Month: May 2015

We are proud to have recently launched our new range of supporters gear at the Northwood Fashion Show!  The range includes ladies and men’s T-Shirts in a variety of colours as well a men’s blue and white vests.  The T-Shirts and vests are available in size small to XXL and are on sale during office hours from the back office as well as at home fixtures on Saturdays. With Old Boys Day just a few days away, now is the perfect time to reflect your Northwood spirit in style!

T-Shirts:  R160

Vests:  R140

For further information please email:  marketing@nwood.co.za

Friday saw the Northwood Knights take on St Charles at the Growthpoint Kingspark Stadium as the main curtain raiser to the Sharks vs. Rebels. It was a St Charles home fixture and they were gracious enough to travel down to Durban to give both team’s boys the chance to experience playing on the pitch.

The Knights got off to a great start playing rugby from the word go. With some great carries and ball security from the forwards it was not long until the spaces became available out wide. After 2 great tries within the first 10 minutes Northwood can be upset for letting their foot of the gas. All credit to St Charles who dominated the rugby for the next 40 minutes with great continuity. The St Charles pupils were all in full voice with 7 minutes to go when they had scored their second try under the poles and took the lead 14-12. Northwood can be complimented on their composed attitude to work the ball consistently back into St Charles half and scored in the far left hand corner to take the lead again 17-14. The conversion was a good one by Lars Van Den Meijdin and Northwood held on to the last 2 minutes to secure a 19-14 victory.

Report By:  Head of Rugby, Mr Jonathan Scruby

Photo Credit to:  Michael Symington, Northwood Press Club

The Northwood 1^st hockey team were made to work hard for their 3 – 2 victory against a competitive St Charles team on Saturday.

The match was a scrappy affair played in extremely hot and dry conditions on a very slow playing surface.

Northwood opened the scoring when Captain Shane Bradbury went on a sniping run and fired a reverse stick shot past the face of the goal to fellow striker Joshua Cowell who deflected home.

St Charles equalised shortly afterwards after some well worked play.

Joshua Cowell was on the score sheet again after a brilliant drag flick rocketed past the St Charles keepers shoulder from Northwood’s first penalty corner of the half.

Both teams created more scoring chances in the half but it was Northwood that took a 2 – 1 lead into the half time break.

The second half saw St Charles pile on the pressure and Northwood lost their way with some poor discipline resulting in twelve minutes worth of cards.

St Charles saw their pressure rewarded when they scrambled the ball home to bring the scores back to level.

It looked like St Charles were going to get their third but Northwood Keeper Garick Goldman was in brilliant form pulling off some fantastic saves from penalty corners and free play.

Northwood took the lead again with their second penalty corner of the match when Ighsaan Manuel sent a powerful flick into the bottom corner of the goal.

St Charles threw everything into attack and created numerous field scoring chances and penalty corners but they were unable to beat the brilliant Garick Goldman in the Northwood goals.

Northwood held out for a 3 – 2 win in what was a tricky fixture.

Congratulations go to Garick Goldman, Cody van Breemen and Ighsaan Manuel on achieving their 50^th cap for the Northwood 1^st team. An outstanding achievement for three extremely talented young men.

The Northwood 1^st hockey team bounced back with a fantastic, hard fought 2 – 1 win against a powerful Westville team in last night’s KZN Night League battle for third place.

Northwood, left reeling after two humbling defeats last week, showed some character to bounce back against a strong Westville team that had beaten them earlier in the year.

Captain Shane Bradbury and keeper Garick Goldman were the stars of the day with Bradbury scoring the two goals through one on ones and Goldman making some crucial saves to help his team to the victory.

The win secured third place for Northwood in this year’s edition of the night league and it was a fantastic team effort.

Round 1 of the Junior Eliminator for KZN kicked off on Sunday 24 May. The first event was hosted by Northwood High School in Durban North. The junior riders representing 18 schools from around the province were tested by a well balanced course containing a small climb to test the legs, plenty of sprint and over taking opportunities and a few interesting obstacles to test their skills. In true Durban style, the weather was hot, only to be out done by the racing action on course. The interesting thing about eliminator is that there really is no “favourite to win” everybody stands the chance, anything can happen on course and there is no coming back from a dropped chain, puncture or crash and being youthful they can all sprint flat out for duration of the short course.

There were a lot of new faces that weren’t at last year’s series, at first there were a few questions of “why is the course so short and why only one lap?” It didn’t take long for the riders to realise it was pretty much a flat out sprint for around two minutes. Parents, team mates and other spectators were kept highly entertained by the high paced racing from the various age groups with a number of heats coming down to a sprint finish. It was great to have a full heat of under 14 girls to battle it out against each other, but it was Beanie Thies(Wartburg Kirchdorf School) who proved just too strong for the rest winning her three heats comfortably. There were only two under 16 girls who elected to race with the boys and held their own with Courtney Smith(Thomas More College) making it through to round 3 and Tiffany Keep(Thomas More College) keeping the boys on their toes advancing right up to the semi -finals before narrowly losing out on the line!

Despite their size, the speed and power from the under 14 boys was incredible, the boys attacked every obstacle at full pace including flying down the double set of stairs. The under 16 boys was the most hotly contested age group with a number of close finishes as the boys stomped on their pedals to advance through the rounds and into the final. The final was elbow to elbow racing getting the crowd on their feet screaming as the four boys chased each other around the course. The under 19 boys showed some smarts with a few team tactics as well as pacing themselves through the earlier rounds in order to conserve energy for when it really mattered.

The sponsors of the Junior Eliminator Series have gone all out in backing the young riders and during prize giving the competitors were showered in prizes both for the finalists as well as a raffle draw from Trek Bikes, Fox Racing, Enjoy Fitness, Skullcandy, OGIO and Rayne Cams. Round two will take place on Sunday 31 May at Giba Gorge Bike Park in Pinetown. It is Comrades day, so the registration will only start at 12pm, racing from 1pm and prize giving at 3pm.

We would like to see some more schools being represented, entries are still available and riders can enter online: www.onemovement.co.za

The Video of the event can be viewed at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kII2uLFYLw

Results from Round 1:

under 14 girls

1. Beanie Thies (Wartburg Kirchdorf School)
2. Emma Clipstone (St Marys DSG)
3. Kiara Muldoon (Northlands Girls High School)

 

under 16 Girls

1. Tiffany Keep (Thomas More College)
2. Courtney Smith (Thomas More College)

 

under 14 boys

1. Mitchel Potgieter (Kloof Primary)
2. Robbie Jessop (Virginia Primary)
3. Myles Crookes (Hillcrest High School)

 

under 16 boys

1. Jett Bradshaw (Two Bridges)
2. Dylan Howard (Crawford North Coast)
3. Joshua Clipstone (Thomas More College)

 

Under 19 Boys

1. Dean Wartmann (Wartburg Kirchdorf School)
2. Felix Manke (Maritzburg College)
3. Mitchell Meugens (Maritzburg College)

 

KZN Overall Series (after first event)

1^st Northwood                                   4228 Points

2^nd Thomas More                             3133 Points

3^rd Maritzburg College                   2950 Points

 

The Northwood 1^st hockey team put in their most polished performance of the season so far, when they dispatched Michaelhouse 4 – 0 on Saturday.

Northwood dominated the encounter from start to finish with every player in the team producing massive performances to give them an outstanding team victory away from home.

Northwood opened the scoring through exciting midfielder Cody van Breemen when he eliminated three defenders at high speed and smashed a reverse stick shot past the advancing Michaelhouse keeper. The visitors doubled their lead when some enterprising play down the right hand side resulted in a simple far post tip in from midfielder Scott Bowman.

The second half saw Northwood continue to control the tempo of the match and they kept the Michaelhouse defenders under pressure with some swift counter attacking hockey.

Michaelhouse had a fantastic opportunity to pull one back when their striker had a free shot at goal but couldn’t beat the advancing Garick Goldman. The rebound fell to the striker again but his shot was saved brilliantly on the line by defender Ighsaan Manuel.

Northwood scored their third of the match when a brilliant diving reverse stick strike from midfielder Sacha de Marigny flashed past the Michaelhouse keeper.

Michaelhouse looked to have scored again when their striker dispossessed a Northwood defender and entered the circle but his shot flashed wide of the target.

Northwood capped off the victory with a brilliant penalty corner variation that saw Joshua Cowell fire a rocket into the bottom corner.

The Northwood team showed passion and discipline in what was a fantastic 4 – 0 victory.

Report by Darryn Gallagher, MIC of Hockey, 1st Team Coach

Photo Credit to Grant Motley, Northwood Press Club

Northwood waterpolo players have recently achieved exceptionally well in their sport. Justin Snyman played KZN U18 Currie Cup (silver medal) and Mark Fouche played KZN U18 B Currie Cup. Both Mark Fouche and Matthew Bedderson were invited to SA U16 Waterpolo trials and Matthew made the U16B National side and will be touring to Italy and Malta in July.  Our waterpolo MIC and 1st Team coach, Hadyn Skinner coached the KZN U18A ladies Currie Cup team.

Dayne Jagga (u14 coach) played in the KZN men’s A team (Silver medal) at Currie Cup after returning from EU Cup in Odense, Denmark , in which South African won their 1st international gold. Dayne leaves us in August as he goes to play in the USA on a scholarship. Steve woods will take over u14A polo.

 

 

The Northwood 1^st hockey team continued their winning momentum when they beat Hilton College 2 – 0 on Saturday.

Northwood dominated the majority of the first half and created some good scoring chances but struggled to break down the solid Hilton defence. Some enterprising play from young striker Kyle Rawling resulted in him smashing a reverse stick shot at goal but the Hilton keeper was up to the task. Northwood continued to pile on the pressure but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Northwood eventually made the breakthrough when Ighsaan Manuel fired a rocket drag flick into the bottom corner of the Hilton goal at their first penalty corner.

Hilton’s best chance of the half came when they were awarded a penalty corner after the ball hit a Northwood foot in the circle. Hilton College looked to have drawn level when the first shot beat the Northwood keeper but was saved brilliantly on the line by Bradley McNally.

The second half saw Hilton College come out firing and Northwood showed some defensive jitters early on. Hilton created a good scoring chance but the striker missed the target. Hilton created another opportunity when they forced a penalty corner but Northwood keeper Garick Goldman pulled off an outstanding save from the resulting drag flick.

Hilton threw everything into attack in the last five minutes to try get a result and Northwood caught them on the counter when a brilliant overhead from Cody van Breemen found speedy striker Ntobeko Sibisi who went around the Hilton keeper and calmly slotted the ball into an open goal to give the visitors the 2 – 0 victory.

Photo Credit to Grant Motley, Northwood Press Club

2015 KZN Coastals Teams
Congratulations to the following Northwood boys for being selected into KZN Coastals hockey teams:
KZN Coastals U18A	KZN Coastals U18B	KZN Coastals U18C
Shane Bradbury	Bradley McNally	Garick Goldman
Ighsaan Manuel	Sacha de Marigny	Tristan Baird
Cody van Breemen	Liam McIlroy	Scott Bowman
	Ntobeko Sibisi	Blayde Capell
	Joshua Cowell
KZN Coastals U16A	KZN Coastals U16B	KZN Coastals U16C	Non-Traveling Reserves
Taine Bird	Marco Dalle-Vedove	Bambelela Madikane	Cameron Pretorius
Slater Capell	Cade Leaity		Mikael Rademeyer
	Tyrone Stanley
	Ross Venning-Pridham
KZN Coastals U14A	KZN Coastals U14B
Dylan McIlroy	Quin Mckenzie
	Fabian Marais
	Tyrone Laaks
	Keegan McIlroy
	Nicholas Wright

The Northwood 1^st hockey team showed determination and composure to come out on top against a much improved Parktown team on Saturday.

Northwood, having beaten Parktown 2 – 0 at the K.E.S. festival earlier in the season were favourites for the fixture but didn’t have it all their own way against an improved, gutsy and fast Parktown team.

Parktown brought intensity to the game and Northwood had a scare early in the first half when a forward’s reverse stick shot from a tight angle flashed past the post.

This attempt ignited the Northwood team who started to match the intensity of the visitors and some free flowing play resulted in some good scoring chances. Northwood eventually broke down the hard working visitors when Joshua Cowell fired a penalty corner drag flick into the bottom corner to give the home team a 1 – 0 lead going into the break.

The second half was an even contest with both teams playing good hockey from circle to circle but neither team created enough to threaten the opposition’s goals.

The game ignited in the last ten minutes and the home team captain had a great opportunity to bury the visitors when he broke from the half way line, entered the circle and sent a rocket of a shot which smashed the keeper on the shoulder and rebounded to a Northwood striker who flashed the second shot wide.

Northwood looked to have missed their moment when a fast Parktown striker won the ball on the side line and used his speed to break free of all the defenders and calmly slot the ball past the advancing Northwood goal keeper to take the score to 1 – 1.

In the last five minutes Northwood piled on the pressure in search of the winner and were rewarded with three minutes left on the clock. A well worked penalty corner variation saw Captain Shane Bradbury snatch a 2 – 1 victory for his team with a powerful flick into the bottom corner of the goals.

Picture Credit to:  Grant Motley and Mr Brian Gow

The match was a scrappy affair and neither side looked to be getting anywhere. Parktown kicked every bit of possession in the second quarter of the game, thus finally allowing the dangerous outside backs from Northwood to get going on the counter, something coach Grant Bashford focuses on intensely.

Northwood can be pleased with their scrums, however the lineout was just not working for them on the day.

Northwood’s highlights came at end of first quarter where Phiko Sobahle found a gap in the far left corner and sliced through. Luanda Mngadi, the flying right winger, finally got his hand on the ball after a quiet first half to the season and proved himself by being a vital part of both Phiko Sobahles tries. He deservedly got one of his own with a break down the right touch line and a great kick through and gather to dot down under the poles.

Northwood fullback Jadon Stevens and left wing Jason Daniels also did very well with ball in hand.

Northwood lead 19-3 at the break and the second half was a lot quieter with the only score coming from Parktowns Derron Solomon who crashed over the line with Ethan Frasca adding the conversion to his first half penalty.

Northwood can be pleased with their performance as well as claiming the sculpt of the formidable Parktown team of 2015 who have run many big names close this season so far.

Final score 19-10 to Northwood.

Picture Credit to:  Luan Costa Varela (Northwood Press Club) and Mr Brian Gow