JONATHAN COOK

It has been a long time coming.

This year's Maritzburg College first XI hockey team have joined the school's formidable sides of 1989, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999 in going unbeaten through the season.

It is a fantastic achievement as at season start not many in the know would have predicted that this side would achieve such a feat.

There have been more talented College sides that have come close to going unbeaten but failed at this or that hurdle, as playing top tier schoolboy hockey requires sustained success against very good teams, but captain Nicholas Berichon's squad have shown the necessary mettle to come though the tight moments when it matters most.

Of course there have been some stars, not least the skipper and his SA U18 team-mates Kewan Harries, Tim Guise-Brown and Grant Glutz, who broke Matthew Guise-Brown's record for the most goals in a season during a hat-trick performance against Glenwood in the last match of the year.

But while it must be said that the X-Factor has been evident, essentially it has been about the players who have done the regulation stuff, provided the simple pass, made the vital intervention, supplied the crucial passes, made the game-breaking turnovers, saved the certain goal and dug deep when it has really mattered who are the real heroes.

The great truth about the sport is that no hockey team can survive let alone taste success without a totally committed squad and in this group the Red Army can be justifiably proud.

Coach Mike Bechet can look back on the season with quiet satisfaction.