Cricket
Kearsney College’s 1st X1 and U14A teams both took on Westville Boys High in the 100-ball finals of their respective age divisions at Kingsmead last week.
The 1st XI game was a high-scoring, tight match. Kearsney set a W100 season-best total of 148/6, with Jack O’Donovan striking an excellent 92* off 49 balls.
Some destructive hitting from Westville’s Kaeden McAlister kept the game in the balance until the very end, with Westville reaching the target with three balls remaining in the match.
Kearsney’s U14As have enjoyed an excellent season, with nine victories and just one loss. In the W100 finals, the team kept their cool, to beat Westville by five runs and were crowned champions. Going into the final, both sides had a victory against each other during the season, so the final was always going to be a tight affair.
After winning the toss, Kearsney chose to bat. Wickets fell at regular intervals and extras proved to be top score on the night. Kearsney scored 106/6 in their innings.
Westville got off to a quick start, but Matthew Rice’s tight bowling and some excellent fielding – including four runouts – brought Kearsney back into the game.
Westville never gave up the fight and some fine hitting by Kagiso Mokoena (33 not out) had the spectators on the edges of their seats. Westville eventually fell short of the target by five runs.
BASKETBALL
Kearsney hosted Maritzburg College for the final game of the summer season. Both teams looked tired after having participated in the JOI and St John’s tournaments over the previous two weekends.
Kearsney started well and, with some good outside shooting, they managed to unsettle College’s defense and convert on easy transition baskets. They were four points ahead 21-17 at the end of the first quarter.
College managed to find some fluidity on offense and stepped up their defense to pull back the Kearsney lead to two points at the halftime break 33-31.
The game was anyone’s to win, with both teams adjusting on offense and defense. By the end of the third quarter, they were square on 49 each.
Kearsney had players in foul trouble and as they fouled out of the game College took advantage to open up a lead. Despite Kearsney having chances to score, they missed crucial opportunities, allowing College some easy fast break baskets.
College ran out deserving 68-56 winners.
Top performers
Kearsney: Reabetswe Sithole 11 points; Luca Borragerio 10; Connor Grenfell 8; Mvelo Mkhize 6
Maritzburg College: Inayathi Nasinga 24 points; Ryliegh Hoskins 18; Nkanyiso Ngcobo and Kamva Sibankulu 7
WATER POLO
Kearsney’s 1st water polo squad won the prestigious National Reef Cup Tournament held at St Stithians in Johannesburg over the weekend. Kearsney won every match they played at the event, which had attracted SA’s top water polo schools.
Results
Group matches:
Kearsney beat Crawford College Lonehill 30 – 3
Kearsney beat St Peter’s College 17 – 6
Kearsney beat Rand Park High 26 – 4
Kearsney beat Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) 10 – 8
Quarter Final: Kearsney beat Reddam Helderfontein 19 – 4
Semi-Final: Kearsney beat St David’s Marist Inanda 7 – 5
Final: Kearsney beat St Alban’s College, Pretoria 10 – 8
The 1st team squad comprised Callum Clark, Elihle Hadebe (vice capt), Robert Smith, James Pohl, Luca Sandri, Paul Samouilhan, Rourke Stacey, Thomas Francke, Levi Thom, Thomas Aylward, Oliver Ludwig, Christian Mendes de Oliveira, Luca Giai-Minietti and Blake Kruger(capt).
In the tournament’s individual awards, the following Kearsney players were named in the ‘All Stars Team’: Thomas Aylward, Elihle Hadebe, Blake Kruger, James Pohl. Goalkeeper of the Tournament was Kearsney’s Elihle Hadebe.
Kearsney’s U15A water polo team won the annual Indigo Cup Water Polo tournament hosted by Parktown Boys High in Johannesburg. Most of the top teams from around the country, including Paul Roos, Rondebosch, SACS, Bishops, Grey, St Stithians, St Johns, KES, Affies and Pretoria Boys participated.
Three KZN schools (Kearsney, Hilton, Clifton) and Paul Roos made it through to the semis; with Kearsney and Hilton advancing through to the finals.
In the final, Kearsney trailed by two goals in the first chukka but fought back hard, to win 4-3 in the final chukka. Clement Makelele was named best defender of the tournament.
At the tournament Kearsney beat Westville Boys 4–1, St John’s 4–2, St. Benedict’s 7–2, Affies 6–3, drew 2-2 with Paul Roos, beat St Alban’s 5-1, Bishop’s 5-2, Clifton 3-1 and finally Hilton 4-3 in the finals.
Kearsney’s U15 players were Leo Brown, Robert Gelderman, Aston Grace, Clement Makelele, Ntsikelelo Makeleni, Reece York, Mcebisi Zulu, Max Mills, James Hollins, Blake Rencken, James Whatmore, Matthew Wilson and Tyler Wright.
Sports Report Compiled by Sue Miles at Working Words.