Match Reports courtesy of Working Words and the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival Organisers:
GAME 6
AFFIES 14 – MONUMENT 36
Monument’s Wikus van Biljon opened the score board early in the game putting three points on the board in the form of a penalty. An unfortunate mistake in the Affies defence resulted in a five- pointer under the poles by Waldo Kriel and a successful conversion, again by Van Biljon, to take ‘Monnas’ into a 10-point lead.
Great attacking play from Affies resulted in a try by Juan Basson and a successful conversion by Pieter Coetser. Monument pulled it back and a hat trick of tries by Waldo Kriel, plus another try from Jaun Lemmer, gave them a solid lead of 27 – 7 at half time.
It was deja vu when the first points of the second half again came courtesy of Monument’s Wikus van Biljon in the form of an excellent drop goal to add another three points to their tally. In the 42nd minute, Van Biljon once again slotted the ball through the poles with a penalty, making it 33 – 7 to Monument.
With good defensive play, Monument was able to keep Affies away from their try line, as they weren’t yet prepared to succumb. Sustained pressure by Monument resulted in a penalty, once again flawlessly executed by Wikus van Biljon.
An excellent game of rugby, which kept spectators enthralled, was convincingly won by Monument.
Point Scorers:
Affies: Tries Basson, Bodenstein; Conversions Coetser 2
Monument: Tries Kriel 3, Lemmer; Conversions Von Biljon 2; Penalties Van Biljon 3; Drop goal Van Biljon
GAME 5
GREY COLLEGE 32 – WESTVILLE 20
A determined Grey College took the lead only 11 minutes into the first half, scoring two tries using the pace of Lourens Steenkamp and Henry Slabbert. Westville soon recovered and dominated possession for a while, which was rewarded with an excellent try by Bradley Smith, when fly half Lindo Buthelezi put a kick up for the no 15, who then scored under the poles. The conversion by Kyan Braithwaite put Westville now only three points behind their counterparts.
Sustained pressure and good tackling by Westville put the Grey College back-line under pressure. Grey’s pace, however, proved to be too much for Westville and Henry Immelman went over shortly before half time to take the score to 16 – 9, with no conversions from the Free Staters.
The first points of the second half came in the 5th minute with a penalty from Westville’s Braithwaite. The no 9 scored an excellent try five minutes later, after which Daniel Rust from Grey reciprocated with a try for his team.
With eight minutes to go, Adrian Heystek took the score to 20 – 20 when he flew over for a well-rewarded Westville try.
But in the end it was Grey who proved to be too strong for the Natalians, clocking up two more tries to ensure that Grey were the victors 32 – 20.
Point Scorers:
Grey College: Tries Steenkamp, Slabbert 2, Immelman, Rust, Wessels; Conversion Steenkamp
Westville: Tries Smith, Braithwaite, Heystek; Conversion Braithwaite; Penalty Braithwaite
GAME 4
GLENWOOD 31 – EG JANSEN 20
EG Jansen was the first to score with only four minutes into the first half when centre Delano Kotze kicked a penalty straight through the poles. The Glenwood defence was tested to the maximum with the ‘Black and Gold’ attacking relentlessly. With good, calm play, pressure was eventually relieved with a great intercept try from Glenwood winger Philani Ngcobo.
The conversion by Morné Joubert put Glenwood in front 7-3. A short while later Ngcobo and Joubert put the ‘Green Team’ further in the lead with another great try from the winger and a conversion and a penalty from a skilled Joubert.
An unconverted try by EG Jansen through full back Martin van Wyk was next on the cards. Glenwood were once again on the attack and a brilliant run away try, also by full back Morné Joubert, saw him successfully converting his own try to take the score to 24 – 8.
Glenwood were once again put to the test, and their defence was eventually penetrated as the battle of the full backs continued when Van Wyk scored for EG Jansen again to put his team only 11 points behind.
A great running try by Sphandla Ngcobo from Glenwood put another five points on the score board, which Joubert once again successfully converted. EG Jansen never gave up and Hendre Stassen was the last try scorer of the match, with a conversion by Delano Kotze.
Point Scorers:
Glenwood: Tries Philani Ngcobo 2, Joubert, Sphandla Ngcobo; Conversions Joubert 4; Penalty Joubert
EG Jansen: Tries Van Wyk 2, Stassen; Conversion Kotze; Penalty Kotze
GAME 3
KEARSNEY COLLEGE 24 – DALE COLLEGE 19
With only 20 minutes into the first half, Kearsney found themselves well in front with some ill-disciplined play by their opposition. Tristan Tedder slotted three penalties and scrum half James Hall impressed with a long kick that put Kearsney in front with 12 points.
Tristan Tedder then scored an excellent try under the poles which he also converted, to put Kearsney even further ahead. Just before half time, Dale scored a try courtesy of Siyanda Am, which Courtney Winnaar successfully converted. Half time score was 19 – 7 to Kearsney.
There was a slow start to the second half with evenly contested play, but another Kearsney try, this time from winger David Zondi, sealed Dale’s fate. Dale visited the try line twice in the second half with Buntu Ponono and Luyolo Khuse each scoring an unconverted try.
The last five minutes of the match was a nail-biting affair as Kearsney kept Dale at bay with some excellent defence. The final score was 24 – 19 to host team Kearsney.
Points Scorers:
Kearsney College: Tries Tristan Tedder, Zondi; Conversion Tristan Tedder; Penalties Tristan Tedder 3, Hall
Dale College: Tries Am, Ponono, Khuse; Conversions Winnaar, Davids
GAME 2
HTS MIDDELBURG 43 – NICO MALAN 22
Right from kick-off, HTS Middelburg were relentless in their attack and were in the lead by 17 points to 0 after just 20 minutes. They scored two tries, one by Neven Nel and the other by Liaan Prinsloo, with Barend Smit converting both.
Nico Malan consolidated and replied with two well-worked tries within two minutes of one another. The unsuccessful conversions of both tries made the score 17 – 10 at half time.
At the start of the second half, it was the blue team from Humansdorp who turned the tables, playing some very attractive, attacking rugby, putting the HTS defence to the test. They eventually scored an excellent try by Dean van der Westhuizen, with Dominik Uytenbogaardt converting to level the scores.
HTS then turned on the pressure and scored at regular intervals with four tries courtesy of Jan Rens, Lohan Bennett, Eric Basson and Driaan Bester. Barend Smit only missed one conversion. Despite Dean van der Westhuizen scoring a second try for Nico Malan, the ‘Blues’ ran out of steam and the final score was 43 – 22 to HTS Middelburg.
Point Scorers:
HTS Middelburg: Tries Nel, Prinsloo, Rens, Bennett, Basson, Bester; Conversions Smit 5; Penalty Smit
Nico Malan: Tries Moolman, Staats, Van der Westhuizen 2; Conversion: Uytenbogaardt
GAME 1
SELBORNE COLLEGE 21 – HOERSKOOL FRAMESBY 13
Opening the second day of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, it was Selborne College from East London who scored the first points of the game when fly half Morgan Steyn converted a penalty, after very evenly matched play by both teams. It wasn’t long after that when Framesby managed to level the score with a penalty by their no 10 Tiaan Stander.
Selborne impressed with some good running rugby, spreading the ball wide, and was rewarded with a well-deserved try, courtesy of Brandon Perks. It was then the team from Port Elizabeth’s turn to play some running rugby, testing the Selborne defence and they were unlucky not to score just before the half time whistle blew.
Framesby scored a try nine minutes into the second half after camping on their opposition’s try line and Tiaan Stander converted to make it 11 – 10 to Selborne. Soon after that, Selborne increased their one-point lead making it 14 – 10 when Morgan Steyn slotted a penalty right in front of the poles. It was then Tiaan Stander’s turn to bring the score line within one point again, converting a penalty for Framesby with 10 minutes to go.
Tiaan Stander missed his first kick of the match, with an unsuccessful penalty conversion with almost no time on the clock.
In the dying minutes of the game, it was Selborne who sealed their victory though, with Sibahle Dunjana scoring an excellent try and Morgan Steyn converting to give Selborne a well-deserved win.
Former Springboks and Old Selbornians Mark Andrews and Brent Russell were there to support their team, which is the only visiting school to have participated in every Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival since its inception in 2008.
Point Scorers:
Selborne College: Tries Perks, Dunjana; Conversions Morgan Steyn; Penalties Morgan Steyn 3
Framesby: Try Van Zyl; Conversion Stander; Penalties Stander 2
@Griffon: I think the team as a whole have played very well during the last games both here at this festival and also the one in PE. just wish the coaching staff would read the game better and manage the game as it unfolds. as said on previous posts the bench in big game matches is not been managed well.
@Griffon: Brad Smith seems to have become the utility / versatile player in the backline. I would try him at 13 when Ball is fit again. They have tried Pieters at 13 and it was not a success. His speed is better suited to wing. He is also not a great passer. But not much gets past him on the outside. Also keep Kotze at 15. He seems to be lacking in confidence but with more game time he will come good.
@Westers: Totally agree with you. Our loose forward combination is very good. One of the best in KZN. Murphy on being on the bench shows its quality. I do feel that Hey step could pass a bit more as he sometimes misses to space out wide. But otherwise a very good player. Smith will have his time next year. @old timer: Also agree with you. Anderson was caught out on numerous occasions on the outside. Maybe this could result in moving Peters back to 13
I must also say that this “dog-leg” style of defence worries me . With the second centre short of pace it gave Grey the opportunity to get on the outside on almost every time they swung the ball wide . This is something the coaches need to look at as the line speed is simply too slow and the defensive line too deep to stop major territory gain. Puts too much load on the loosies as they have to make all the tackles very wide and one has to ask the question “if they can get there why cant the outside backs ?” No one questions the outside centres resolve to tackle but he gets beaten on the outside too many times to ease my worries which I believe is due to positioning as well as the lack of pace. If you have speed you can get away with a lot but if not – then the basics become more important
@GreenBlooded: Smit is a good kicker but in general play he cannot compete for a place with Heystek, Meillon and Erasmus. Murphy on the bench is also a good loosie. Afraid his turn might have to wait until next year.
@Griffon: I’ll be willing to bet R10k that Kevin Smit is the best place kicker at Westville by a long shot. He is not too shabby in general play either. I watched him in a club match last season at Toti – he slotted kick after kick off the touchline into a stiff breeze. Unbelievable.
I was Refering to Wayne Smith in carrying to much
@ GreenBlooded : I also agree with having a more reliable place kicker. As good as Braithwaites kicking is, he’s quite inconsistent. The coaches have 2 other very reliable kickers. Buthelezi who in u16 I believe had an 80% plus kicking success and Brad Smith who’s very accurate and can easily slot in kicks from 50m out. Great performance from Westville. I do think that Smith was used to much as a carrier and Grey picked that up making him not as effective in the 2nd Half. I also must say that Anderson was struggling with the tempo of the game yesterday. Unfortunately the 2nd choice centre, Phahla(who I believe should be a starter), injured his knee last week. Other wise very good game. My game of the day. Brad Smith has been quite the revelation this season, reads the game well, runs good lines on attack and his defense has been solid. I must say that the Grey centres that played yesterday were not what I’ve seen from past centres. Although I do rate Julian Jordaan highly having seen him play on Thursday and hearing about him in u16.
@Jordaan: It was clear to me that the team had taken the predictions of a 50 point hiding and turned it into a challenge. They did not stand back to their more fancied opponents for a second – putting their bodies on the line for the entire 60 minutes. It was something to behold. As others have noted, they need to look at a reliable place kicker going forward. I think they Grey coaching team must have been chewing their nails to the bone in the last 10.
@John3175: Do they have match reports?
Have to congratulate Westville here on a tenacious performance and almost causing a major upset. Great spectacle and Westville finally seem to have got their combinations right after having a few people out of position in their early season games and being very unlucky in one or two games.
Kudos to Westville for taking the toughest fixture at the festival and producing such a spirited performance. As a College fan, I fear Westville may be our toughest fixture this season no that they have finally sorted out their selections / combinations.
Please could we get match reports for Saints Fest!
6 points either way could have had KC winning both or losing both. Great to see that they hung in there for the win yesterday. This side has something special and with the local scene around the corner, could spring a few surprises. We have E.G.JANSEN tomorrow and the boys are sore. This festival has been great and the match-ups spot on.
Well done to Westville on a great effort to hold the mighty Grey to 12 points. This year’s KZN sides have stood up to the traditional rugby schools and given as good as they got. Lets keep up the momentum and go for broke tomorrow.
Well done Westville! I honestly thought Grey would put 40 plus on the board. These festivals can bring quite a few surprises. Grey at home in an interschools game is very different though. Westville with 8 mins to go almost caused the biggest upset of the decade. Glad to hear Glenwood’s defense was solid, that has been an issue in the past.
Well done to Grey and to Westville for a very exciting and entertaining game of rugby !
We are very proud of the way that our boys rose to the occasion. I think that Grey got more than they bargained for.
Westville now have a very tough game against Selbourne. Go Westville!
Glenwood’s defence was amazing today. They also showed that there is no substitute for pace. Make a mistake against them and you will pay dearly.
I think it is a fair to say that the 2 best teams are playing each other on the final day: Grey vs Monument – Should be a cracker!
Thanks to Kearsney for organising a great festival with all the schools playing entertaining rugby.