KEARSNEY EASTER RUGBY FESTIVAL DAY ONE: THURSDAY 14 APRIL 2021  The 13^th Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival kicked off in beautiful, warm sunshine following a week of KwaZulu-Natal being battered by heavy rains. The Stott looked magnificent and in good condition, ready to welcome back players and spectators after seeing little action for two years during the Covid pandemic.

Play opened with a minute’s silence for the two Dale College 1^st XV players, Liyabona Teyise and Lisakhanya Lwana, who tragically died recently.  Dale has participated in several Kearsney festivals, including the inaugural one in 2008.

MATCH 2 DURBAN HIGH SCHOOL 23 – 5 HOëRSKOOL WATERKLOOF

The second game of the festival saw the KZN team Durban High School (DHS) against Waterkloof from Pretoria, with the visitors again taking some time to assert themselves. DHS went ahead early on with a penalty by fly-half Deano Boesak. A couple of minutes later pace by right wing Hopewell Ntshangase saw him go over in the right-hand corner again converted by Boesak for a 10-0 lead.

Waterkloof came back into the game helped by a number of penalties given away by DHS. With two minutes before the break, following another penalty, Waterkloof pressed on the try-line and eighthman Zander Tharion dived over. The conversion went wide, leaving DHS 10-5 leaders at half-time.

The second half saw play move up and down until Boeksak scored a penalty after 10 minutes of play to put DHS in a 13-5 lead. The Durban lads maintained the pressure and after a scrum the ball was moved rapidly to the right, reaching Ntshangase who again outpaced the opposition to score close to the poles. Boesak converted for a 15-point lead. Boesak converted his fourth kick at the poles following a penalty for the lead to increase to 23-5. Waterkloof, who had made a number of mistakes on attack, were given a reprieve when the DHS utility back ran 90m to cross the line, only to drop the ball in the in-goal area.

• Point scorers:
• DHS: Tries Ntshangase (2); Conversions Boesak (2); Penalties Boesak (3)
• Waterkloof: Try Tharion

Game 2 DHS point scorer Deano Boesak

 MATCH 1

 KEARSNEY COLLEGE 10 – 14 HOëR LANDBOUSKOOL MARLOW

As has become tradition, hosts Kearsney opened their festival, this time playing newcomers Hoër Landbouskool Marlow from Cradock in the Eastern Cape. The first half was evenly contested with the Marlow forwards giving their team a slight advantage. The Kearsney back line, with centres Aya Mngaza and Siso France, both full of running, were able to make a few breaks.

The first by Mngaza ended with a tackle near the try-line and from the ruck hooker Devahn van der Walt dived over.  With just a minute from half-time, France made a good break, feeding fullback Nhlakanipho Ngubane who had the pace to get over the corner. Both conversions were missed for Kearsney to lead 10-0 at the break.

After 15 minutes of the first half where play had moved up and down the field, a concerted effort by the Marlow forwards ended with eighthman Burrie van Heerden diving over.  The conversion by centre Aiden de Villiers was successful. Kearsney got back into the Marlow half, but a handling mistake was pounced on by left wing Dempers Meyer.  He made 30m, passing inside to centre Leonard Booysen who had the pace to outstrip the cover defence and go over under the posts.  De Villiers converted for the visitors to go into a 14-10 lead with 12 minutes remaining.

As the game progressed, so Kearsney came under increased pressure with the Marlow backline imposing themselves. The game ended with no further score but with Kearsney doing more defending.

Game 2 Waterkloof try scorer Zander Thirion

Point scorers:

• Kearsney College: Tries: N Ngubane, D van der Walt
• Hoër Landbouskool Marlow: Tries: L Booysen, B van Heerden; Conversions: A de Villiers (2)

FESTIVAL FIXTURES:

Thursday 14 April

08h00 Umhlali Prep School vs KZN lbutho/Mark Godefroy U13; 09h30 Kearsney College vs Hoër Landbouskool Marlow; 10h45 Durban High School vs Hoërskool Waterkloof; 12h00 Westville Boys’ High School vs Hoërskool Monument; 13h15 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vs Selborne College; 14h30 Glenwood High School vs Pretoria Boys High School; 15h45 Hoërskool Framesby vs Dr EG Jansen

Saturday 16 April

07h00 Hillcrest Primary School vs KZN Ibutho/Mark Godefroy U13; 08h00 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vs Westville Boys’ High School; 09h30 Hoërskool Monument vs Hoër Landbouskool Marlow; 10h45 Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Waterkloof; 12h00 Dr EG Jansen vs Durban High School; 13h15 Pretoria Boys High School vs Hoërskool Framesby; 14h30 Glenwood High School vs Selborne College

Monday 18 April

08h00 Highbury Preparatory School vs KZN Ibutho/Mark Godefroy U13; 09h30 Glenwood High School vs Dr EG Jansen; 10h45 Westville Boys’ High School vs Selborne College; 12h00 Hoërskool Monument vs Durban High School; 13h15 Hoër Landbouskool Marlow vs Pretoria Boys High School

14h30 Hoërskool Waterkloof vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap; 15h45 Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Framesby

Game 2 DHS vice capt & wing Tholithemba Sibisi

All photos by TRACEY VAN DEN AARDWEG