After a thrilling opening day at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF), Saturday’s schedule promises more rich entertainment, with the day’s final match between Westville Boys’ High and Helpmekaar Kollege the one that immediately catches the eye.
On Thursday, Helpmekaar was more efficient than spectacular, and not at their best after their recent participation in the Noord/Suid Tournament. Playing the first match of the day against Glenwood High, they were let down by their hands as both units struggled with the morning dew.
With improved handling, they could have inflicted some serious damage. Instead, they won 24-5.
They’re going to have to be better, though, when they take on Westville, who overwhelmed Hoërskool Framesby, turning a 17-0 lead at halftime into an 83-0 victory with power, speed and precision.
Coach Zander Erasmus and his boys will face a stiffer test from Helpies, and that will begin up front. Against Framesby, Westville had their way in the set pieces. They’re likely to find the challenge a lot tougher on Saturday.
Helpmekaar will need to contest every ball because the Griffins showed that with quality possession, they have devastating runners. A cracking contest awaits.
The second day’s action begins at 08:00 with a clash that should deliver huge dollops of exciting running rugby, with both Peterhouse and Milnerton High at their best when the game is looser. Both like to give the ball air and get it wide to their flyers on the wings.
At 9:20, Durban High School (DHS), fresh off an intense 31-14 victory over Hoërskool Zwartkop, takes on Hoërskool Rustenburg.
Two seasons ago, a rugged DHS side blanked Rusties 45-0, and they won 41-7 in 2025. They’ll be focused on avoiding a let-down after a taxing test from Zwarries. The North West school, meanwhile, will be eager to erase the sour taste of those defeats.
They played some good rugby against Kearsney, exhibiting good structure, and they drove the ball up effectively through their forwards, but the home side punished them for turning over the ball with some long-range counterattacking tries. Rustenburg will aim for better control when near the try line.
Much like DHS, Zwartkop will need to lift themselves for their clash against Dr EG Jansen at 10:40. Their challenge will be to replicate the intensity they put into their opening match.
Their backline looked dangerous and tested DHS, a sound defensive unit, and Jansies will have to be on their game to prevent allowing Zwarries space to move the ball wide.
EG Jansen was at their best when they kept the game tight against Milnerton, and they’ll need to employ that tried and tested formula to bag another win against Zwartkop.
Glenwood High faces Framesby at 13:00. It’s an opportunity for both sides to pick up a first win of the festival.
The Green Machine was let down by their handling against Helpmekaar in the early morning on Stott Field on Thursday, but they won’t face that same challenge on Saturday. They’ll know they played themselves into some good positions, only to be stopped by their own unforced errors. Cut down on those and they’ll be a far more dangerous test for Framesby.
The Gqeberha boys endured a nightmare outing against Westville Boys’ High, whose tempo, speed and outstanding execution were simply too much for Framesby, who were unable to match that after their recent efforts at the Noord/Suid Tournament.
Intensity will be key for them, and also ensuring that they play a far tighter game. When the match became loose against Westville, they were exposed. Their response to that big loss could be a defining outing in their season.
Kearsney College’s clash against Hoërskool Transvalia at 14:20 should present an interesting clash of contrasting styles.
Kearsney’s slick handling and ability to get the ball wide to both flanks at speed caught the eye in their win over Rustenburg on Thursday. Transvalia, meanwhile, shut down Peterhouse with a methodical, structured approach. Both can be winning formulas.
Kearsney, in early season wins over St Charles and Glenwood, has already shown they can win in different ways in different playing conditions. Transvalia might have to show adaptability, too, to challenge the exciting One-Stripe.
These 12 1st XV boys high school teams are complemented by four U16 girls’ teams which take to the field during lunchtime fixtures, and 12 primary school teams competing on an adjacent field.
Monday is the final day of play of KERF 2026.
To avoid queues, spectators can purchase prepaid tickets online through Quicket; alternatively at the Kearsney College Road gate. Entry is R50 per person, with children under six free.
There is ample parking, a fun KidZone for the little ones, as well as numerous food outlets and a field-side refreshment tent to ensure spectators can fully enjoy the weekend’s entertainment.
All matches will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools app and website. Festival news, team information, results and match reports are available on the Kearsney College Events app.
FIXTURES
STOTT FIELD – BOYS HIGH & GIRLS U16 TEAMS
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 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
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Photographer: Gabrielle Swanepoel
