Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival – Day 3 Preview
The 2024 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival concludes tomorrow (1 April) after two typically gripping days of action played out on Thursday and Saturday. With so many teams having points to prove, the final day should be another humdinger.
Wonderful festival crowds have seen five schools go into day three unbeaten. Durban High School, Worcester Gimnasium, Dr EG Jansen from Boksburg and festival newcomers Rondebosch Boys’ High have won all their fixtures, with Hoërskool Monument from Krugersdorp winning the single match they have played so far.
In the opening game tomorrow, Hoër Landbouskool Marlow, who have so far fallen to both Glenwood High School and Worcester Gimnasium, face Hoërskool Noord-Kaap, who are also winless after defeats to Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen and Nico Malan High School. So much is riding on the result for both outfits, so expect another close encounter up first.
Second, Rondebosch Boys’ High tackle Hoërskool Rustenburg, and will be looking to earn their third win on Stott field after having already seen off Westville Boys’ High and hosts Kearsney College. For Rusties, who copped losses to Worcester and Durban High School on the first two days, this will be the last chance to end their Botha’s Hill debut on a high.
Hoërskool Framesby’s tussle with Worcester will be an interesting contrast of brutal forward might and backline play. Framesby saw off Kearsney by a single point on Day 1 before falling to Hoërskool Monument, in what looked to be a major festival upset after dominating the first 45 minutes of play. Worcester meanwhile picked up successive one-point wins themselves over Rustenburg and Marlow and will be eyeing a coveted unbeaten run at the festival this year.
In the fourth game, right before the festival’s closing ceremony, Glenwood will be out to follow up a win over Marlow and defeat to EG Jansen, with a positive performance against Nico Malan, who head into this one after a loss to DHS and win over Noord-Kaap.
A well-oiled and unbeaten DHS lineup next face Pearson High School, who went down to Westville in their first outing on Day 2. The Horseflies are yet to concede a point following big victories over Nico Malan and Rustenburg – and will be trying to maintain that impressive trend on the final day.
The penultimate match-up pits Monument against Westville, with Monnas having beaten Framesby on Day 2 and Westville bouncing back from their opening defeat to Rondebosch with a win over Pearson.
Finally, the festival concludes with hosts Kearsney, out to claim their first win, tackling unbeaten EG Jansen in a rematch of last year’s tussle. On that occasion it was the visitors that bagged a 17-12 win, but the One Stripe will be keen to make a big statement in their last game.
Action from the high school 1st XV teams gets underway at 07h30 with the final game starting at 15h40.
In addition to the high school battles, there will also be exciting primary school games with 10 local U13 teams on an adjacent field. Participating teams are Ashton International College Ballito, Chelsea Prep, Glenwood Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, Winston Park Primary and the KZNRU Ibutho Development Team.
Numerous food outlets, a refreshment tent and a fun KidZone for little ones will be available, with ample on-site parking.
Fixtures are on www.kearsney.com and, for those unable to attend the festival, it will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools. Online tickets can be purchased through Quicket at R45pp to avoid queues, or at the gate for R40pp. Children under six years of age are free.
KERF FIXTURES:
Day 3 – Monday 1 April:
High Schools – 07h30 Hoër Landbouskool Marlow v Hoërskool Noord-Kaap; 08h50 Rondebosch Boys’ High v Hoërskool Rustenburg; 10h10 Framesby v Worcester Gimnasium; 11h30 Glenwood v Nico Malan; 12h40 Closing Ceremony; 13h00 DHS v Pearson High; 14h20 Monument v Westville Boys; 15h40 Kearsney College v Dr EG Jansen
Prep Schools – 10h00 Kloof Senior Primary v Ashton Ballito; 11h00 KZNRU Ibutho U13 Development Team v Westville Senior Primary; 12h00 Hillcrest Primary v Winston Park Primary; 13h00 Umhlali Prep v Highbury; 14h00 Glenwood Prep v Chelsea Prep
Some You Tube clips in images below of special moments so far at the festival.
