Saturday was a riveting start to the winter sports season, with hosts Kearsney beating long-time rivals Maritzburg College in intense 1st team rugby and hockey clashes.
RUGBY
The One Stripe, Kearsney College’s 1st XV, engaged in a physical battle against Maritzburg College. As the clock ticked down, Kearsney found themselves trailing by two points. In a heart-stopping turn of events, a last-minute penalty conversion secured a stunning victory for the hosts, to end the match with a final score of 16-14.
In other age groups, the U16A clash stole the spotlight as it unfolded into a thrilling spectacle. The lead changed hands multiple times, creating an atmosphere of suspense and excitement. With just minutes left on the clock, Kearsney held a narrow 19-18 lead. However, Maritzburg College managed a dramatic last-minute score, snatching the victory with a final score of 19-25.
The U15A team faced a challenging encounter but emerged victorious with a hard-fought 6-0 win. The match was a testament to their tenacity and ability to muscle through tough situations.
Kearsney’s U14A and B made a formidable statement in their first games of the season. The A team exhibited an outstanding performance, securing a convincing 29-10 victory with a display of fantastic first-phase tries. On the other hand, the B team showcased strength and resilience, ending their match in a hard-fought 14-14 draw.
HOCKEY
Kearsney College beat Maritzburg College 2-0
Being the first fixture of the season, neither team knew much about the other which made for an interesting contest in which hosts Kearsney College put in a dominant display to come out victors by two goals to nil.
Liam Johnson opened the scoring for the hosts with a rebounded shot from a penalty corner, sending the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs, and crashing into the back board with a cheer from the home supporters.
The second half saw much of the same dominance as Maritzburg College struggled to exit their half, unable to enter their scoring area in the third quarter or to trouble the Kearsney defenders.
An abundance of penalty corners finally saw Kearsney captain Matthew Mendes de Oliveira double his team’s lead with a well-placed drag flick which bounced back out of the net as the clock ticked closer to the end of the game.
Kearsney showed maturity in their possession as they saw the game out with a confidence-boosting start to their season, beating a powerhouse in South African schoolboy’s hockey.
Sports report compiled by Sue Miles at Working Words
Photographer: Hannah Shirley
