Kearsney returned home from their short annual tour of Northern Natal with two confidence boosting wins under the belt. The results in themselves against Vryheid High (57-0) and Pionier (35-10) are probably not as significant as what the coaches and players achieved in terms of building team spirit, developing cohesion, gaining match fitness and working on game plans in live match conditions.
Prior to the tour, Kearsney started with an encouraging 29-3 win against the hosts at the Voortrekker Night Series. Vories has a decent sized team this year which scrums particularly well and puts up good resistance up front. The game gave the Kearsney pack a reasonable introduction to things to come over the next few months, beginning with a home game against Northwood on 15 March.
Although new Northwood coach Grant Bashford is starting to see the positive results of the hard work put in to redevelop Northwood’s backline attack which struggled in 2013, into something meaningful, like Voortrekker they are expected to be more of a forwards orientated team. Two of the Northwood frontrow starters are SA under-16 players from 2012 and should be noticeable in both the tight loose and setpiece plays this year. The relatively light Kearsney forwards probably won’t be able to dominate any of their opposition up front this season and so it is going to come down to them being technically smarter, quicker, more accurate and more unified to counter the physical challenges hurled at them.
Where Kearsney has looked particularly good has been in the backline. Scrumhalf James Hall packs a useful box kick and probably delivers strongest and most accurate pass in KZN this year. Fullback Stefan Harris has eye-catching lateral movement ability. 1st XV newcomers like centres Sebastian Pau, Donald de Cramer and wing James Tedder have settled quickly and shown the right levels of urgency and composure at the right times. The backs pulled off some really good passing moves and ran exciting lines in the Voortrekker game and even handled the wet conditions in Vryheid very well. Against Voortrekker there was an overwhelming sense of playing and trying to make things happen for each other. It’s these unselfish contributions that might hold the key to the Kearsney team maximising on their potential and seeing results in 2014.
Although teamwork will always rule the day, Kearsney does have a stand out player. Craven Week flyhalf Tristan Tedder, now the captain and a 3rd year veteran edging closer to 50 caps for his school, has been nothing short of sensational so far. He is a full package number-10, being equally strong in all areas of the run-pass-kick game and combines this with the all-important correct decision-making element. Tedder is a gifted cricketer as well and would not look out of place in either the SA Schools cricket or rugby team this year.
@Gungets Tuft: Really hope he doesn’t suffer from burnout or injury. I followed the national cricket weeks over December and January and Tedder went from u17 week to Coke week to Cubs week through injuries. That’s 3 weeks of top class high intensity cricket. Got to feel for the kid, missing out on some very well earned rest although I’m sure he’d say otherwise. I’m a huge fan of his not only as a player in both sports but also as a humble young man with his head screwed on right. Holding thumbs Kearsney manage his talents well this year and he gives himself a good platform for whatever his chosen post school endeavors may be.
This is going to be a tough assignment for our boys. Bashy will put out a competitive side and expect a forward battle for at least the first 35. The next 3 weeks going to be very intense. Northwood,Westville then Grey P.E. and PBHS. We will then see what we can make of the 2014 KC side but by all accounts they are going to be fine.
@beet: Yeah I remember him being a really good sportsman. Good to see him excelling at Kearsney.
“and would not look out of place in either the SA Schools cricket or rugby team this year” – or both??? .. or is that too far a leap nowadays, given the length of the rugby seasons and the level of dedication needed in a more professional era. He has the presence and the composure …
@Mike: Yes. His dad relocated to Durban. Good allrounder. He is also a decent size for a gr11 centre
If I’m not mistaken, Sebastian Pau was at Grey PE from grade 1 till grade 9. I remember him being a great all round sportsman but more specifically a cricketer. Have I got the right guy ?