20 May 2025
Kearsney College may have entered the third fixture of the Sharks Schools’ Rugby Day at Hilton College as underdogs, but they gave Durban High School (DHS) plenty to think about before School pulled clear late for a 40-20 victory on the scenic Weightman-Smith Field on Friday.
It was a hard-earned win for DHS, whose recent schedule has been nothing short of punishing. A slow start hinted at tired legs, and coach Peter Engledow didn’t hide from the reality of their workload.
“It’s exhaustion, to be honest,” he said. “We had three games at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, then a local derby against Northwood, and from there we went to Wildeklawer, where we played Stellenberg on Thursday and Paarl Gim at 20:00 on Saturday night. We only got home on Sunday at 19:00. It’s been a full-on 12 or 13 days.”
With seven games in less than two weeks, the fatigue was visible early on. Kearsney, who suffered a heavy loss to Michaelhouse in their last outing, started with purpose and confidence. While it took 14 minutes for the scoreboard to tick over, it was DHS who struck first through hooker Okuhle Mbanjwa, who was driven over after sustained pressure.
Kearsney, though, responded with the try of the match with a sweeping movement sparked by fullback Lwazi Mbebe, who fielded a clearing kick on halfway. The ball was worked across the width of the field and eventually back to the left flank where centre Doan Nel was stopped just short of the try line, but Lwandle Mkhize was on hand to take a pop pass and dive over. Mbebe’s conversion nudged Kearsney in front.
DHS, though, found their rhythm. Fullback Jordan van Wyk sliced through the defence for their second, before captain Daniel Ikotela powered over under the posts after breaking through three tackles. By the break, School held a 22-10 lead.
Kearsney narrowed the gap to 25-13 but, with time running out, but DHS showed their class and conditioning in the closing stages. Cilermo Carolus ran in a five-pointer from long-range after running onto a kick in behind the Kearsney defensive line, and that was followed by scrumhalf Jaydon Roberts sniping over.
Keanu Williamson‘s late try for Kearsney was a fitting reward for an industrious performance.
DHS’s dominance in the scrums laid the platform. Their cohesion in phase play forced Kearsney into a high tackle count, and once the defensive line was breached, their runners provided some good finishes.
There were standout performers on both sides. For DHS, the loose trio of Ikotela, Bradley la Grange, and Dexter Mkhencele hunted effectively together, while Kearsney lock Joseph Roylance impressed with his engine and aerial skills. Mbebe was composed at the back and Williamson a livewire in the midfield.
Engledow summed it up: “We didn’t always play in the right areas, which is a bit annoying. But credit to Kearsney, they’re trying to play an ambitious brand of rugby and they’re improving. For us, it’s back to work and prep for Westville.”
As part of the Sharks’ trials, at Hilton, the DHS and Kearsney u16A, u15A, and u14A sides also met. DHS dominated the u15 and u14 matches, but Kearsney’s u16A side pulled off a stirring two-point victory. It proved to be their only rugby win out of a full slate of matches, which included many played on Saturday, although the DHS and Kearsney 6th teams drew.
RESULTS
1st: DHS 40-20 Kearsney
2nd: DHS 71-0 Kearsney
3rd: DHS 19-7 Kearsney
4th: DHS 45-0 Kearsney
5th: DHS 27-15 Kearsney
6th: DHS 10-10 Kearsney
16A: DHS 36-38 Kearsney
16B: DHS 34-5 Kearsney
16C: DHS 35-12 Kearsney
16D: DHS 29-7 Kearsney
15A: DHS 49-7 Kearsney
15B: DHS 64-0 Kearsney
15C: DHS 34-7 Kearsney
14A: DHS 64-12 Kearsney
14B: DHS 70-0 Kearsney
14C: DHS 52-0 Kearsney
HOCKEY
On the Blue and Gold Astro, two goals from Tyrique Cloete – one early in the game and the second late – secured a 2-1 win for DHS over Kearsney, whose goal from a penalty corner conversion by Keegan de Jager.
The matches were tightly contested, with DHS coming away with seven wins, Kearsney picking up four victories, and the u16A game ending 2-2.
RESULTS
1st: DHS 2-1 Kearsney
2nd: DHS 1-0 Kearsney
3rd: DHS 1-3 Kearsney
16A: DHS 2-2 Kearsney
16B: DHS 3-0 Kearsney
16C: DHS 2-3 Kearsney
16D: DHS 3-2 Kearsney
16E: DHS 1-0 Kearsney
14A: DHS 2-0 Kearsney
14B: DHS 0-2 Kearsney
14C: DHS 0-2 Kearsney
14D: DHS 3-0 Kearsney
GOLF
Kearsney golfers enjoyed as excellent weekend at the KZN Open Strokeplay Championship at Princes Grant, with Matthew Gouws finishing as the top schoolboy and Harry Clayton grabbing second place.
Many of the country’s top amateurs were in action in the large 100-player field.
Gouws, a grade 12 learner, was tied for fourth after the first two rounds, with another two rounds to follow on Sunday. Ultimately, he ended in an outstanding eight position. Clayton, who is in grade 10 battled hit putter, although his work from tee to green was good, He tied for 19th overall.
CRICKET
There was exciting news for Kearsney when they learnt that former 1st XI captain Cade Carmichael had been called up to the Ireland squad for and ODI series against West Indies.
Carmichael represented the Kearsney 1st XI from his grade 10 year. He was named the Batsman of the Year in his grade 11 year and captained the side in 2020.
Leave a Reply