RUGBY
Kearsney College 1st XV beat Michaelhouse 1st XV 19-15
Kearsney hosted Michaelhouse on Saturday, on their Founders Day, always a special occasion for any school, their old boys, parents and students. The 1st team game kicked off in conditions favourable for an afternoon of good schoolboy rugby.
Michaelhouse took an early lead, scoring in the 5th minute, to take a 7-0 lead. The visitors were on the attack again with Kearsney under pressure, and tried to move the ball wide with a long pass. A good read from Kearsney’s Valentino Lenge saw him intercept and run 60m to score. With a successful conversion, the scores were tied at 7-7. This would remain the half-time score.
In the 40th minute, Kearsney had an attacking line-out in Michaelhouse’s 22m. After setting a dummy maul, Callum Steer broke free and played a short ball to Doan Nel, who ran a sharp line, cutting through Michaelhouse’s defence to score. Cameron Veenstra’s successful conversion gave Kearsney a 14-7 lead.
The visitors then responded with a try of their own. After keeping the ball for several phases, they moved it to the edge, finding space to score. An unsuccessful conversion took the tally to 14-12 in Kearsney’s favour.
The hosts managed to regain possession from kick-off. After two phases, Roydan Madatt showed great game awareness with an accurate cross kick. Dan Eager was on the edge and, with a mighty leap, stuck out his left hand, gathered the ball and dived over in the right-hand corner. An unsuccessful conversion saw the score remain at 19-12 to Kearsney.
Michaelhouse managed to narrow the gap to just four points with a penalty kick. With time up on the clock, Michaelhouse had an attacking line-out and managed to keep possession for multiple phases, putting Kearsney under pressure. However, an unforced error from Michaelhouse saw Kearsney awarded a scrum, four minutes into overtime.
Kearsney was awarded a penalty, which brought to an end a spectacle of a game between two old rivals, and Kearsney coming out victors 19-15, much to the delight of their old and current boys.
HOCKEY
Kearsney 1st X1 drew 0-0 with Michaelhouse 1st X1
One of the most exciting 0-0 draws played out at Kearsney on Saturday when Michaelhouse was hosted by Kearsney on their Founders weekend.
A game that had both goalkeepers busy from start to finish, counter attacks, build-up play, brilliant defensive efforts and many penalty corners, all contributed to a highly entertaining match.
Michaelhouse, having slightly more possession, was unable to penetrate the Kearsney circle in the second period, showing a commitment to keeping a clean sheet. Kearsney were slightly more clinical in their possession, being able to keep the Michaelhouse penalty corner defence busy.
The tension was palpable as the game drew to a close, with both sides having emptied all their energy reserves.
The final whistle was a heartbreaking sound to the boys in maroon, as it was their final game on home turf this season.
Report sent from Sue Miles at Working Words.
