Match Report: Kearsney beats Clifton 43-8

Report courtesy of Working Words with input from a Clifton official.

On a cold and overcast Saturday afternoon Kearsney played Clifton College on Stott field for the first time in history.

The first points were scored by Kearsney captain Tristan Tedder, after he broke the Clifton defence through one of his chip and chase kicks. Tedder converted his own try to put the score at 7-0.

Kearsney were awarded a free kick off a scrum, in which scrumhalf James Hall took a quick tap to allow Jesse Rich to get close to the Clifton try-line. The momentum allowed Kearsney eighth-man Tristan Dixon to score from a pick and go, making it 12-0.

Clifton responded by opening their score with a penalty kick from Keegan Nxumalo (12-3). Kearsney then responded quickly, applying immense pressure on the Clifton try-line again. From a 5m Clifton scrum, the visitors gathered the ball and kicked, Kearsney counter attacked allowing left wing David Zondi to score in the left corner. Tedderagain converted, making it 19-3.

Tristan Tedder added further to the score by a penalty kick (22-3; and Kearsney tight head prop David Brown also crossed the white chalk from a pick and go. Tedder converted, to put the score-line at 29-3.

Kearsney flanker Patrick Zietkiewicz gathered the ball from a Clifton lineout and also went over for a try, which Tedder converted. The half-time score was 36-3.

The second half of the game was very disappointing from the Kearsney team. Clifton raised their game and only allowed Kearsney to score one try in the half. A well-worked backline move allowed Kearsney scrumhalf James Hall to cross over; and another successful conversion by Tedder took the score to 43-3.

Clifton never gave up and eventually the flanker Ruben Vosloo scored a well-deserved try to ensure a final score of 43-8.

Throughout second half Clifton dominated both territory and possession but resolute defence by the home side halted numerous attacks in the red zone. Clifton were unlucky not to score when well worked phase play down the blind side created an overlap only for Keegan Nxumalo to knock on, unopposed, a metre from the line. A lineout move involving a change in attack direction resulted in Ruben Vosloo being brilliantly tackled and held up on the left hand side of the Kearsney try line. Sean May was also called by the referee to be held up in the Kearsney in goal area after sustained attacking play by the Clifton forward pack, most notably captain Nick Downes, deep in the Kearsney 22.

Final score: Kearsney beat Clifton College 43-8