Sports Report for Kearsney College,
Cricket:
Saturday was a great day for Kearsney College on the cricket field against St Charles, with every A Team winning their matches. The 1st XI game, played on the Smith Oval, was a closely contested match with the hosts recording a thrilling 12-run victory.
Kearsney College Innings,
With the amount of rain preceding the match, Kearsney won the toss and made the brave decision to bat first. St Charles started well and bowled extremely tightly through their emerging SA opening bowler Dakesh Rajah (2/23 in 9 overs) and left arm spinner Caleb Sharp (2/14 in 9.1 overs). Survival was the game plan for Kearsney early on and they managed to make their way to 65/2 at tea.
Jason de Gryse, Kearsney’s captain and opening bat, held the innings together with a patient 41 off 92 balls. He was well supported by Cole Young (29) and Nicholas Comrie (29 not out), to see the hosts set a competitive 172 all out. St Charles’ standout performer with the ball was Keegan Vermaak, who took 5/35 in his 10 overs.
St Charle’s Innings,
Saints got off to the perfect start in their chase, bringing up their 50 with the loss of a wicket. Kearsney’s Litha Gonya bowled extremely well, only conceding eight runs in his opening six overs, but he lacked support from the other end. Thandolwethu Zama was particularly strong on anything loose, scoring 33 off 38 balls.
The match changed, however, when Kearsney introduced their spin bowlers, Rivan Moodley and Matthew Gorrie, who have been so successful this season. Moodley removed Zama and St Charles went from 56/0 to 72/5.
Fortunately for the visitors a solid sixth wicket partnership took them to 138 without losing another wicket through Rajah (39) and Ryan Clarke (29). Gorrie got the breakthrough, which gave the hosts some confidence. St Charles needed a further 38 runs with 4 wickets left.
Moodley continued to strike and ended with 4/27 in 10 overs, while Gorrie ended with 3/46 in his 10 overs. With the light fading Kearsney were told they could not bowl their seamers, and turned to their captain Jason De Gryse who got the final wicket, to give the hosts a narrow 12-run victory in what was a great advert for schoolboy cricket.
Kearsney 1st X1: 172 all out (De Gryse 41, Comrie 29*, Young 29; Rajah 2/23, Sharp 2/14)
St Charles 1st X1: 160 all out (Rajah 39, Zama 33, Clarke 29; Moodley 4/27, Gorrie 3/46)
Kearsney won by 12 runs
BASKETBALL
Kearsney 1st lost to St Charles 1st 63-64
Kearsney College hosted St Charles in a fiercely contested basketball match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. Both teams displayed immense passion and determination, but St Charles emerged victorious with a narrow 64-63 win.
From the outset, St Charles stamped their authority on the game, executing a high-paced offense. Their aggressive approach and clinical finishing saw them take an early lead, forcing Kearsney into a reactive position. At the end of the first quarter, St Charles had carved out a comfortable 21-13 advantage, putting the home side under pressure.
The Second Quarter:
Kearsney refused to back down. They regrouped in the second quarter and came out with renewed intensity. Their defensive setup tightened, and their offensive plays became more structured. Kearsney managed to outscore St Charles in the second and third quarters, notching up 32 points to their opponents’ 25. This impressive effort brought them back into the game and set up a thrilling final period.
Despite Kearsney’s resurgence, both teams struggled with discipline throughout the game. A large number of fouls were committed, disrupting the flow of play. While St Charles capitalised on their trips to the free-throw line with accurate shooting, Kearsney failed to take full advantage of their own opportunities. This ultimately proved to be a decisive factor in the match’s outcome.
The Final Quarter:
The final quarter was an intense battle, with both sides matching each other point for point. As a result, the evenly contested period saw both teams score 18 points apiece. Nevertheless, Kearsney fought until the very last second, but their inability to convert crucial opportunities ultimately cost them dearly.
Top scorers:
Kearsney: James Hastings-Brown 16 points, Pabatso Sithole 12, Daniel Prinsloo 10
St Charles: Kyle Carmichael 15 points, Bandile Sokhabase 14, Khwezi Simelane 10
WATER POLO
Kearsney’s 1st water polo team made a highly anticipated return to the prestigious KES Tournament, marking the school’s first appearance in over 15 years.
Riding the momentum of an outstanding 26-game winning streak, the team was eager to test themselves against the best water polo sides in the country. With top teams at the peak of their seasons, the competition was always going to be intense.
Kearsney finished in an impressive fifth place, a remarkable achievement given the limited tournament preparation. The squad demonstrated resilience and determination, maintaining an extraordinary unbeaten run of 29 games over six months. However, their streak was finally broken in the quarter-finals.
A special mention to Thomas Aylward and James Pohl, who were both selected for the Tournament Team – testament to their outstanding performances.
Tournament results:
- Kearsney beat Westville 15-8
- Kearsney beat KES 12-11
- Kearsney beat Paul Roos 6-5
Quarter-Finals: Kearsney lost to St Stithians 8-11
Playoff (5th-8th): Kearsney beat Selborne 4-3
Playoff (5th-6th): Kearsney beat SACS 7-3
Media release on behalf of Kearsney College
