9 June 2026
(Feature photo: Kearsney 1st XV captain Nhlanla Ndlovu, courtesy of Kearsney content creator boys)
RUGBY
Maritzburg College extended their winning streak to five matches on Saturday, but not before surviving a fierce challenge from Kearsney College, who pushed the visitors all the way in a gripping 24-22 King Price Derby Series clash on Stott Field.
Playing on Founders Weekend in front of a large and vocal crowd, the One-Stripe delivered one of the team’s most spirited performances of the season. Yet, despite outscoring their visitors by four tries to three, they were left to rue missed opportunities and the accuracy of Maritzburg College scrumhalf Dom du Toit‘s boot.
College won because they were composed under pressure, but for long stretches, it appeared as though Kearsney might produce an upset.
The visitors started strongly, dominating territory and spending much of the opening exchanges inside the Kearsney half. The hosts defended resolutely until College left wing Matthew Harris gathered possession near the touchline, cut sharply back infield, burst between two defenders, brushed off another tackle, and dived over for the opening try after only seven minutes.
Du Toit added the conversion to give College a 7-0 lead.
Kearsney responded impressively five minutes later with a try that showcased the quality of their backline play. Centre Keanu Williamson, a consistently excellent performer throughout the season, attracted two defenders before releasing fullback Lwazi Mbebe. His involvement created space on the outside for Luke Grobbelaar, who produced a deft chip ahead before winning the race to the bouncing ball and grounding it in the corner.
The score sparked a huge reaction from the home supporters and injected the hosts with belief.
That belief grew further in the 15th minute when captain Nhlanhla Ndlovu produced another moment of brilliance to add to an already remarkably long list of highlight reel tries this season.
The move began from halfway after Kearsney fielded an exit kick. Ndlovu received possession with Grobbelaar outside him and immediately threatened the defence. Using his support runner to hold the cover defenders, he sliced back inside at pace, leaving two would-be tacklers clutching at air before arcing back towards the right touchline and sprinting over for a superb individual try.
It was another reminder of the unique qualities possessed by the Kearsney number eight. Blessed with the pace, vision, and footwork more commonly associated with a backline player, Ndlovu has repeatedly punished defences this season with his ability to identify opportunities in an instant.
The conversion drifted wide, but Kearsney had moved into a 10-7 lead.
Their confidence continued to grow and, shortly before halftime, they landed another telling blow.
An overthrown lineout inside the Maritzburg College 22 fell perfectly for Williamson, who burst through a gap and carried play deep into the danger zone. After several powerful surges at the try line, Ndlovu again demonstrated his instincts by diving under defenders to score his second try of the afternoon.
A penalty from Dan Miskey shortly afterwards extended the home side’s advantage to 17-7 at the break.
Yet there was an uncomfortable sense of déjà vu for Kearsney supporters.
Only a week earlier, the One-Stripe had led Northwood 24-13 before being overhauled in the second half. Unfortunately for coach Grant Bashford‘s charges, history repeated itself.
Maritzburg College emerged from the sheds with renewed purpose and quickly established territory inside the Kearsney 22. Fullback Sandiswa Hadebe almost produced a spectacular score after stepping past three defenders. He was stopped just shy of the whitewash, but the visitors maintained their pressure and eventually struck through their abrasive lock Sean Jansen, who crashed over from close range in the 43rd minute.
Du Toit’s conversion reduced the deficit to just three points.
The influential Jansen was heavily involved again moments later. After he charged through traffic and attracted defenders near the posts, quick hands shifted the ball left to Harris. The wing stepped the first defender and dived over in the corner for his second try of the match.
Du Toit then delivered one of the key moments of the contest, drilling an excellent conversion from near the touchline to edge College into a 21-17 lead.
Kearsney refused to surrender.
A flowing backline movement featuring excellent handling and quick passing created space down the left touchline for Lwandle Mkhize. The speedy wing needed no second invitation, racing away to score a superb try in the corner.
Although the conversion attempt missed, Kearsney had reclaimed the lead at 22-21.
Their advantage lasted only a few minutes.
When the hosts conceded a penalty inside their own 22, directly in front of the posts, Du Toit calmly slotted the kick to restore Maritzburg College’s lead.
It would prove to be the decisive score.
The final quarter produced all the tension one expects from a King Price Derby Series encounter. However, despite numerous attacking opportunities and seven excellent tries already having been scored, neither side could add to their tally.
When the final whistle eventually sounded, relief was etched across the faces of the visitors.
Kearsney had produced one of their finest performances of the season and outscored College by four tries to three. Ultimately, though, Du Toit’s metronomic accuracy from the kicking tee proved decisive, with the conversion count favouring the visitors three to one.
Looking at the other matches, while College’s renowned depth earned them more wins, Kearsney’s u16A side recorded a hard-fought 33-22 victory. The u14A match was entertaining, too, with Kearsney winning 22-17. Overall, though, the Red, Black, and White scored 14 victories to Kearsney’s three.
Results
1st: Kearsney 22-24 Maritzburg College
2nd: Kearsney 19-32 Maritzburg College
3rd: Kearsney 12-62 Maritzburg College
4th: Kearsney 5-21 Maritzburg College
5th: Kearsney 7-28 Maritzburg College
6th: Kearsney 12-31 Maritzburg College
16A: Kearsney 33-22 Maritzburg College
16B: Kearsney 10-17 Maritzburg College
16C: Kearsney 0-48 Maritzburg College
15A: Kearsney 19-47 Maritzburg College
15B: Kearsney 22-19 Maritzburg College
15C: Kearsney 0-45 Maritzburg College
15D: Kearsney 0-50 Maritzburg College
15E: Hillcrest A 27-7 Maritzburg College
14A: Kearsney 22-17 Maritzburg College
14B: Kearsney 14-17 Maritzburg College
14C: Kearsney 0-50 Maritzburg College
14D: Kearsney 0-50 Maritzburg College
HOCKEY
Kearsney College tasted a rare defeat on the AH Mason Astro, going down 0-2 to Maritzburg College, with Caden Francis and Greg Hosking netting for the visitors.
It was a reversal of the result of when the teams met at the Michaelhouse Hockey Tournament, where Kearsney won 4-3 and made it all the way to the final.
In total, Maritzburg College won 12 matches, Kearsney picked up two wins, and only two matches ended in draws, including a cracking 3-3 result in the u16A match.
Results
1st: Kearsney 0-2 Maritzburg College
2nd: Kearsney 3-1 Maritzburg College
3rd: Kearsney 1-1 Maritzburg College
4th: Kearsney 2-0 Maritzburg College
5th: Kearsney 1-3 Maritzburg College
16A: Kearsney 3-3 Maritzburg College
16B: Kearsney 1-4 Maritzburg College
16C: Kearsney 0-1 Maritzburg College
16D: Kearsney 0-1 Maritzburg College
16E: Kearsney 0-5 Maritzburg College
16F: Kearsney 0-8 Maritzburg College
16G: Michaelhouse 2-3 Maritzburg College
14A: Kearsney 0-2 Maritzburg College
14B: Kearsney 0-7 Maritzburg College
14C: Kearsney 1-3 Maritzburg College
14D: Kearsney 0-2 Maritzburg College
14E: Michaelhouse 6-1 Maritzburg College