KEARSNEY COLLEGE 43-14 HOERSKOOL RUSTENBURG
A big roar greeted the home side, Kearsney College, when they opened the afternoon’s action on Stott Field against Hoërskool Rustenburg in Thursday’s fourth game of KERF in Botha’s Hill.
Straight from the kick-off, the One-Stripe forced their way deep into Rusties’ half, winning a penalty in the 22, from which they set up a lineout five metres from the try line. Rustenburg escaped that threat, but Kearsney kept control of the territorial battle.
When Rustenburg finally got out of their half, Kearsney suddenly turned defence into attack, outflanking the opposition down the left flank, which put 8th-man and captain Nhlanhla Ndlovu in the clear. He cut inside and showed Rusties a clean pair of heels, to go over for the first try of the contest within the first five minutes.
Daniel Miskey knocked over the simple conversion, and Kearsney enjoyed an early 7-0 advantage.
Rustenburg responded well and pinned Kearsney in their half, winning a five-metre lineout, but Kearsney grabbed the throw-in to stop the danger. Still, the North West boys kept Kearsney on the back foot.
They were rewarded for good ball retention when hooker Dandré Graham powered over in the 17th minute and flyhalf Aldin Baaitjies converted to level the scores.
For a while, the competition was even, with the game being contested in the middle of the park. Rustenburg had an opportunity to take the lead, but a long-range penalty attempt was wide of the mark.
With eight minutes left in the half, the momentum swung firmly in Kearsney’s favour.
It began with a loose clearance kick, which cost Rusties dearly. Captain Ndlovu made a chaser miss with a swivel of his hips, and that created a three-man overlap on the left flank. He made ground before making Lwandle Mkhize the beneficiary of his largesse, with the final pass giving the wing a simple run-in for five points.
Rustenburg responded well and regained momentum, working their way deep into Kearsney’s half, but the One-Stripe turned defence into attack with a stunning counterattack.
It began in the right-hand corner with right-wing Luke Grobbelaar. He put Oliver Ludwig into space, and the flank drew the last defender, fullback CJ Plaaitjies, before setting Fynn Verbaan free to score the try. Daniel Miskey converted to make it 19-7.
Once again, Rustenburg forced Kearsney back, but Grobbelaar hurt them once more, pulling off an interception to race clear and dot down just before halftime. Miskey’s conversion made it 26-7 at the interval.
Two minutes into the second half, Lwandle Mkhize started and finished a superb counterattack. He combined with fullback Lwazi Mbebe and his skipper, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, before pulling off a couple of vicious sidesteps to cross for Kearsney’s fifth try.
The home side’s good support play and pop passes in the tackle were paying rich dividends. Some of the passing was delightful as they stretched the Rusties’ defensive line to its limit.
Hooker Mcebisi Zulu was introduced into the game early in the second half when Kearsney substituted their front row and was on the field for only a couple of minutes before he made it onto the scoresheet.
More sharp Kearsney passing almost had them in for another try, but good cover defence knocked Luke Grobbelaar over the touchline, five metres out. A missed Rustenburg throw-in fell kindly for Zulu, though, and he dived over for the home side’s sixth try.
With a big lead, Kearsney was able to send on more substitutes. That led to the hosts losing some of the fluency that had caused Rustenburg so many problems, and Rusties took advantage of the slight respite to gain more possession and play the game in Kearsney’s half.
Their perseverance was rewarded late in the game when Wicus Arnold burrowed over for his side’s second try. Flyhalf Aldin Baaitjies nailed the conversion to make it 36-14, which felt like a fairer reward for the visitors’ never-say-die efforts.
There was a final sting in the tale, though, with Sibusiso Khuzwayo snatching a spilled ball out of the air to hare over for the last try of the game, which was converted by Daniel Miskey, leaving Kearsney the winners by a handsome 43-14 margin.
Scorers:
Kearsney 43 (26): Tries: Lwandle Mkhize (2), Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Fynn Verbaan, Luke Grobbelaar, Mcebisi Zulu, Sibusiso Khuzwayo. Conversions: Daniel Miskey (4)
Rustenburg 14 (7): Tries: Dandré Graham, Wicus Arnold. Conversions: Aldin Baaitjies (2)
Photographer: Gabrielle Swanepoel
