Here are the reports on the various KZN Tier-1 games that took place over the weekend.
Kearsney beats DHS 33-16 (report from Working Works & Kearsney)
Kearsney travelled to Durban for DHS’ Founders Day, for a televised game which added motivation to an improving host team. Whilst conditions were dry, a swirling wind on Van Heerden’s added a different dimension to the game during the initial part.
Kearsney played into the wind in the first half and, as expected, were fielding a lot of balls from the DHS flyhalf who was very tactical with the boot, forcing Kearsney into the corners. Kearsney opened the score board through captain Tristan Tedder, who converted a penalty kick within three minutes of the game.
Kearsney were successful from their counter attacks, which allowed them a lineout just outside the DHS 22m. Kearsney secured the lineout and Tristan Teddergrubbered the ball through the DHS defensive line. Kearsney lock Tristan Dixon then gathered the ball and passed it down the line to allow fullback Mitchell Nesbit to score the first try in the left corner. Tristan Tedder converted, giving Kearsney a 10-0 lead.
DHS struck back with a penalty kick from their flyhalf (10-3). DHS were dominating in territory, and Kearsney were not accurate in their play, allowing DHS an opportunity to have a midfield scrum on the Kearsney 5m line. DHS converted the pressure into points from a well-planned move from the scrum, which was dotted down by their fullback. The DHS flyhalf converted, levelling the scores at 10-10.
DHS caught Kearsney in their own half, and were awarded a penalty which took DHS into the lead 10-13. Kearsney struck back within the closing minutes of the first half with a converted penalty kick from Tristan Tedder, to go into the half-time break 13 all.
Kearsney started the second half with some solid play, dominating possession and territory. A well-executed move from a Kearsney lineout inside DHS’ 22m allowed the fullback to dot down for his second try in the left corner. Tedder converted, taking Kearsney 20-13 into the lead.
Kearsney struck again within a few minutes, winning a turnover, after which Kearsney scrumhalf James Hall made a break and ran 40m to score. Tedder converted to put his team 27-13 ahead.
Tristan Tedder added another two penalties and DHS responded with one, taking the final score to 33-16 in favour of the visitors.
Glenwood beats Hilton 67-7 (Glenwood report by assistant coach Mike Vowles)
The Green Machine, Glenwood High School, travelled up to Hilton College on Saturday to play against a home team that would have been keen to make amends for their heavy defeat against Maritzburg College last weekend.
Unfortunately, any thought of an upset for Hilton was quickly silenced as Glenwood put in a performance that can only be described as brutal and unrelenting.
From the start Glenwood took control up front and dominated the early exchanges through some controlled, physical forward play. They were rewarded through a try by their flanker, MacMillan Muller, which seemed to dent the Hilton defence and kill any sort of confidence they may have had.
Hilton responded during the course of the half with a try from a rolling maul, but this did little to halt the visitor’s momentum.
Tries by Jaco Coetzee, Kevin du Randt, Kwazi Khanyile and another by Mac Muller put Glenwood into a healthy lead of 27-7 at half time. Curtis Jonas Converted 1 of the 5 tries.
Glenwood continued to grow in confidence and put in an even better performance in the second half. Having the freedom to now run, their backs broke down the Hilton defence almost at will and it was not to long before Glenwood were on the score board again.
Second half points by Glenwood included tries from Donovan du Rand who scored a hat-trick, Koos Tredoux, Jaco Coetzee and Sphamnadla Ngcobo. Jonas converted 5 of the tries.
On a day that the Hilton boys would rather forget, Glenwood ran away with the game and dominated every facet. The final score was 67-7 with the visitors scoring a total of 11 tries.
Northwood beats St Charles 41-10 (Report from Northwood)
Saturday the 7th of June saw Northwood host St Charles College on their reunion Old Boy’s Day. Northwood finished off the last of their home fixtures with a great win thanks to some awesome attacking rugby.
Northwood had scored 2 well worked tries in the first half and went into the half leading 15-3. The Knights came out of the change room and really turned the pace of the game up a notch. Outside centre Phiko Sobahle ran in a hat-trick of exceptional tries earning him the match of the match award, which was handed to him by current Sharks flanker and Old Boy Justin Downey. Nathan Van Wyk and Jabu Mabida finished off a try each on their respective wings and Durran Krummeck, the gutsy number 9 had a well deserved try sniping from the base of the breakdown.
St Charles scored a converted try of their own late on to ensure a final score line of 41 – 10.
Grant Bashford and Simon Vickers can be really pleased but so can the thousands of supporters and Northwood Old Boys who witnessed one of Northwood’s best attacking rugby displays of the season, handing them one of their most comprehensive wins of the season and the best for many years on Old Boys Day.
Westville beats Port Natal 74-12 (Report off the Westville website)
After emphatic wins over Pretoria Boys’ High and King Edward in recent weeks, Westville continued their winning run with a 74—12 drubbing of Port Natal. After a disappointing start (by their own standards) to the rugby season, they have clicked together as a team and have become a formidable combination.
Last Saturday they produced a scintillating display of running rugby to completely overwhelm a plucky Port Natal side 74 – 12. Played at Westville, the game was settled in the first half with the home team scoring nine tries to rack up 60 points before the half time whistle.
The second half was a far more even affair: Westville cleared their bench giving some of next year’s prospective first team an opportunity to play at the top level.
Port Natal took advantage of Westville’s personnel changes, dug deep and took the fight to their hosts to bring themselves back into the game. What followed was a more balanced and highly entertaining second half with both sides scoring a brace of tries and Port Natal having the opportunity to show the pace in their backs to good effect.
Standout performer for Westville was hooker Renier Pieterse, who scored a hatrick of tries, and flanker Adrian Heystek who scored a brace.
Westville have Hilton next weekend away in the midlands. On current form Westville should have a slight edge over their hosts.
I watched the KC vs DHS game and there is no doubt that DHS rugby is on the rise. Their flyhalf stood out and made good use of the wind in the first half before the Tedder – Hall show took over in the 2nd and ran their forwards into the ground with equally good use of the wind. What I can’t understand is why some teams select hopelessly overweight front-row forwards. With the rules limiting school boy scrumming, what is the point of picking props merely for their lardy bulk, only to have them run out of steam after 20 minutes? Also, carrying a substantial amount of fat around the field for 70 minutes can’t be good for their health. I hear that Glenwood has a special 2 km fatties run. Good idea.