18 October 2026
(Feature photo: Kearsney College basketball captain, Lubanzi Mseleku. Image by Yanga Ncube, Kearsney, Grade 11)
It’s not often that one sees a report covering numerous events being led by a story about academic writing, but Kearsney College‘s Shay Bagaria fully deserves to have his achievement shared first.
He received a high commendation in the philosophy category of the John Locke Institute Global Essay competition, placing him in the top three percent in the world.
With over 100 000 entries from over 180 countries, it is one of the largest schools’ academic writing competitions worldwide.
Shay Bagaria was also one of six Grade 11 boys from Kearsney who participated in the final round of the Oppie Tong Af National Debating final in Centurion.
Asemahle Madlala placed second in the individual debating category, while he and Shay Bagaria finished first in the team debating category, winning R 5 000 for the team and R10 000 for the school.
Madlala has been selected for the KZN Debating team and will participate in the SA National Schools Debating Competition at Hilton in December.
CRICKET
Hilton College produced a commanding performance to comfortably deal with an in-form Kearsney College 1st XI, winning by 82 runs on the AH Smith Oval in Botha’s Hill on Saturday, combining a competitive total with a disciplined bowling display to dominate the contest.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hilton posted 185 all out in 46.2 overs, with two batsmen leading the way.
Opening batsman Barack Munawa, back in action after an extended absence, made an immediate impact, striking nine fours in a valuable 56 at the top of the order. Aiden Chubb, batting at six, provided further resistance, finishing unbeaten on 57 from 80 deliveries, with seven fours.
Their contributions proved crucial, with only three other Hilton batsmen reaching double figures.
Kearsney initially threatened to take control through Blake Pugh, who removed Ben Wilson and Avaneesh Nunna, leaving the visitors struggling in 8/2. He finished with 2/18 from five overs.
However, Hilton recovered sufficiently to post a defendable total, despite Rivaan Moodley (2/28), Matthew Gorrie (2/33), and Matthew Rice (2/44) all claiming two wickets apiece.
Kearsney’s reply, though, never gained traction. Opening batsman Moodley struck four fours and a six in his 28, but he was the only member of the top five to reach double figures. Number six Sebastian De Broglio managed 11, while Gorrie’s 13 from number nine was the next-best contribution.
With little resistance from the home side’s batting line-up, Kearsney was dismissed for only 103 in just 29.5 overs, including 18 extras.
Hilton’s attack shared the spoils, with all six bowlers used claiming at least one wicket.
Andrew Bernstein led the way with an excellent 3/21 from 5.5 overs, while Sean Burman kept Kearsney under pressure with an economical 2/11 from six overs. Opening bowler Sange Qangule also chipped in with 2/19 in six.
Obakeng Motsepa delivered a tidy spell of 1/19 from seven overs, while Avi Nunna claimed 1/12 and Sechaba Gude finished with 1/21.
Scorecard
Hilton College 185/10 (Aiden Chubb 57*, Barack Munawa 56; Blake Pugh 2/18, Rivaan Moodley 2/28, Matthew Gorrie 2/33); Kearsney College 103/10 (Rivaan Moodley 28; Andrew Bernstein 3/21, Sean Burman 2/11, Sange Qangule 2/19). Hilton College won by 82 runs.
While the Hilton College 1st XI scored a convincing win, the Kearsney 2nd XI won in an equally dominant manner. Kearsney also cruised to victory in the 3rd XI match, but Hilton’s 4th XI was victorious.
In an evenly contested game, Kearsney won the U15A match by 16 runs and also took the honours in the U14 game, winning by four wickets.
Overall, Kearsney won six matches, and Hilton won three.
Results
2nd XI
Hilton 223/9: Kearsney 227/3
Kearsney won by seven wickets
3rd XI
Kearsney 283/6; Hilton 122/10
Kearsney won by 161 runs
4th XI
Kearsney 103/10; Hilton 104/4
Hilton won by six wickets
U15A
Kearsney 184/9; Hilton 168/10
Kearsney won by 16 runs
U15B
Kearsney 101/10; Hilton 104/0
Hilton won by 10 wickets
U15C
Kearsney 116/6; Hilton 57/10
Kearsney won by 59 runs
U14A
Hilton 205/9; Kearsney 206/6
Kearsney won by four wickets
U14B
Hilton 132/8; Kearsney 133/2
Kearsney won by eight wickets
BASKETBALL
In hot, humid conditions, the Kearsney 1st team held off Hilton in an early Saturday afternoon clash at the Skweyiya SportZone, scoring a narrow 58-53 victory.
There was never much to separate the sides: Kearsney led 17-13 after the first quarter, but Hilton closed down Kearsney’s attack in the second quarter and sank some three-pointers to take a 29-24 lead into the half.
Kearsney clawed their way back in the third quarter and took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter, up 41-40.
The game was tied at 51-51, but seven points in the last two minutes from Kearsney’s captain, Lubanzi Mseleku, lifted the home side to victory. He led all scorers, with 23, while Luphawu Socikwa dropped another 10 for the home side.
Jowi Cole was Hilton’s leading scorer, with 12 points.
Kearsney won three of the four open age-group matches, but Hilton won all four U16 games. They also took the honours in the U15A clash, but Kearsney won three of the five matches at that level, and three of four in the U14 matches.
Results
1st: Kearsney 58-54 Hilton
2nd: Kearsney 41-11 Hilton
3rd: Kearsney 22-17 Hilton
4th: Kearsney 23-24 Hilton
16A: Kearsney 17-27 Hilton
16B: Kearsney 28-31 Hilton
16C: Kearsney 25-30 Hilton
16D: Kearsney 17-23 Hilton
15A: Kearsney 28-36 Hilton
15B: Kearsney 23-13 Hilton
15C: Kearsney 27-22 Hilton
15D: Kearsney 27-8 Hilton
15E: Kearsney 16-20 Hilton
14A: Kearsney 31-41 Hilton
14B: Kearsney 19-24 Hilton
14C: Kearsney 24-26 Hilton
14D: Kearsney 22-19 Hilton
WATER POLO
The Kearsney College 1st team was in action at the Northwood Stayers tournament, where they finished second behind Clifton College.
For details of the event, please click this LINK.
Kearsney and Hilton also met in eight water polo matches, with the most interesting result coming in the U14A game. Hilton outplayed Kearsney 7-3 to win the U14 title at the KZN Top 10, but Kearsney comprehensively reversed that result on Saturday, winning 8-3.
Results
2nd: Kearsney 4-12 Hilton
3rd: Kearsney 5-13 Hilton
4th: Kearsney 11-10 Hilton
15B: Kearsney 7-5 Hilton
15C: Kearsney 6-8 Hilton u15B
14A: Kearsney 8-3 Hilton
14B: Kearsney 5-7 Hilton
14C: Kearsney 6-12 Hilton u14B