A beautiful warm, slightly cloudy day heralded the start of this year’s Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival which kicked off today (Thursday). The main Stott rugby field has been perfectly manicured in expectation of the exciting match-ups anticipated over the weekend between 12 top teams from across the country and Zimbabwe.
HELPMEKAAR KOLLEGE 24 – 5 GLENWOOD
On a beautiful day in Botha’s Hill, Helpmekaar Kollege scored the first points of the 2026 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival on the lush Stott field, crossing for the first try of the festival only two minutes into the opening game against Glenwood High.
A sharp counterattack, led by fullback Xander van Niekerk took Helpmekaar deep into Glenwood territory before they were bundled over the sideline.
After forcing the Green Machine to dot down behind their try line off the subsequent lineout, Helpies went over through inside centre Ethan Lourens, who split the Glenwood defence with a direct hard run line. Flyhalf Ethan Kruger added the extras.
Both teams struggled somewhat with their handling in the slippery early morning conditions, but Helpmekaar enjoyed slightly the better of the territorial battle.
They added to their advantage in the 10th minute when their big number 8 Ruan Bester burst over after a turnover deep in Glenwood territory. Ethan Kruger goaled the five-pointer to turn it into a seven-point play.
Left-wing Zuan Krige then made himself available out wide on the right and sped over for Helpies’ third while Glenwood’s disjointed play continued.
Down by 19 points, the Durban school finally built up some momentum and forced their way into the Helpmekaar 22, but the Johannesburg side stood firm and kept their try line intact after Glenwood won a five-metre scrum.
Right on the halftime whistle, though, Rosco Williams tore a hole in the Helpmekaar defence just inside the Joburg boys’ half. He then put through a chip kick, which he reached first, but the bounce of the ball prevented the exciting fullback from opening Glenwood’s account.
A physical, error-strewn battle continued in the second half, with Helpmekaar fullback Xander van Niekerk continuing to ask questions of the Glenwood defenders, but all too often both sides found their attacking intent undone by handling errors.
Helpmekaar came within a metre of adding to their total with 12 minutes left in the second stanza, but Glenwood forced a turnover to stop the danger.
Eventually, though, in the 22nd minute, Helpies’ pressure paid dividends and Shaye Lourens crashed over from close range to make it 24-0.
With just three minutes remaining, the Green Machine broke their duck. At last, they found some momentum, taking the ball through eight phases before outside centre, Cade Isaacs, spotted a gap and forced his way over to make sure Glenwood didn’t finish the contest empty handed.
Scorers
Helpmekaar Kollege 24 (19): Tries: Xander van Niekerk, Ruan Bester, Zuan Krige, Shaye Lourens. Conversions: Ethan Kruger (2)
Glenwood High: 5 (0) Tries: Cade Isaacs
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KERF 2026 FIXTURES
STOTT FIELD – BOYS HIGH & GIRLS U16 TEAMS
Day One, Thursday 2 April
08:00 Helpmekaar Kollege vs Glenwood High; 09:20 Hoērskool Transvalia vs Peterhouse Boys; 10:40 Westville Boys vs Hoērskool Framesby; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Grosvenor Girls High; 13:00 Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Rustenburg; 14:20 Milnerton High vs Dr EG Jansen; 15:40 Durban High School vs Hoērskool Zwartkop
Day Two, Saturday 4 April
08:00 Peterhouse Boys vs Milnerton High; 09:20 Durban High School vs Hoērskool Rustenburg; 10:40 Hoērskool Zwartkop vs Dr EG Jansen; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Ohlange High; 13:00 Glenwood High vs Hoērskool Framesby; 14:20 Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Transvalia; 15:40 Westville Boys vs Helpmekaar Kollege
Day Three, Monday 6 April
08:00 Hoērskool Transvalia vs Hoērskool Framesby; 09:20 Glenwood High vs Dr EG Jansen; 10:40 Peterhouse Boys vs Hoērskool Rustenburg; 12:00 Ogwini Comprehensive v Mowat Park High; 12:50 Closing ceremony; 13:00 Westville Boys vs Milnerton High; 14:20 Durban High School vs Helpmekaar Kollege; 15:40 Kearsney College vs Hoērskool Zwartkop
ROBERTS FIELD – BOYS PREP & GIRLS U16 TEAMS
Day One, Thursday 2 April
08:00 Chelsea v Northlands; 09:00 Highbury v Peterhouse; 10:00 Hillcrest v Umhlali; 11:00 KZN Ibuto v Kloof; 12:00 Ohlange High v Mowat Park High; 13:00 Ashton Ballito v Westville; 14:00 Atholl Heights v Winston Park
Day Two, Saturday 4 April
08:00 Westville v Northlands; 09:00 KZN Ibutho v Winston Park; 10:00 Chelsea v Peterhouse; 11:00 Hillcrest v Atholl Heights; 12:00 Grosvenor Girls High v Mowat Park High; 13:00 Umhlali v Kloof; 14:00 Highbury v Ashton Ballito
Day Three, Monday 6 April
08:00 Westville v KZN Ibutho; 09:00 Chelsea v Umhlali; 10:00 Northlands v Kloof; 11:00 Atholl Heights v Peterhouse; 12:00 Grosvenor Girls High v Ohlange High; 13:00 Ashton Ballito v Hillcrest; 14h00 Highbury v Winston Park
All matches will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools app and website. Download the Kearsney College Events app from Google Play or iStore for full and up-to-date festival news, team information, results and match reports.
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Issued on behalf of the KEARSNEY EASTER RUGBY FESTIVAL
For further information, please contact:
SUE MILES
083-222-5211
