A large crowd is expected for what could turn out to be a great game when Kearsney hosts Maritzburg College on Saturday, 09 March 2024.
Useless information: Maritzburg College is about 50km closer to the Drakensberg mountain range than Kearsney, yet the Goldstones home of Red-Black-White in Sleepy Hollow is ±630m above sea level while Kearsney’s Stott field on the Hill is ±760m above sea level. 
In terms of rugby history, between 1943 and 1999, this was a very one-sided derby, with College winning all but three first team matches. From 2000 onwards, it has been a lot more even with the One-Stripes claiming nine victories.
| DATE | VENUE | KEARSNEY COLLEGE RESULTS | ||||
| 2000 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 0 | 7 | Maritzburg College |
| 2001 | Stott | LOST | Kearsney | 15 | 25 | Maritzburg College |
| 2002 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 8 | 17 | Maritzburg College |
| 2003 | Stott | LOST | Kearsney | 10 | 21 | Maritzburg College |
| 2004 | Goldstones | WON | Kearsney | 25 | 10 | Maritzburg College |
| 2005 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 11 | 0 | Maritzburg College |
| 2006 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 10 | 20 | Maritzburg College |
| 2007 | Stott | LOST | Kearsney | 22 | 25 | Maritzburg College |
| 2008 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 17 | 45 | Maritzburg College |
| 2009 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 23 | 22 | Maritzburg College |
| 20Mar10 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 10 | 29 | Maritzburg College |
| 14May11 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 28 | 12 | Maritzburg College |
| 02Jun12 | Goldstones | WON | Kearsney | 30 | 10 | Maritzburg College |
| 20Jun13 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 22 | 14 | Maritzburg College |
| 17May14 | Goldstones | LOST | Kearsney | 17 | 29 | Maritzburg College |
| 16May15 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 23 | 20 | Maritzburg College |
| 21May16 | Goldstones | WON | Kearsney | 31 | 14 | Maritzburg College |
| 17Jun17 | Stott | WON | Kearsney | 32 | 7 | Maritzburg College |
| 12May18 | Goldstones | ABANDONED: LIGHTNING | Kearsney | <3> | <6> | Maritzburg College |
| 04May19 | Stott | LOST | Kearsney | 12 | 14 | Maritzburg College |
| 04Jun22 | Stott | LOST | Kearsney | 20 | 31 | Maritzburg College |
Coming in cold, the College lead-up to this match does not seem ideal. Kearsney by comparison had two Northern Free State tour matches to help them settle into the season. Normally at schoolboy level this factor plays a part at the start the campaign. Add in home field advantage and Kearsney has a genuine chance to start on a winning note and snap a two-game home losing streak.
Amongst the challenges for Kearsney is the man-up to a very highly rated Maritzburg College frontrow. Rambo Kubheka is an SA Schools player and tighthead Aiden Botha (Craven Week 2023) must surely be in the conversation for national honours this year.
In the secondrow, a nice physical battle awaits. Here MC’s Craven Week incumbent Jake Jansen and KC dependable Heinrich Fourie are set to catch the eye.
Equally so in the backrow where MC’s Naz Isaacs will want to put up his hand for Sharks provincial representation this season, while experienced Connor McIntyre has heart and is built for big collisions.
Out in the line the family name Veenstra has a very strong connection to Maritzburg College, so it might come as a surprise that talented outside centre Cameron is representing the Maroons. His father Ross (class of 1989) was a top sportsman for College in his day, excelling as a bowler who would later earn provincial first class caps. During the schoolboy rugby season he was a tall full-value for money College fullback who eventually got to represent Natal. 1989 felt like it was one of the last truly great College years as it brought the curtain down on an amazing rugby decade for this wonderful school with over 150 years of history.
Swelihle Mbatha is tasked with the midfield role of opposing Cameron Veentra but he is no slouch with ball-in-hand either.
Last but definitely not least is the X-factor content. Two players on the field are set to bring this on IF they get decent ball to work with. College fullback Luyanda Kunene really needs no introduction. He was fantastic last year. With a natural feel for where the space would open, he carved up defences on his way to an SA u18 international call-up in 2023. Kearsney wing Valentino Lenge may be small in stature but he has Cheslin Kolbe-like ability about him and was amongst a select few boys to be included in the SA u17 Sevens set-up during 2023.
Both head coaches are educators and great guys, solid with plenty of passion and commitment.
TEAMS
| TEAM | KEARSNEY | TEAM | MARITZBURG COLLEGE | ||
| 1 | Kudawashe Kachambwa | u18 | 1 | Rambo Kubheka | u18 |
| 2 | Blake Kruger | u18 | 2 | Siyabonga Nyathi | u18 |
| 3 | Anele Cele | u18 | 3 | Aiden Botha | u18 |
| 4 | Heinrich Fourie | u18 | 4 | Bohlale Maphisa | u18 |
| 5 | Ryan Sim | u18 | 5 | Jake Jansen | u18 |
| 6 | Seth Brown | u18 | 6 | Struan Oosthuisen | u18 |
| 7 | Connor McIntyre | u18 | 7 | Naz Isaacs | u18 |
| 8 | Qhamani Mlalandle | u18 | 8 | Imivuyo Kemka | u18 |
| 9 | Roydan Madatt | u18 | 9 | Rylan Armoed | u17 |
| 10 | Doan Nel | u17 | 10 | Jordan Thackeray | u17 |
| 11 | Lindokuhle Mpungose | u18 | 11 | Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein | u17 |
| 12 | Jarred van Staaden | u18 | 12 | Nkululeko Sithole | u18 |
| 13 | Cameron Veenstra | u18 | 13 | Swelihle Mbatha | u18 |
| 14 | Valentino Lenge | u18 | 14 | Langelihle Makhathini | u18 |
| 15 | Daniel Eagar | u18 | 15 | Luyanda Kunene | u19 |
| Coach | NEIL VAN HEERDEN | Coach | TIM ORCHARD |
I thought Kearsney would have more of an advantage during this match but recalling what happened MC left quite a few more points on the field – regulation kick, dropped ball over the line before halftime and a charge down, regather with overlap botched in 2nd half. So in the end it felt like MC lost one they should have won.
MC not having a recognised goalkicker from the start was a big deal in the end. Even in that first half when MC had the best wind of the match, the way that 2nd XV flyhalf who came on early in the second half was hoofing the ball, he could have given them much better field positions.
A big deal is MC is that they are probably the worst prepared of KZN’s big schools for a big match at the start of the season. DHS, Glenwood, Kearsney, Westville, Northwood and Hilton all have more time together as a team in the lead up to their first big game. MC and MHS in a tie this year. So I put the MC defeat more down to this than anything else. They must commit it to long term memory and try work out a better start of proper rugby deal with their headmaster for 2025.
The first half had some memorable quality to it as there was opportunity to see structure and execution. Second half sadly became a penalty lottery. Every time there was a breakdown – penalty. Sucked all the enjoyment that normally comes with watching SBR right out of the match. Ref was technically too strict. Maybe better if he tried to talk the teams out of making mistakes and allowed the game to flow a bit.
For me the best aspect of the match in the end was the MC lineout setpiece – Nyathi finding his jumpers at the tail. Isaacs a few times in the first half and Jansen a lot in the second half. Kearsney lineout started quite well and then after Maphisa started getting disruptive at 2 jumper, it sort of fell apart. Its a real eye-sore for KC rugby now and so vital for success in SBR. New DOR really must work extra hard to help fix this – if that is part of his job.
Cannot say the MC backs shone with ball in hand but the KC backs also attacking spectators a lot of the time. X-player Lenge got the ball once with space, kicked ahead and it led to a try. Again KC DOR needs to put his plan to improve backline play into overdrive now because there are some seriously hard games coming up. Bottom line they need some new designs.
Wind didn’t seem kind to KC during the match. After halftime felt like it changed direction. KC kicker Eager went for three long range shots at goal towards the end and didn’t have the legs on any of them but hats off to him, the clutch kick to win it at the end after all those misses, really took special character to put all that came before out his mind and slot the winner at the death.
is over the moon even if it was an ugly win.
Valued win for KC and as mentioned after the past few seasons, everyone who supports them
I was impressed with Kearsney throughout the day. I had a feeling College were going to dominate the day. Kearsney U14 had a dominant win and played very nice Rugby. At 1st team I expected College to steamroller the Kearsney boys….but College looked a bit rusty and quite frankly it was a lethargic, and somewhat lazy performance. They will get better. But well done Kearsney, you certainly manned up on the day and did well.
Can’t quite believe that Kubekha is back for another year at College. He looked like a man child last season – I would never have thought he was in G11. he must have been one of the leading scorers for College last season. Along with the other prop and lock it looks like College will have another bumper pack. Their forwards were able to mix it up with Grey and Affies last season so willbe very interesting to watch this year.
@KatzRugga (Comment #3)
Its an interesting debate about who has the best venue in KZN.
I tend to rank Gilfillan at one because I like the amphitheatre effect and has lots of other good things going for it.
I agree that as an overall Saturday experience Kearsney is a great particularly if there is seating available on the main stand.
The field itself is usually in good nick and it runs North to South so the sun does not get in the player’s eyes in a half like at Ville or Hilton. House seems to be saved by the tall trees on the West Side.
A nice atmosphere for socialising afterwards
Parking is safe.
The three most negative things I can say about KC is
A) its a schlep to leave afterwards. Traffic is very slow. Michaelhouse is the same. I feel worse for those who cars queuing at the end of the bottom road wanting to join Old Main Road. DHS, Glenwood, Northwood and Westville easy winners here but Glenwood tends to be the easiest to find parking within a reasonable working distance. Safety of parking on the road is another matter.
B) the wooden stand on the East side could do with a Westville curve to make it easier to see the action in the near corner furthest from where one sits
C) when it rains, as impressive as the main stand is, the roof is inadequate to keep the lower half dry. Many schools do not have shelter at all, so this is maybe still a tick I guess.
@KatzRugga (Comment #3)
One of the best I have been at. I do not think it is very pleasant for away teams when there are old boys and their families sipping on their gin and wine behind the poles.
KEARSNEY HOMEGROUND
The Stott, used to be, the best pitch by far in the province.
The friendly atmosphere amongst the many gazebos behind the poles is a very special place and unmatched in my opinion, both for OB, families, friends and visitors.
The Stand can be very intimidating for visiting schools. The visitors get to run onto the pitch through a ‘real tunnel’ and grand stand. The stand is high so sound travels across the pitch. Add a band, drum and some instruments and this part of the experience could also be taken into the modern era of schoolboy rugby.
@Kantman (Comment #1)
I agree, This will show us where both teams stand for this coming year. As we can see only 4 under 17s in the playing 30 man list. I think College will win this by 20
Early season, but College should win this I think.