18 June 2025
The scoreboard at Stott Field told only part of the story when the final whistle sounded on Saturday afternoon. Kearsney College had snatched an improbable, last gasp 26-25 victory over St Stithians College in their King Price Derby Series clash.
It was a dramatic and emotional result that had the Founders Day crowd on its feet and Kearsney’s coach, Grant Bashford, breathing a sigh of relief.
“It was not a great performance, but a fantastic result,” he said afterwards. “If I’m honest with you, that’s probably our worst performance of the season. To get out of jail and win like that shows character.”
It was a day for Kearsney’s four matrics to remember, but it took until almost the last play of the game, and vice-captain Doan Nel a making a tough conversion kick, to complete the comeback.
Kearsney started well and went ahead early after fullback Lwazi Mbebe launched a counterattack from deep. The One-Stripe moved the ball fluently through hands until wing Bukho Hlwatika finished beneath the uprights. Mbebe converted, but soon after he was forced from the field with an injury, which robbed the home team of a key playmaker and their goalkicker.
Saints responded smartly. From a blindside move, loosehead prop Ethan Coetzee came within inches of the line before flicking a clever inside pass to lock Luke Thorrold, who crashed over for the visitors’ first try. They kept the pressure on and were rewarded just before the break when Thorrold, an imposing presence throughout, bashed over for his second after sustained forward pressure.
By contesting strongly at the breakdowns, St Stithians ensured Kearsney was playing with messy and slow ball. Nel had a chance to cut the deficit just before halftime, but his effort sailed wide, and the visitors turned at 15-7 ahead. Still, the One-Stripe was in the game despite playing what coach Bashford described as their worst half of the season.
The second stanza brought renewed urgency. A scrum on halfway opened up space, and Hlwatika slipped a deft chicken-wing pass to Lwandle Mkhize, who burned his defender and finished spectacularly in the right-hand corner. Nel’s clutch conversion narrowed the gap to one.
St Stithians regrouped. With flyhalf James Wilson briefly off the field, inside centre Reece Hubner stepped up to land a penalty and stretch the lead to 18-14.
Saints struck again, though, when Wilson returned. He put in a high chip over the Kearsney backline. It didn’t look particularly dangerous, but centre Sicelo Sakawuli rose brilliantly to gather it and, despite being dragged down inside the 22, had Wilson on his shoulder. The pivot sped away to score and added the extras to make it 25-14.
With five minutes left, the game appeared gone. But Kearsney were not done. From a five-metre lineout, eighthman Nhlanhla Ndlovu was brought down just short, but captain Simanye Mlakalaka finished from close range. Nel’s conversion from wide left missed. Six points separated the teams.
Then came the moment that will be replayed for years in Botha’s Hill. Time was up on the clock as Kearsney launched one last attack. Mkhize was chopped down near the Saints’ 22, but as he fell, he flicked a hopeful offload out the back. Nel collected, took contact, and offloaded to Keanu Williamson, an outstanding performer all season long in the midfield. He drove hard, stretched out, and had enough momentum on his side to crash over for a try (see feature photo).
All eyes turned to Nel. Kearsney trailed by a single point.
From wide on the left, he struck the conversion kick sweetly. The ball faded gently left to right, splitting the uprights and sparking pandemonium on the touchline as Kearsney supporters flooded the field in celebration.
But the referee wasn’t done. Despite the scoreboard showing time up, there was still a restart. Saints reclaimed possession and looked to manufacture something, but Wilson’s wide kick was safely fielded, and Jonsson put boot to ball to seal the win.
“This will hopefully galvanise us,” coach Bashford said. “We haven’t had the power this season, so we’ve had to play a bit like Japan. But it’s exciting rugby too.”
On Saturday, that style delivered the most dramatic win of Kearsney’s season.
RESULTS
1st: Kearsney 26-25 St Stithians
2nd: Kearsney 31-0 St Stithians
3rd: Kearsney 75-0 St Stithians
4th: Kearsney 60-5 St Stithians
5th: Kearsney 57-0 St Stithians
16A: Kearsney 67-12 St Stithians
16B: Kearsney 31-14 St Stithians
16C: Kearsney 56-12 St Stithians
15A: Kearsney 40-10 St Stithians
15B: Kearsney 26-7 St Stithians
15C: Kearsney 26-25 St Stithians
14A: Kearsney 57-3 St Stithians
14B: Kearsney 27-5 St Stithians
14C: Kearsney 21-19 St Stithians
HOCKEY
On the Mason Astro, Kearsney achieved, perhaps, its best result of the season, beating St Stithians, who’ve enjoyed a strong season 3-2, with two late goals, after twice coming from behind.
It was the kind of resilient victory that builds belief and provides a foundation for further success.
Saints went ahead through their Southern Gauteng A striker Aiden Blatch, who smashed home a sizzling tomahawk, but Keegan de Jager pulled one back with sharp drag flick from a penalty corner.
The visitors were back on level terms almost immediately, however, with Blatch converting a penalty stroke to make it 2-1.
Kearsney kept fighting, though, and Aaron Blackburn made it 2-2 with a neatly deflected goal off a long diagonal into the circle.
Incredibly, Ata Mazibuko sealed a stunning victory in the little time remaining after a goalbox scramble, gaving the big crowd reason to celebrate.
Most of the rest of the results went Kearsney’s way. They won the u16A game, but the u14A match ended in a draw.
RESULTS
1st: Kearsney 3-2 St Stithians
2nd: Kearsney 5-0 St Stithians
3rd: Kearsney 2-0 St Stithians
4th: Kearsney 1-0 St Stithians
16A: Kearsney 2-0 St Stithians
16B: Kearsney 0-1 St Stithians
16C: Kearsney 1-0 St Stithians
16D: Kearsney 1-0 St Stithians
14A: Kearsney 1-1 St Stithians
14B: Kearsney 6-1 St Stithians
14D: Kearsney 1-1 St Stithians
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