy coach in 2020. There were 116 284 votes cast and Bechet received 62 625 of them (53.86%). The runner-up received just over half of that number. Interestingly, that man, Skonk Nicholson, was another DHS old boy who made his name at Maritzburg College.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Mike
Included in a coaching career of outstanding achievements, Mike Bechet coached Maritzburg College teams that were ranked number one in the country in both hockey and cricket in the same year.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TRAINING UNDER MIKE BECHET<\/h3>\n

Iain Evans, the captain of College in 1998, told\u00a0Pinnacle Schools<\/em>: \u201cI have fond memories of training as hard as I have ever trained in my life, under Bech.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a very demanding coach, from a life point of view and from a hockey point of view. He demanded everything. I remember he would be hard on you if you didn\u2019t achieve the things that he had set out to do in the session, and the things that he demanded were total commitment and excellence in each training session. He would let you know if you weren\u2019t living up to that expectation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bechet demanded a structured, high percentage approach to the game, Evans said. \u201cIn the training sessions at College, he would focus a lot on technique. From a very early age, you were given a role, a position, and told that was what you needed to do, and you did it over and over and over and over and over again, until you did it in your sleep. And you were the best at it, whether it was slapping a ball, hitting a ball, pushing it around the back four, which we did for hours upon hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where the famous Maritzburg College back-four trough came from. We would do that in our sleep, at high speed. He emphasised first touch all the time, so that you received it from any angle, and your first touch would be perfect. Your second touch was another pass. That was the approach to the back four.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

STYLE OF PLAY<\/h3>\n

Overheads were outlawed. Midfielders had to receive and pass, never run with the ball, until it had reached the front three. Then, and only then, could the players use their one-on-one skills.<\/p>\n

Primarily, Bechet preferred to attack down the right, the strong stick side, forcing the overlap in the Dutch style.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was always drilled into us: right-side overlap, baseline, 90 degrees to finish. Then, left side, receive it in a dangerous area, cut in at 45, force a shortie or a goal shot, or fling it to the far-right post. That was kind of the tactic of Bech, essentially,\u201d Evans shared.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Defensively, it was a man-to-man approach, with strong communication. Evans said Bechet had a saying: \u201c\u2018Stick like shit to a blanket when you\u2019re marking\u2019. That was one of his favourites.\u201d<\/p>\n

A CEREBRAL APPROACH<\/h3>\n

The coach\u2019s approach was more cerebral than focussing on what happened on the field, however. \u201cFrom a life point of view, I remember Bech taking us to Nathan House and reading us excerpts from Michael Johnson\u2019s \u2018Slaying the Dragon\u2019,\u201d Evans recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was big on his quotes. He loved Vince Lombardi. He loved all the classic coaching mantras. He used to drill them into us over and over again. Before big games, he would make us lie on the floor and do breathing and relaxation, and play us \u2018Chariots of Fire\u2019, while we visualised executing those roles and skills that he had set out for us to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was very much ahead of his time as a schoolboy hockey coach in that era, from a mental conditioning point of view, from a life philosophy point of view, making sure you ate right, slept enough.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In those days, Maritzburg College did not have a school gym. Bechet made his players take out contracts at Body Dynamics Gym.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs young men, he put the ball in our court a lot, which is good for life. I respect that, and I used that throughout my life,\u201d Evans said.<\/p>\n

The 1998 Maritzburg College team, though, didn\u2019t require too much pushing. They were driven individually and drove one another collectively.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Ken Borland in 2021, Bechet shared some of his coaching philosophy, which was reflected in the \u201998 side: \u201cI like to pick guys who absorb information and who have good character. I value that above skill. You can teach someone skill, but you can\u2019t teach character. Things like mental attitude and a culture of no excuses play a huge role.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Renowned<\/p>\n

Renowned as a rugby writer, Simnikiwe Xabanisa was inspired to write about the all-conquering College 1st XI of 1998.<\/strong><\/p>\n

AN ASTROTURF ADVANTAGE<\/h3>\n

College had an advantage over most of their opposition, also, because Mike Bechet had embraced playing on artificial turf long before many others, and he had ensured his players had the opportunity to develop their games on the surface.<\/p>\n

When the AB Jackson AstroTurf was laid in 1996, he secured a set of keys to the facility. From that time, the College 1st<\/sup>\u00a0team never again trained on grass. They were able to develop their artificial surface skills before other schools, skills like penalty corners, which were a huge advantage for the team. That included a once-a-week practice at 05:30 in the morning. Commitment was demanded and expected.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1998, towards the end of the season, an Astro was laid on Pape\u2019s, with College, once again, leading the way among South African schools. They were the first to have their own Astro.<\/p>\n

As the captain of the 1998 team, Evans said all that was required from him in terms of leadership was fine-tuning. He had exceptional talent around him, boosted by players whose efforts set the example for their team-mates.<\/p>\n

TOP CLASS DEFENSIVE TALENT<\/h3>\n

At goalkeeper, Craig Maud was \u201cprobably the best schoolboy goalkeeper that\u2019s ever played the game,\u201d Evans said. Maud\u2019s selection for the South African under-21 team backs up that contention. Evans was, of course, the other player to crack the nod for the national under-21 side.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The centre back pairing of Gareth Carr and Gary Royston both made the SA Schools side. \u201cThey were both formidable in their distribution and their tackling, very well organised, and they played together for three seasons in a row,\u201d Evans commented.<\/p>\n

At right-half was Rich Stewart, who had moved to College from Jeppe, along with Rob Dauncey. \u201cHard as nails and with a super-sensible head on his shoulders. He was very calm all the time,\u201d Evans said. Stewart was another SA Schools selection.<\/p>\n

Completing the defence was left-half Neil Gillespie. \u201cProbably the most hard-working defensive left-half I have ever played with,\u201d Evans reckoned. \u201cAs a distributor down the left, he was a helluva strong guy. He could slap a ball really, really hard, and he didn\u2019t miss a lot of tackles.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that was your back four and your goalie.\u201d Four SA Schools A selections and one SA Schools B selection.<\/p>\n

MIDFIELD<\/h3>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have to do much, as a captain,\u201d Evans admitted. He was the kingpin in midfield.<\/p>\n

\"1998
1998 Maritzburg College 1st XI captain Iain Evans was selected for the SA Schools and SA under-21 teams in his matric year.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAs a central midfielder, he was clearly in a class of his own at schoolboy level in the country,\u201d Mike Bechet wrote in the Maritzburg College Magazine. \u201cHis domination of this area of the field saw to it that at u18 provincial and domestic level he never played on the losing side. He reads the game superbly well, while his leadership skills never detracted from his performances on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bechet suggested Evans would progress to \u201ca very high level in hockey in years to come\u201d. He was right. Evans represented South Africa at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.<\/p>\n

To the left of Evans in the midfield was Charl van der Merwe. Recalling his influence, Evans said: \u201cHe was probably the first player to really master aerial skills, so he would just eliminate players from left midfield with a little jink and an aerial dribble, and suddenly our midfield would be behind their midfield, and it would be six on four, which often led to a goal or a shortie or a stroke.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Ryan van der Riet played on the right of midfield. During the season, he developed his drag flick and became so good at it he relegated Evans from the job.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got relegated to the slip flick, because Ryan was flicking so well and so hard,\u201d the skipper said. \u201cThat was before Gareth Carr learned to drag flick, and he ended up drag flicking for the national team later on in his career. And Ryan was fast and strong.\u201d In the 1999 season, Van der Riet would net 45 times and Carr would score 30 goals for the College.<\/p>\n

FORWARDS<\/h3>\n

On the right wing was Simon Mommsen, a member of the Maritzburg College 4 x 100 metres relay team. He had serious gas and he used it well.<\/p>\n

Evans described Mommsen\u2019s strength: \u201cHe had only one move, and that was the over the top, but it was really good, and he would just accelerate and also hatch it, and nobody could catch him. \u2018Baseline run, and then those 90-degree under the shoulder passes, which they trained over and over again.<\/p>\n

\u201cRob Dauncey, as the centre striker, was a classic centre-forward. He scored tons of goals.\u201d For the record, Dauncey scored 28 times in 23 games.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was a hard man, and such a hard-working defensive striker, as well. He used to reverse press guys, especially if we identified an opposition centre midfielder who was good. Daunce would be reverse pressing him. I would be stepping through, with Gary Royston right behind me, and we would create these impenetrable midfield pockets.<\/p>\n

Then, at left striker was Dale Isaacs. \u201cHe scored goals from everywhere and, also, was so hard-working. He ran such good defensive lines, and was quick off the mark, and to press,\u201d said Evans. Isaacs was \u201cdesperately unlucky not to gain selection to the National under-18 A team,\u201d Mike Bechet said.<\/p>\n

Isaacs was also a prolific goal scorer, finishing just behind Rob Dauncey with 27 goals in 24 matches.<\/p>\n

As if that wasn\u2019t enough, there were the aforementioned bench players, who would all go on to earn South African Schools colours in the future.<\/p>\n

\"The
The 1998 Maritzburg College 1st team: an all-time great team with an all-time great coach.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

IRONCLAD DEFENCE<\/h3>\n

In matches against South African opposition, Maritzburg College conceded only two goals all season.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, both of those goal were scored by Kearsney College, and it happened in the aforementioned draw. College were shocked early in the game, when Kearsney went ahead, and at the break they still led.<\/p>\n

Just 10 minutes after the restart, though, College had moved into a 2-1 lead. Then, they fired another one into the back of the Kearsney goal. Unfortunately for the umpire, Clive McMurray, he was unsighted and missed it.<\/p>\n

College coach Mike Bechet told Pinnacle Schools about that incident: \u201cClive McMurray, my great friend, who played hockey for Natal with me, was umpiring. He became the country manager of FIH umpires, a wonderful guy.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was Gareth Carr who the ball. It hit the inside of the back upright, at the back of the goals, and came out. It was a goal today, a goal tomorrow, and a goal forever, and Clive signalled \u2018play on\u2019. Of course, the College guys stood there\u2026and then they played on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I\u2019ve seen Clive since then, he says to me \u2018I\u2019ll never forget that game. I think I cost you\u2019. He\u2019s a good friend of mine. That was controversial. But that\u2019s just how it was, and we learned from that. The next game, we smacked Alex 10-0.\u201d<\/p>\n

OVERWHELMING SUPERIORITY<\/h3>\n

In all, in 16 matches against South African school sides, which included a 4-0 win against the Rest of Natal Schools, on the occasion of the opening of Pape\u2019s Astro, College scored 95 goals and conceded only two. Do the maths, that is scoring fractionally below six goals per game while conceding, on average, once every eight games.<\/p>\n

The Rest of Natal match was the curtain-raiser to a game between a College Old Boys\u2019 Provincial XI and a Rest of South Africa XI, made up of current and past provincial and national players. Given what his future held, a move to Jeppe High School for Boys, it was interesting to note Mike Bechet wrote about the clash, won 5-3 by the Rest of SA, in the 1998 Maritzburg College Magazine. He commented: \u201cIt was a special moment when the ex-Jeppe boys arrived resplendent in their Jeppe Honours blazers of yesteryear\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Special
Special talent for a special occasion: the opening of Pape\u2019s Astro in 1998.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeppe was special to Bechet, because they presented such a tough challenge to College. Captain Iain Evans appreciated the Johannesburg school\u2019s grit, too. \u201cThey were very well drilled. They were tough as nails. They were clinical. They were like the Maritzburg College of Joburg.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

College\u2019s showdown with Jeppe in 1998 stands out as one of the most memorable matches he played at school, Evans said, especially because he was up against an opponent he had faced throughout his cricket and hockey career, a man who would later become one of his best friends, Ryan Ravenscroft, today the Deputy Head of Clifton Prep in Durban: \u201c\u2018Ravers\u2019 was a tough, tough man, and a very tough opponent,\u201d Evans reckoned.<\/p>\n

Every year, College met Jeppe at Festivals, often at the Ascension Festival, which has morphed into today\u2019s Nomads Festival. When they did battle in 1998, College registered a convincing 4-0 win over the boys in black and white. Ravenscroft described the loss to Evans as \u201cdevastating\u201d.<\/p>\n

Jeppe had, for a long time, led the way in the number of South African Schools hockey representatives produced by one school, but it was around this time, 1996-1998, that College managed to overhaul them, as Bechet coached some outstanding teams that dominated all-comers.<\/p>\n

A CHANGE OF CULTURE<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe culture of College hockey changed quite a lot between 1996 and when I left in 1998 to what it is now,\u201d Evans said. \u201cAstroTurf had a huge role to play in that because the hockey was a helluva lot more exciting.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlus, you played it on a Friday night, under lights. It was an opportunity for the boarders to come and watch, to get out of prep, and to socialise.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that point, hockey was still quite marginalised. Rugby was the big thing. We never had any shouting on the side of the Astro \u2013 organised shouting, cheering or war cries. None of that happened until the AstroTurf got laid at Pape\u2019s. Then, slowly, it started to change, and the hockey guys started to become recognised.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think, as well, College celebrates winners, and in that 1998 team we had 12 SA Schools players. We were unbeaten. We won in England. We dominated. We had guys go on to make the national side. I think that was the tipping point.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe guys came to watch, and they saw how skilled we were, and they saw how exciting the hockey was, and that we were just destroying the other schools. Maybe the rugby took a pounding, but the College hockey team had won at least 4-0 or 5-0 the night before, which was something they could celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile our rugby was going through a tough year, our hockey was absolutely dominating, plus it was exciting to watch, and it was a social occasion. Then, we got our own AstroTurf, which was a big celebration of hockey. It changed a lot. The term \u2018The Red Army\u2019 came into existence around that time. It is now emblazoned on the bank at Pape\u2019s. \u201d<\/p>\n

After convincingly dealing with South African opposition, College opposed England\u2019s Kingston Grammar School on Pape\u2019s. The visitors managed a goal, but College won 3-1.<\/p>\n

\"The
The opening of Pape\u2019s Astro also included an introduction to the team that would tour the UK.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

THE MILLFIELD ASTROTURF CHALLENGE<\/h3>\n

Their South African fixture list was done, but College had been invited to the Millfield AstroTurf Challenge in the United Kingdom. Millfield was renowned for its sporting excellence, a school with exceptional facilities and an outstanding record in sport. Already, it possessed two water-based AstroTurf fields.<\/p>\n

College\u2019s tour, which Bechet remembers being a particular highlight of the season, included matches against some of England\u2019s leading hockey-playing schools and regional under-19 and even under-21 teams.<\/p>\n

The Red Army conceded nine goals in total, but they added another 66 to their tally, in eight outings, to finish undefeated. Interestingly, five of those goals were scored by the 1997 Millfield team. Millfield were one of the pacesetters in England, and this was their previous year\u2019s side.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It was also the first match, an out-of-tournament game, that College played on their tour. No problem! Iain Evans and his crew roared into a 5-0 lead. They, however, didn\u2019t keep up the intensity and Millfield grabbed their opportunities, pulling back to within a goal at 5-4. With the outcome in doubt, College reestablished their superiority and ran out winners by the eyebrow-raising score of 8-5.<\/p>\n

An interesting sidenote to the game was the fact that it was a testy affair, and at halftime, a number of Millfield players were sitting on green cards. During the break, though, they swopped shirts. Part way through the second half, the umpire, Arthur Wormington, realised what had happened and made them change back into their original shirts!<\/p>\n

TOURNAMENT WINNERS<\/h3>\n

On to the tournament, College opened with a 6-1 win over the West of England under-19 team, which was a tougher outing than the score might suggest. Next, they faced an Old Millfieldians team, which was expected to be among the top sides at the tournament. College crushed them 12-0.<\/p>\n

Birkenhead School had a young team and College inflicted a 16-0 thrashing on them. The touring side was tired, but they next lifted themselves for their meeting with the Millfield 1st<\/sup>\u00a0XI, this time recording a 6-0 win.<\/p>\n

Their last tournament fixture proved to be another romp for College, who overpowered the Kent under-19 team by a 12-1 margin. The Millfield AstroTurf Challenge Trophy belonged to Bechet\u2019s boys.<\/p>\n

\"Neil
Neil \u201cBrundle\u201d Gillespie, Iain Evans and Mike Bechet enjoy a moment of relaxation at the Millfield AstroTurf Challenge.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LAST MATCH, TOUGHEST CHALLENGE<\/h3>\n

After the conclusion of the tournament, a match was organised against the West of England under-21 side, the regional champions of England.<\/p>\n

Iain Evans shared his recollection of the game: \u201cWe were all 16, 17, turning 18. These guys were turning 21, and it was their best championship team. We had just played six matches in a row, two games a day.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain, the whole village turned out to watch us lose, because they were sick and tired of us just destroying all of their local teams.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThese boys were big, and they were rough. Thankfully, we had Arthur Wormington as the umpire, and Bech was in the dugout coaching. Obviously, Worms was trying to keep up his end, to even things out, thankfully. Otherwise, I think they would definitely have swindled us out of a win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember being so tired and my body aching so much. We just let the ball work, and we didn\u2019t run much at all. We just kept everything very compact, and we won short corners and set pieces in the right areas, and we defended compactly and tightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese guys had amazing skills we had never seen before, and a different way of playing. The English style is very different. But the boys took it in their stride, and we just kept to our structures and kept very disciplined. There was nothing fancy about the way that we played. We ground out a win and, in the end, we won 3-1.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember the feeling. It was a massive sense of relief that we had won. And we really made a lot of people unhappy that day. They just walked away from the ground. We shook hands with these guys, and they were not happy about losing to a schoolboy team from South Africa.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI was very, very proud of the boys, and needless to say we celebrated with a few beers\u2026 But that was the end of our season. We were going back to play IPT, and our entire team was the Midlands A team, in the A section, at home, and we won that IPT, funnily enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

In South Africa<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maritzburg College 7-0 Fourways
\nMaritzburg College 6-0 St Stithians
\nMaritzburg College 5-0 Selborne College
\nMaritzburg College 3-0 Pretoria Boys\u2019 High
\nMaritzburg College 4-0 Jeppe
\nMaritzburg College 16-0 Carter
\nMaritzburg College 4-0 Hilton College
\nMaritzburg College 6-0 Michaelhouse
\nMaritzburg College 5-0 Michaelhouse
\nMaritzburg College 3-0 Grey College
\nMaritzburg College 9-0 Northwood
\nMaritzburg College 2-0 Glenwood
\nMaritzburg College 9-0 DHS
\nMaritzburg College 2-2 Kearsney College
\nMaritzburg College 10-0 Alexandra
\nMaritzburg College 4-0 Rest of Natal Schools
\nMaritzburg College 3-1 Kingston Grammar (UK)<\/p>\n

UK Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maritzburg College 8-5 Millfield \u201997
\nMaritzburg College 6-1 West of England u19
\nMaritzburg College 12-0 Old Millfieldians
\nMaritzburg College 16-0 Birkenhead
\nMaritzburg College 6-0 Millfield \u201998
\nMaritzburg College 12-1 Kent u19
\nMaritzburg College 3-1 West of England u21<\/p>\n

Goals for 161, goals against 11<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE FACTS AND THE FIGURES The numbers are astonishing, the record incredible, and the claim that the Maritzburg College 1st hockey team of 1998 was, quite possibly, the best schoolboy team in the history of South Africa is extremely compelling. So, let\u2019s put forward those statistics for the College case: they played 24 matches, including […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":29076,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29393\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}