CRICKET
Kearsney 1st X1 were runners-up in the Clifton T20 Tournament
Clifton hosted the now annual T20 tournament which included the top 10 schools in KZN, as well as Waterkloof and St John’s from Harare. The weather threatened the event, but ended up having little impact. The pool stages saw top teams Kearsney and Northwood go through to the semi-finals.
Kearsney beat St John’s Harare by 46 runs after Asher Hollister (named batsmen of the tournament) scored a magnificent 106 not out, along with Kearsney captain Keegan de Jager scoring 66 not out.
Kearsney then beat Hilton by 56 runs to record an important bonus point, with James Bishop recording the best bowling figures of the tournament of 4 for 16.
Sadly, Kearsney’s game against Clifton was rained out.
In their semi-final, Kearsney then played Westville. Westville put Kearsney in to bat and Kearsney managed a competitive 126 for 6 in 15 overs. In reply Westville ended 1 run short, in what was an incredible performance in the field from Kearsney. Needing 5 runs to win of the last ball, Daniel Miskey held his nerve with the ball and Westville batters managed to run 3 runs as some of the Kearsney fielders panicked but managed to get over the line to win by 1 run in what was a magnificent encounter.
The final then saw Waterkloof, currently ranked number 1 in the school’s rankings, take on Kearsney. Kearsney won the toss and elected to bat. Waterkloof bowlers were on fire at the start and gave nothing away. Kearsney were 49 for 5 at the halfway mark, with Johan Liebenberg taking 2 for 15 to put the local school under pressure. Aaron Blackburn and Daniel Miskey both showed resistance and managed to get the total to 124 for 8. Waterkloof, known for their powerful batting, where immediately under pressure from a fired-up Litha Gonya and the spin of Mathew Gorrie and Rivan Moodley. Rico van der Walt, however, showed great skill in scoring 49 before he was run out, to leave the game in the balance at 93 for 6 with 4 overs to go. Waterkloof managed to get over the line with 4 balls to spare, in what was a thrilling and intense game, to ensure a memorable final from two great schoolboy teams.
BASKETBALL
Kearsney 1st team lost 65-66 to Michaelhouse 1st team
In front of a packed and animated crowd at the Skewiya SportZone, Kearsney College hosted long-standing rivals Michaelhouse in a fiercely contested basketball fixture that lived up to its billing and went down to the final seconds — and beyond.
Michaelhouse settled quicker in the opening exchanges, immediately placing the hosts under pressure with their physical defence and composed ball movement. Kearsney struggled to find rhythm in the first quarter, with discipline proving costly. The home side conceded six turnovers, all of which were punished clinically by Michaelhouse. Compounding their difficulties was a poor shooting display, with Kearsney converting just 20% of their attempts from the field. The quarter ended with Michaelhouse holding a commanding 12–5 advantage.
The second quarter saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Kearsney responded with intent and energy. Their offensive execution improved markedly, reflected in a vastly improved shooting percentage of 62.5%. Kearsney added 25 points in the quarter, overwhelming Michaelhouse, who managed 14 in reply. Despite the improved scoring, foul trouble continued to disrupt the flow of the game for both teams. At half-time, the contest was finely poised, with Kearsney having clawed their way back into contention.
Michaelhouse reasserted their authority in the third quarter, which proved decisive in shaping the outcome of the match. The visitors outscored Kearsney 23–15, capitalising on the home team’s ill-discipline. Kearsney conceded six team fouls and surrendered a further six turnovers, allowing Michaelhouse to regain control through aggressive defence and transition scoring.
The final quarter was played at an intense pace, with Kearsney showing resilience and determination. They edged the period 18–14, driven by persistent offensive rebounding that kept them alive in the contest. In the dying seconds, Kearsney appeared to have secured the game, leading 63–60. However, Michaelhouse’s renowned shooter rose to the occasion, draining a clutch three-pointer to force a dramatic 65–65 tie — eerily mirroring the 2025 home fixture between the sides.
Overtime proved heartbreaking for the hosts. Kearsney struggled offensively, shooting just 12.5% from the field and missing both three-point attempts. By contrast, Michaelhouse maintained their physical edge and composure under pressure. When the final whistle sounded, the visitors had edged the contest by the narrowest of margins, claiming a 66–65 victory.
Top scorers
Kearsney: Pabatso Sithole 18 points, Kwakuhle Sibiya 14 points & 12 rebounds, Lubanzi Mseleku 13 points
WATER POLO
Kearsney 1st team beat Michaelhouse 1st team 10 – 4
Kearsney delivered a composed and clinical performance in their traditional inter-school clash against Michaelhouse, to secure a strong 10–4 victory.
The first chukka was tightly contested, with Kearsney edging ahead 3–2. Tom Francke opened the scoring with a sharp action finish, before Oli Ludwig found the net off a well-worked assist from Kesh Aylward. Levi Thom then converted confidently from the penalty spot to give Kearsney early control.
Momentum shifted firmly in Kearsney’s favour in the second chukka, as they outscored Michaelhouse 4–1. Thom added an extra-man goal, while Max Mills struck twice from action to extend the lead. Francke capped off a dominant quarter with another clinical finish, pushing the half-time score to 7–3.
The third chukka saw Kearsney maintain their defensive intensity and attacking efficiency. Francke completed an impressive hat-trick, Thom added his third of the match, and Reece York found the net to stretch the advantage to 10–4. The team’s structure and discipline without the ball, supported by key steals and blocks, ensured Michaelhouse were limited to just one goal in the quarter.
A scoreless final chukka highlighted Kearsney’s defensive resolve. Goalkeeper Rourke Stacey was outstanding throughout, finishing with 11 saves and controlling the tempo from the back. It was a mature, balanced performance — disciplined defence, efficient extra-man execution, and patient attacking play, to seal a deserved 10–4 inter-school win.
Kearsney Water Polo Night Series
- Westville 5 – 14 Hilton
- Kearsney 9 – 9 Northwood
Kearsney drew 9-9 with Northwood
Kearsney battled to a thrilling 9–9 draw against Northwood in the fourth round of the Night Series, in a match that showcased resilience and composure under pressure.
The opening chukka ended 3–3 in an evenly matched start. Max Mills struck twice from action, while Kesh Aylward converted from extra-man to keep Kearsney level after Northwood responded to each attacking surge.
The second chukka was equally tight, with both sides adding one goal apiece to make it 4–4 at halftime. Aylward once again capitalised on the extra-man advantage, demonstrating Kearsney’s efficiency in structured attack.
Northwood edged ahead in the third chukka, but Kearsney responded through a well-taken penalty by Mills and a composed extra-man finish from James Beningfield, keeping the scores locked at 6–6 heading into the final quarter.
The fourth chukka was a tense, end-to-end battle. Northwood twice opened a narrow lead, including a late penalty conversion, but Kearsney refused to fade. Mills struck from action to narrow the deficit before Aylward calmly converted a crucial extra-man opportunity in the closing stages to secure the 9–9 draw.
Rourke Stacey was again influential in goal with nine saves, while defensive efforts from Levi Thom, Dru Mills and Christiano Sandri helped absorb sustained pressure.
It was a hard-fought Night Series encounter, with Kearsney showing character and composure to earn a well-deserved share of the spoils.
TENNIS
Kearsney’s 1st tennis team travelled to the Western Cape for last week’s Gerrie Berner Tennis Festival hosted by Paul Roos Gimnasium. The country’s top 12 tennis-playing schools were invited to the prestigious tournament, which celebrated its 21st year.
Kearsney was represented by Angus Fyvie, Max East, Troy Jorgensen, Jason Denekamp (captain), Luca Giai-Minietti, Connor van Heerden and Noah Haskell.
Despite fighting hard in the round-robin phase, playing some scintillating tennis, they were unfortunate to narrowly lose to Hoërskool Waterkloof (3-4), Westville Boys’ High (2-5), Pearson High (2-5) and Paul Roos Gymnasium (0-7).
The boys dug deep and secured an important victory against Hoërskool Outeniqua (6-1), making up valuable points in for the positional play-offs. In the cross-over matches, Kearsney played against Grey College (1-5), with the latter progressing to the next round.
In the final positional play-offs, Kearsney played Hermanus High School, beating them convincingly 4-2 to finish in seventh position.