Match reports courtesy of Working Words and the organisers of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival:
FESTIVAL RESULTS TO DATE
THIRD DAY
Nico Malan 10 – 25 Dale College
Glenwood 31 – 29 Framesby
Westville 14 – 20 Selborne College
Affies 10 – 20 HTS Middelburg
Grey College 10 – Monument 10
Kearsney College 3 – EG Jansen 25
SECOND DAY
Selborne College 21 – 13 Framesby
HTS Middelburg 43 – 22 Nico Malan
Kearsney College 24 – 19 Dale College
Glenwood 31 – 20 EG Jansen
Grey College 32 – 20 Westville
Affies 14 – 36 Monument
FIRST DAY
Kearsney College 25 – 31 HTS Middelburg
Framesby 16 – 21 Monument
Westville 41 – 10 Nico Malan
Selborne College 12 – 34 Affies
Glenwood 31 – 17 Dale College
Grey College 26 – 8 EG Jansen
MATCH 6
KEARSNEY COLLEGE 3 – EG JANSEN 25
Kearsney found themselves on the back foot right from kick-off, as EG Jansen’s pace and physicality put their defence under pressure. With only 21 minutes gone, EG Jansen were three tries to nil ahead, tallying the score up to 15 – 0. Just before half time, Forrest Roos slotted a penalty and the half time score was 18 – 0 to the boys from the East Rand.
At the start of the second half, Kearsney showed great defence and held their counter parts ransom and were unfortunate not to capitalize and score. A penalty by scrum half James Hall finally put the home team on the score board.
But EG Jansen scored once again, using their pace and through great team support, courtesy of Rouxbann Bauman and Forrest Roos converting.
Point Scorers
Kearsney College: Conversion Hall
EG Jansen: Tries Van Wyk 2, Cronje, Baumann; Conversion Roos; Penalty Roos
MATCH 5
GREY COLLEGE 10 – 10 MONUMENT
The team from Bloemfontein were on the score board with only nine minutes from the start, scoring two tries, one by prop Ruben Terblanche and the other by full back Henry Immelman.
Monument re-grouped and slowly found themselves gaining possession and almost scored twice. ‘Monnas’ had territorial advantage and impressed with good forward dominance. A knock-on by Monument relieved the pressure and Grey was able to consolidate.
With great attacking play from Grey College’s loose trio, with just five minutes to the end of the half, Grey came very close to scoring again. The half time score was 10 – 0.
The second half was all Grey College, with Monument fending off attack after attack. It was only when the Grey no 15 Henry Immelman missed a penalty that Monument was able to re-group. An excellent intercept try by flyhalf Ivan Smit from Monument, and a quick conversion by Wikus van Biljon, put ‘Monnas’ right back into the game. Another penalty by Van Biljon made the scores level at 10 – 10.
All credit must go to both teams for enthralling the crowd until the very end and for a game played in excellent, typical school boy spirit, and which was officiated by Rugby World Cup ref Craig Joubert.
Point scorers:
Grey College: Tries Terblanche, Immelman
Monument: Tries Smit; Conversion Van Biljon; Penalty Van Biljon
GAME 4
AFFIES 10 – HTS MIDDELBURG 20
The physicality of this tough encounter was confirmed in the first five minutes with two great sides taking on each other. It was the team from HTS Middelburg who dominated possession until relief came for Affies.
With great line-out play, Affies ran the ball down the line, only to lose it again. HTS Middelburg found themselves on the attack once again, having most of the possession. It was an up and under from Affies which put them on the attack and close to their try line with only nine minutes to go in the first half. Unfortunately a knock-on gave HTS a scrum, after which Affies secured possession once again.
Great defensive play by the red team resulted in Affies missing an opportunity to put points on the board. Affies were eventually rewarded with a penalty by Pieter Coetser, to make the score 3 – 0 to Affies. It was a minute later that centre Ryno Lourens broke through to score the first try of the match. Pieter Coetser converted and the score was 10 – 0 to Affies at half time.
HTS Middelburg opened the scoring in the second half courtesy of winger Jan Rens with a great run-away try. With an unsuccessful conversion the score changed to 10 – 5.
It was once again the HTS attack which put Affies on the defence, and another try by Chrisjan Steynberg for the ‘Reds ’ levelled the scores with an unconverted try. With HTS Middelburg camping in their half, they were able to score again, taking a 17 – 10 lead with the try scorer Driaan Bester and Barend Smit converting.
A penalty in the last minute by Barend Smit sealed the victory for HTS Middelburg, deservedly so. A disappointed Affies team leave the festival with two losses.
Point Scorers:
Affies: Try Lourens; Conversion Coetser; Penalty Coetser
HTS Middelburg: Tries Rens, Steynberg, Bester; Conversion Smit; Penalty Smit
GAME 3
WESTVILLE 14 – SELBORNE 20
After Westville’s great performance against Grey College on Saturday, they continued to impress with good, basic rugby and were the first to score a try using the pace of Lindo Buthelezi. After a successful conversion by captain Kyan Braithwaite, Westville took the lead by 7 points to 0.
In the 16th minute, Selborne levelled the scores with centre David Brits scoring a try and Morgan Steyn converting. A penalty by Steyn put Selborne in front with 10 points to 7. This was also the half time score.
In the first few minutes of the second half, it was Westville who came out firing and they soon found themselves attacking their try line. Renier Pieterse went over for a well-worked try and Braithwaite converted to score the first points of the second half, putting Westville in front by 4 points.
It was Selborne’s turn to dominate possession and with good line-out play they soon found themselves on the attack. Grant Venter and Milani Lubelwana scored for Selborne within two minutes of one another, putting them six points ahead with just one minute to go.
When the final whistle blew, it was Westville who found themselves on the attack, but too little too late left the end score at 20 – 14 to Selborne who were the deserved victors. Selborne returns home having won two of their three festival games.
Point Scorers:
Westville: Tries Buthelezi, Pieterse; Conversions Braithwaite 2
Selborne College: Tries Brits, Venter, Lubelwana; Conversion Steyn; Penalty Steyn
GAME 2
GLENWOOD 31 – HOERSKOOL FRAMESBY 29
Glenwood has had a great festival, notching up two excellent wins – over Dale on Thursday and over EG Jansen on Saturday. Framesby, whilst performing better than in last year’s festival, have lost both of their matches – to Monument on Thursday and to Selborne College on Saturday.
It was Framesby who opened the scoring with no 14 Rikus Zaayman dotting over in the corner for the first try of the match. The Glenwood defence was once again tested when their opposition scored their second try, resulting from good, solid attacking play. The try-scorer was prop Roché van Zyl and Tiaan Stander slotted the conversion, taking the score to 12 – 0 in Framesby’s favour.
It was all Framesby once again and this time Tiaan Stander visited the try line but unfortunately missed the conversion. With nine minutes to go in the first half, Glenwood missed a penalty and, through sustained pressure, forced another mistake. This time, the Glenwood full back made no error and put three points on the board for the ‘Green Team’.
Just before the half time whistle blew, Glenwood scored their first try of the match, with excellent running rugby, courtesy of centre Sphandla Ngcobo. Morné Joubert converted to take the half time score to 17 – 10.
The physical battle continued and Glenwood were on the attack from kick-off. There was a penalty to Framesby, right on the Glenwood try line, which brought relief for the ‘blue and reds’. But it was Glenwood who again turned on the pressure, and a runaway try instigated by a great off load from no 7 McMillan Muller to full back Morné Joubert, brought the scores level; with Joubert converting his own try.
From there on both teams scored at regular intervals, making it a nail-biting game with only 10 minutes to go. It proved to be one of the festival’s most exciting games of rugby, and had a vociferous crowd on the edges of their seats.
Point Scorers:
Glenwood: Tries Sphandla Ngcobo, Joubert, Morgan, Van Niekerk; Conversions Joubert 4; Penalty Joubert
Framesby: Tries Zaayman, Van Zyl, Stander, Nieuwoudt, Ndawo; Conversions Stander 2
GAME 1
NICO MALAN 10 – DALE COLLEGE 25
Kicking off the day’s play, Nico Malan from Humansdorp took on Dale College from King William’s Town, with both teams having something to prove after losing both their first and second day fixtures. Nico Malan has struggled at the festival this year having lost both their matches – to Westville on Thursday and to HTS Middleburg on Saturday. Dale, in spite of their usual flair for unpredictable rugby, has also lost both matches – to Glenwood on Thursday and to Kearsney on Saturday.
The team from the Eastern Cape kicked off and put pressure on Nico Malan from the start.
The first points of the match came through great running play by Dale College hooker Bubele Gongqu who scored under the poles, converted by Justerino Davids, to open the score at 7-0 in Dale’s favour.
Nico Malan recovered quickly and with good, steady phase play and consistent pressure on the Dale defence line, they were rewarded with a try by eighth man Dean van der Westhuizen to take the score to 7 – 5 to Dale.
After some scrappy play Davids slotted a penalty in the 17th minute (10-5) and within minutes Nico Malan number 9 Dian Hartzenberg broke through the Dale defence to dot down, bringing the score to 10-10.
In the 21st minute Bulele Gongqo notched up his second try of the day, once again converted by Justerino Davids to round off the scores at half time at 17-10 to Dale College.
The second half saw Dale exert consistent pressure from the re-start and they were unlucky not to score in the 44th minute when number 14 Luzuko Mase dropped the ball on the Nico Malan try line. But this was the theme of the half as both teams were guilty of far too many handling errors and scrappy play.
It looked like the second half would see no points added until in the 57th minute when Nico Malan handed Dale a penalty and Justerino Davids successfully converted to make the score 20-10. The renewed energy unleased a spate of running rugby and Davids crossed the line in the dying moments of the game to bring the final score to 25-10 to Dale College.
Point Scorers
Nico Malan: Tries Van der Westhuizen, Hartzenberg
Dale College: Tries Gongqu 2, Davids; Conversions Davids 2; Penalties Davids 2
@Scrum Doctor: i think you have got something there. lack of speed in cross defence is a problem as you said the loose forwards are having to do a great deal of work to get out wide. that would be a good option.
@Bosveldpa: Julle Bosvelders like mos die suidkus.. Laas toe ek daar was het daar juis n omie n drie reg langs my in die lagoon gedruk. Julle moet onthou daai goed dryf hoor.
@Speartackle: Jy’s doodreg! Julle is heel opgeskeep met julself! Luister na jouself!
@Bosveldpa: As n oud Affie ( ek was vir n dag in Huis Frank le Roux ) is dit nogal duidelik wie vir wie ‘favour’ en veral as dit by Affie support kom. Julle ( al noem julle julself ‘ Bergkwagga ‘ of ‘ Kid die Swerwer ‘ ) neig om so ietsie ekstra altyd oor Affies te noem. Maar in elk geval geniet jou vakansie swaer en stuur groete vir ou Thysie.
@Andre T: Nee man, julle manne spring darem vinnig op ‘n perd se rug!
Weereens die lekker van my posisie, geen kind of kraai in enige skool nie, ek geniet wat ek wil geniet wanneer ek wil. My seun wat in die noorde van die land op skool was, en gespeel het, sit die afgelope 3 jaar oorsee op ‘n heerlike rusbank en het lankal vergeet van die goeie rugby wat hy in 2011 gespeel het.
Ek sal graag wil verstaan (jy moet verduidelik) wie dan nou my span is?
Ek praat dan nie eers oor die spanne uit die Paarl en Stellenbosch nie.
Jy sien die voordeel om in my posisie te wees is om net die rugby en die talent te geniet. Daars geen witbroodjies of favorites nie, dalk ‘n sagteplekkie hier en daar, selfs vir Monnas op sy tyd.
Help my om te verstaan wat jy bedoel met spankeuses?
Ek nie so seker of @johanbeyers jou aanvat of my nie.
PS: Moenie bekommerd wees oor die strand braak nie, ek is opgevoed al is ek van die plaas!
@GreenBlooded: GB – I must agree – I have also always thought that DEV teams were more a political statement than a real serious rugby challenge. This is why I ask. What was different this year? After looking at Day 1 when they lost to Umhlali it probably looked same old same old.
Was it coaching – did they get more time together. Were 2 of the top U13 sides sub par and taking it too easy – or was it (hoping this is the correct one) – that the Dev team are really awesome and showing tru depth at grass roots level across the province?
Will we start seeing Chatsworth, KwaMashu and Edendale starting to cause upsets in the high school level within the next 10 years too?
Hopefully so. ??????
@Speartackle: What are you on about? The game I watched on Monday was won 26-0 by Affies 8)
@Rugger fan: I must eat humble pie on this topic – I have made comments before regarding the Dev team at this tourney based on last year’s results where they were soundly thumped in all 3 matches where the matches were blown at 50pts early in the 2nd half. Completely different story this year – they Dev team were highly competitive and played very entertaining rugby. I would still like to see these Primary school games played between games 3 and 4 each day during the lunchtime break.
Thanks for all the positive comments on Glenwood, nice to hear especially after so much negativity around them for the pas t 2 years. All the best to all the sides that competed. Glenwood will have a very tough assignment in Pretoria later in the year….
Ek is nie eintlik n ou vir stats nie maar as my geheue nog vars is dan het Monnas in die laaste 2 games teen Affies amper 90 punte aangeteken. Strike rate van 45.
Ek merk op dat Glenwood en Garstfontein nog van die min onoorwonne spanne vanjaar is ( gelykopstryde nie ingereken )
Is daar enige ander? Behalwe Vrede?
@Andre T: Pappa se seuntjie se span vaar nie te goed vanjaar. Pappa wil n ingeligde mening lig. Pappa hou dalk nie daarvan dat sy seuntjie op die bench sit.
Toemaar pappa, dit is net skolerugby, nie so erg nie hoor. Oor 2/3 jaar worry niemand meer wat in 2014 gebeur het nie.
@Bosveldpa: Ek kan sien jy le erens in die son of koelerige windjie in n rivier of lagoonbedding met jou uitlatings oor die ‘overrated’ span.
Die ‘overrated’ spannetjie het jou seker aangenaam verras veral teen jou span, ne. As ek so na die telling kyk wonder ek wat noem mens jou span as n ‘overrated’ spannetjie’ jou so les geleer het. Ek het n ou sagte plekkie vir jou skooltjie daarom sal ek maar nie byvoeglike naamwoorde begin gebruik om hul vertonings te beskryf die afgelope seisoen nie.
Ek sien jy begin ook nou al n kenner te word met spankeuses……iets waaroor jy nogal self so paar dae terug gal gebraak het.
Geniet jou vakansie en moenie op die strande braak nie, ou grote.
I agree with commentators re GW and their incredible determination and gees. With regard to the EG Jansen game I have never seen a side with so much red zone territory fail to convert. On the other side of the coin you had GW that defended like I have never seen-fantastic commitment to the cause. There are obvious concerns though. For EG Jansen there was a lack of innovation and creativity to unlock the defence. They were lateral and played the man rather than space. For GW why were they not able to get front foot ascendancy in the primary phases and kick for territory to release pressure. They tackled like men possessed and took their chances well ( and the score is on the board) but there was a gap in the process of a usually well drilled machine.
Ek het ook die afgelope Paas Naweek die Kearsney toernooi bygewoon en waar moontlik die meeste van die wedstryde gekyk, voorwaar ‘n vertoonvenster vir skole rugby in Suid Afrika, goed afgerigte spanne en baie veggees, veral Dale College teen Glenwood.
Vir my was die teleurstelling die Affie span van Pretoria, die eerste wedstryd teen Selborne was die span verander wat teen Kloof verloor het, ek het gehoor by een van die Affie ouers dat hulle 5 x veranderings aangebring het, Affies het die Selborne wedstryd goed gewen, maar toe gaan die afrigters en speel weer die Kloof span teen Monnas en Affies verloor. My waarneming is dat die volgende die Affie span se uitdagings is, haker, slotte en die skrumskakel. As die afrigters nie gaan raakvat met die posisies nie, gaan die Wildeklawer toernooi moeilik wees. Groete!!
Back from Kearsney. Firstly congratulations to team Kearsney on hosting a flawless event.
The quality of the rugby was of high standard with good match-ups on all three days.
My team of the tournament is Glenwood – what a team they have this year! Very few weaknesses with a great loose trio, an outside centre that will break your bones with his ferocious tackles and a very talented fullback. Most importantly, they came back against Framesby when everyone thought they were down and out – a sign of a quality side.
As far as Affies is concerned, still licking our wounds, and lots to still work on, BUT plenty of positive aspects to build on. In all three games there were periods where we played very well. We lost the game against Monnas in the first 30 minutes and from there onwards we looked much better. Against HTSM I felt we should win the game, we let two “soft” tries get the better of us. I take nothing away from HTSM though, they have a good side this year but I am sure they’ll concede the game could have gone either way.
Sterkte aan die Affie manne vir Wildeklawer – ek hoop van harte dat ons een of dalk selfs twee “upsets” kan veroorsaak.
@ Scrum doctor- it is all about line speed. But you need to have combinations that understand each other or you will have players coming out of the line and creating more gaps.Most of GWs tries against Westville were due to the space that was afforded and momentum created.Grey’s first try was a carbon copy. Westville really need to work on this as they have a pack that can compete with the best and are being let down at the moment.
@GreenBlooded: I have always acknowledged the fact that monastery, even in a bad year, could upset gcb. They have the best record, of all schools, against grey. Apologies, I’m on a table, but I shall leave it as monastery,very appropriate, with at being the father. Flip, should read tablet . I’m not sure why you people get all excited about technology. It’s damn frustrating, to say the least . Otherwise, watch the season. It’s still long and the inter schools,a different matter altogether, is ahead.
Really good to see the U13 KZN Development side getting 2 very good wins (against Westville and Highbury) after losing to Umhlali on the first day. Anyone have any comments on the U13 rugby at KERF?
I’ve arrived at my holiday destination for my annual break from the north. Skoene uit, gat op die sand. Nou kan ons bietjie rugby gesels. Planned my trip to attend either St John’s festival or Kearsney but decided on Kearsney. What a superb event presented by Team Kearsney!
You guys with kids are very blessed to have this type of event offered to you and your sons!
Geniet dit terwyl julle kan!
Ek is verstom oor die goeie rugby wat daar gespeel word in hierdie land van ons. Hierdie seuns op skole vlak is regdeur die bank skitterend.
Jammer ek het die eerste dag gemis, maar dit klink of daar ‘n paar amper verassing was.
Dale College se mannetjies kan werklik kop hoog hou, julle is ‘n klomp fighters. Nommer 21 dink ek is die skrummie se nommer wat my baie beindruk het.
Glenwood nr 13, yster speler en het EG Jansen se spoed gebreek met twee goeie driee. Nr 8 speel sy hart uit, nie seker of dit 8 is wat met 2 kopbeserings die veld moes verlaat nie. Haker net so goed.
Westville se staal het gewys teen Grey! Goeie rugby seuns!
Nico Malan het uitgehaal en gewys as ek kyk na die skool se leerling getalle!
Dag 3 se verrassing natuurlik Monnas en Grey, ek het so uitegsien na die een en geglo Grey gaan Monnas hard gas gee aangesien Monnas dalk n bietjie overrated kan wees. 10-10 dalk n goeie weergawe op die einde van die dag.
Framesby was ongelukkig om met 2 punte te verloor teen Glenwood!
Skokkerr vir my was die Affies teen HTS Middelburg game. Wat ‘n maklike game moes gewees het vir die Pretoria manne, draai hulle om in n innodige verloor. Nee man! Wat maak die coaches? Die arme seuns speel hulle harte uit, maar dit lyk of struktuur ontbreek. Daai telling moes 30 in Affies se guns gewees het. Hoeveel veranderings was voorlngs gewees? Jy kan mos nie stabiliteit skep met soveel warboel voor nie. Die gevolg is balle word gesteel en goeie werk deur die manne in wit draai om in punte vir die rooispan. Lynstane en bal dra is belangrik! Die nr9 seun het sy staal gewys agter n pak wat so sukkel. Niks werk uit voorlangs vir die Pretoria manne nie, agter wil dit begin goed lyk maar dan skop julle dit weg.
Only Glenwood and HTS Middelberg won allof their matches with Monnas nearly causing an upset that would have elevated the too-and-fro between Andre T and BOG to record breaking levels….
commenting of Westvilles leaky outside defence – would it not be better to play Buthelezi at 13 as he has the pace to keep up with the game. I realise that would leave a hole at Fly half but at least it is easier for the loosies to tackle closer to the scrum. Kotze could play fly half ( has a big boot and reasonable hands ).I still think the problem stems from lack of line speed on defence as the natural dog leg creates space on the outside for any player with a bit of wheels to exploit
Selborne / Westville game was a cracker – domination from Westvile pack did not secure the game as the archilies heel of defense at second center and wing continues to plague them. That Pieterse must be a good player – too score when you are on the bench is quite a feat ! Try was scored by Bailey .Westville had a 100% success rate in both own scrums and lineouts as well as a few steals – a base like that should put you in a good position to win but well done to Selborne .