12 May 2026
For a second Saturday in succession, Michaelhouse walked off Gilfillan Field at Hilton College wondering what might have been.
Seven days after falling agonisingly short against Hilton, the Balgowan boys again came up one point shy, this time losing a pulsating contest 31-32 to Kearsney College.
The difference between victory and defeat was measured in centimetres. With the final play of the match, Michaelhouse centre Alex Jankowitz lined up a conversion that would have won it, but his kick hit the left upright and stayed out.
Cruel? Certainly. Yet Jankowitz was one of the main reasons Michaelhouse had a chance to snatch it at the death.
On a superb surface prepared by Hilton’s ground staff after another demanding week of rugby, Michaelhouse made a bright start. After sustained pressure from their forwards, the ball was shifted right, where flank Kumkani Dwenga squeezed over in the corner. Jankowitz added an excellent touchline conversion.
Kearsney responded through the boot of flyhalf Dan Miskey, but Michaelhouse soon produced one of the tries of the afternoon. Slick handling stretched the One-Stripe defence before scrumhalf Ben Hughes sent Barend de Bruyn over in the corner.
The Botha’s Hill side, though, gradually found their rhythm. Their first try came via a more direct route when captain and eighthman Nhlanhla Ndlovu crashed over from close range after a lineout drive.
Ndlovu again underlined why he is such an intriguing prospect. Not the biggest loose forward, but wonderfully skilful and intelligent, he repeatedly asked questions of the Michaelhouse defence with his sharp lines and outstanding support play.
Kearsney edged ahead early in the second half through a long-range Miskey penalty, but Michaelhouse answered immediately when they turned down a shot at goal and backed themselves. Jankowitz powered over from close range and converted to make it 19-13.
The momentum swung again after a missed kick to touch from Michaelhouse allowed Kearsney to counter from deep. Ndlovu split the defence with a beautifully timed run before releasing Lwandle Mkhize for a superb try.
Moments later, the electric Lwazi Mbebe carved open the defence and set up Oliver Ludwig as Kearsney surged into a 25-19 lead.
Still, Michaelhouse refused to fold. After a stolen lineout and a break from De Bruyn, flank Jed Reilly stormed over, with Jankowitz converting to edge ‘House ahead.
The see-saw contest swung once more when a clever blindside move involving Ndlovu and Keanu Williamson created space for Luke Grobbelaar to score. Miskey’s excellent touchline conversion ultimately proved decisive.
Michaelhouse struck back through Fabiano Ferro in the dying moments, but Jankowitz’s conversion attempt struck the upright, leaving Kearsney celebrating a thrilling, skin-of-the-teeth victory.
While the 1st XVs and A teams were in action at the Sharks Schools Rugby Day, Kearsney and Michaelhouse’s many other teams also met, with the action taking place at Kearsney.
The open and u16 age groups tilted in favour of Michaelhouse, while the u15 and 14 age groups leaned Kearsney’s way.
Results
1st: Kearsney 32-31 Michaelhouse
2nd: Kearsney 0-10 Michaelhouse
3rd: Kearsney 14-64 Michaelhouse
4th: Kearsney 10-45 Michaelhouse
5th: Kearsney 15-12 Michaelhouse
6th: Kearsney 26-36 Michaelhouse
7th: Kearsney 0-38 Michaelhouse
16A: Kearsney 7-21 Michaelhouse
16B: Kearsney 14-31 Michaelhouse
16C: Kearsney 12-19 Michaelhouse
16D: Kearsney 25-55 Michaelhouse
15A: Kearsney 19-18 Michaelhouse
15B: Kearsney 39-29 Michaelhouse
15C: Kearsney 50-14 Michaelhouse
15D: Kearsney 17-38 Michaelhouse
14A: Kearsney 54-0 Michaelhouse
14B: Kearsney 57-5 Michaelhouse
14C: Kearsney 57-12 Michaelhouse
14D: Kearsney 10-40 Michaelhouse
HOCKEY
The hockey 1st XI honours were shared on the AH Mason Astro, with the match finishing 1-1 as Kearsney, the runner-up at the Michaelhouse Hockey Tournament, continued to build on its good run at that event.
Overall, Kearsney picked up five wins. Michaelhouse recorded six victories, with three of those being in the u14 matches, and two games, including the 1st XI match, were drawn.
Results
1st: Kearsney 1-1 Michaelhouse
2nd: Kearsney 2-3 Michaelhouse
3rd: Kearsney 5-0 Michaelhouse
4th: Kearsney 3-2 Michaelhouse
16A: Kearsney 1-1 Michaelhouse
16B: Kearsney 2-1 Michaelhouse
16C: Kearsney 2-5 Michaelhouse
16D: Kearsney 2-1 Michaelhouse
16E: Kearsney 3-2 Michaelhouse
16F: Kearsney 0-1 Michaelhouse
14A: Kearsney 0-1 Michaelhouse
14B: Kearsney 0-2 Michaelhouse
14C: Kearsney 0-3 Michaelhouse
TENNIS
Kearsney hosted the 31st annual Kearsney Tennis Tournament over the weekend, with an elite field of eight leading teams from around South Africa competing for the title.
It came down to a final between Paul Roos Gimnasium and Affies, with Paul Roos ruling the roost.
Paarl Boys’ High finished third, Grey College fourth, Westville Boys’ High fifth, Kearsney sixth, Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge seventh, and St David’s Marist Inanda eighth.
The Willows Trophy for Exceptional Tenacity – named after Ant Willows, who founded the event in 1996 – was awarded to Lourens Swanepoel, from Affies.
WATER POLO
After sending a strong contingent of boys to the Australia Youth Water Polo Championships, Kearsney College will have another player representing South Africa.
Cristiano Sandri has been included in the SA u16 water polo team, which will compete in the World Aquatics Water Polo Men’s U16 Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, from 3-9 August.
Leave a Reply