Kearsney College Sports Report: BASKETBALL
Kearsney College 1st beat Maritzburg College 1st 51-34
Kearsney hosted Maritzburg College on Saturday, a David vs Goliath scenario, with College having had an excellent season and being ranked in the top five SA schools basketball teams. What should have been an easy victory for the visitors ended with Kearsney slaying their more fancied opponents.
The first quarter was a tightly contested affair with neither team managing to find any offensive rhythm, and it ended with College 9-8 ahead.
Kearsney then made some free throws and good outside shooting forced the defense to spread out, creating space and limiting College’s scoring opportunities. The half-time break saw Kearsney 26-21 ahead.
The hosts went into the second half with all the momentum, but College fought back, managing to get ahead on the scoreboard 34-31. This, however, was the last time that they would be in front, and Kearsney pulled off a near-miracle, keeping College scoreless in the fourth quarter, whilst having one of their best offensive quarters of the season.
When the final whistle blew Kearsney had done the unthinkable, winning the game 51-34.
Kearsney coaches Khayani Nzama and Craig Gilchrist had prepared their boys thoroughly, and the team clearly had a plan and stuck to it.
Top Performers
Kearsney: Pabatso Sithole 22 points; Mvelo Mkhize and Daniel Prinsloo 10
College: Mangaliso Zwake 9 points
WATER POLO
Kearsney 1st beat Maritzburg College 1st team 13-5
On Saturday Kearsney 1st team faced off against Maritzburg College in a home fixture, securing a dominant 13-5 victory.
Kearsney started slowly, taking a 1-0 lead in the first chukka. The second chukka saw Kearsney significantly extend their advantage, outscoring Maritzburg 5-1. By the third chukka, Kearsney maintained control, leading 9-2 before closing the final chukka with a 13-5 win.
Kearsney converted 4 out of 8 extra-man opportunities, while Maritzburg struggled with their power plays. Strong defensive efforts, combined with composed attacking play, ensured Kearsney maintained their winning streak.
TENNIS
Kearsney’s 1st tennis team has returned from the annual Gerrie Berner Tennis Festival at Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch, which ended at the weekend.
South Africa’s top 12 tennis-playing schools were invited to the prestigious tournament which celebrated its 20th year.
Representing Kearsney were captain Finn Coningham, Angus Fyvie, Jason Denekamp, Luca Giai-Minietti, Max East, Connor van Heerden and Michael Hean.
The Kearsney boys fought hard in the round-robin phase. Despite playing some scintillating tennis, they lost to Grey College (1-6), Hoërskool Waterkloof (3-4), St Stithians (2-5) and Paarl Boys (0-7). They dug deep and beat Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale (6-1) in an important tie which placed Kearsney above Hoërskool Waterkloof in the final standings of the round robin phase.
In the cross-over matches Kearsney lost to Affies (0-4); and in the final positional play-offs, Kearsney lost again to St Stithians (2-4), to eventually finish in eighth position.
The Kearsney boys played with high intensity and determination, despite the incredible heat on court.
CRICKET
Clifton T20 Tournament
Kearsney participated in the Clifton T20 tournament, which included the top 10 schools from KZN, as well as St John’s Harare and Waterkloof. Teams were allocated into three pools, with the best two teams going through to the semis.
Kearsney’s opening match was against Michaelhouse. The ‘House batsmen started well and were 68/1 in their powerplay of 6 overs. Captain Ethan Muir was particularly destructive, making 55 runs off 26 balls. The spin attack managed to slow the run rate for Kearsney, with Matthew Gorrie being the pick, taking 3/27 in his 4 overs. Despite wickets falling around him, Nicholas Baker continued to play aggressively, and made 51 off 33 balls, to reach 169/8 in the 20 overs.
Kearsney’s chase didn’t gain enough momentum, as they lost wickets at the wrong time. Aaron Blackburn top-scored with 48 off 23 balls, and Rivan Moodley and Jonty Wiggett scored 26 and 29 respectively. Kearsney ended up 31 runs short, being bowled out with 4 overs of their innings to go.
The following morning a number of matches were rained out, including Kearsney against Maritzburg College.
In the afternoon hosts Clifton took on Kearsney. It was all to play for, as the winner had a chance in the play-offs. Clifton won the toss and sent Kearsney in to bat. Kearsney got 142/8 in their 20 overs, with Blackburn again the stand out with 47 runs, and Rivan Moodley making 29. Shiraz Perumal was Clifton’s stand out bowler, taking 3/11 in his 4 overs.
Clifton’s chase never got going, as Litha Gonya ripped through the top order with 3/23. Zach Williamson and Hayden Drieselman both showed some fight, but were dismissed in their 20’s and Rivan Moodley wrapped up the innings with 3/20 in his 4 overs. Kearsney ran out winners by 26 runs.
The previous day’s result put Kearsney into the eliminator match against St Charles, with the winner playing DHS in the semi-final.
Kearsney managed to defend their 173/7 by four runs. Aaron Blackburn made 67 off 48 and Cole Young made 66 off 27. With the bat for St Charles, Rico Honiball made 42 off 14 balls and Dakesh Rajah made 30, but the standout bowler was Kearsney’s James Bishop with 4 for 20.
In the other eliminator, rivals Hilton beat Michaelhouse; to take on Westville. They lost by 9 wickets in a one-side affair.
There was a straight turnaround for Kearsney against DHS and Kearsney elected to bat first. DHS had good bowling plans and managed to restrict Kearsney to 158/8. Returning from injury, Keegan de Jager made a well-played 60 off 46 and Cole Young chipped in with 25. The DHS run chase started well for them with Ethan Cooper making 30 off 20 balls. However, the mainstay of the innings was Ismael Omar, who rode his luck with Kearsney’s fielding letting them down, dropping Omar on five occasions. Omar, however, controlled the innings and his wonderful 101 not out saw DHS get over the line with 10 balls to spare.
In the final, DHS batted first and made a challenging 160/9. It was a great match-up on paper with their bowling line-up defending against the powerful Westville batting line-up. It was the bowlers who came out on top, however, allowing DHS to retain their title in a fairly comfortable win.
