2 June 2026
RUGBY
Kearsney College and Northwood produced one of the most entertaining schoolboy rugby contests of the weekend on Saturday, with the Durban visitors storming back from an 11-point halftime deficit to secure a thrilling 45-34 victory on Stott Field.
In a match that swung dramatically back and forth, Kearsney appeared firmly in control at the break, leading 24-13 after capitalising on a series of Northwood mistakes. Yet the Knights emerged after halftime with renewed purpose and scored four second-half tries to turn the contest on its head.
Northwood opened the scoring through the reliable boot of Sondelani Sheleni, but Kearsney responded almost immediately. After the visitors spilled the restart, the One-Stripe launched an attack that ended with scrumhalf Fynn Verbaan darting over near the uprights. Flyhalf Dan Miskey converted to put the hosts 7-3 ahead.
The home side then extended their advantage with a slickly executed move from a five-metre scrum. Captain and eighthman Nhlanhla Ndlovu controlled the ball at the base before releasing centre Keanu Williamson on a flat line. Williamson pierced the defence and raced away to score, with Miskey adding the extras to make it 14-3.
Northwood gradually worked their way back into the contest. A second Sheleni penalty reduced the deficit before an excellent attacking sequence produced their first try. Scrumhalf Ludi van der Walt exploited space around the fringe of a ruck and carried play deep into Kearsney territory. Kevin van Volenstee then punched through the defensive line before offloading to his brother, Trevor, who finished smartly. Sheleni’s conversion narrowed the gap to a single point at 14-13.
Kearsney, however, finished the half strongly.
Trevor van Volenstee attempted to counter from deep after collecting a probing kick from Miskey, but a crunching tackle from Luke Grobbelaar and Williamson dislodged the ball. Williamson reacted quickest, plucking it from the air and sprinting away for Kearsney’s third try.
Miskey converted and later slotted a penalty to send the hosts into the halftime break with a commanding 24-13 lead.
Northwood’s response after the restart was immediate and emphatic.
Sheleni landed another penalty before the Knights struck with a well-executed aerial attack. Van der Walt launched a cross-kick towards the right touchline, where wing Anesu Kuzonyei climbed highest to gather before grounding the ball for a superb try. Sheleni converted to bring Northwood within four points.
Moments later, the visitors grabbed the lead in controversial circumstances. Trevor van Volenstee was driven backwards in a heavy tackle, and the ball flew loose. While Kearsney players paused, expecting a knock-on call, Northwood’s Andile Thwala reacted instantly. He scooped up possession inside the Kearsney half, accelerated into space and beat the cover defence with a pair of sharp steps to score. Sheleni’s conversion pushed the Knights into a 30-24 lead.
The momentum shifts continued.
With 20 minutes remaining, Ndlovu demonstrated why he has been such an influential figure for Kearsney this season. Pouncing on a loose ball close to the Northwood line, he powered over for a try that, after Miskey’s conversion, restored the hosts’ advantage at 31-30.
Northwood responded again. Their powerful rolling maul surged towards the try line before collapsing illegally, prompting the referee to award a penalty try. Josh Mills later added a penalty goal to stretch the visitors’ lead to 41-30.
Miskey kept Kearsney’s hopes alive with his second penalty goal of the afternoon, taking his personal tally to 14 points and reducing the deficit to six.
The decisive moment arrived through a brilliant piece of play from Trevor van Volenstee. Collecting possession nearly 45 metres from the line, the fullback sold a convincing dummy to split the defence before accelerating into open space. A subtle stutter step carried him around the final defender, and he dived over in the corner to complete a memorable individual effort.
Kearsney threw everything at Northwood in the closing stages and camped on the visitors’ line. However, Northwood captain Jamie Wimble delivered a crucial tackle on hooker Matthew Wilson as the hosts searched for a final opening. The ball spilled forward, and the referee’s whistle soon followed.
It brought an end to a captivating encounter and sealed a deserved 45-34 victory for the Knights, who finished strongly after trailing for much of the opening half. Sheleni contributed 15 points with the boot, while Northwood’s five tries to Kearsney’s four underlined just how closely contested the battle had been.
Northwood made a clean sweep of the six open age group games, but Kearsney won two of three u16 matches, all four u15 contests, and split the u14 matches two-all.
Kearsney also won the u16A, u15A, and u14A games.
Results
1st: Kearsney 34-45 Northwood
2nd: Kearsney 5-39 Northwood
3rd: Kearsney 17-43 Northwood
4th: Kearsney 0-38 Northwood
5th: Kearsney 5-27 Northwood
6th: Kearsney 21-38 Northwood
16A: Kearsney 12-10 Northwood
16B: Kearsney 22-7 Northwood
16C: Kearsney 7-19 Northwood
15A: Kearsney 24-12 Northwood
15B: Kearsney 54-3 Northwood
15C: Kearsney 21-19 Northwood
15D: Kearsney 45-14 Northwood
14A: Kearsney 36-10 Northwood
14B: Kearsney 24-15 Northwood
14C: Kearsney 15-22 Northwood
14D: Kearsney 17-22 Northwood
HOCKEY
Two in-form sides met on the AH Mason Astro in a Friday Nite Lights clash, with the Knights coming away with a hard-fought 2-1 win, with Luc Boyall scoring the winner from a penalty corner in the last chukka.
The visitors took the lead on a goal from Ryan Herselman, who was set up by a defence-splitting pass from Hamza Amla, but Kearsney replied just before halftime when Cruz Reynolds produced a composed finish, much to the delight of the home crowd.
While Northwood grabbed 2-1 wins in the 1st XI and 2nd XI matches, Kearsney won the 3rd and 4th team games, while the 5th XIs drew 3-3 for a split of the open age group matches.
Northwood won five of the six u16 games, including the u16A clash. They also won the u14A contest 2-1 and edged out Kearsney in the age group, scoring two wins to one, with one match drawn.
Results
1st: Kearsney 1-2 Northwood
2nd: Kearsney 1-2 Northwood
3rd: Kearsney 2-0 Northwood
4th: Kearsney 7-3 Northwood
5th: Kearsney 3-3 Northwood
16A: Kearsney 0-3 Northwood
16B: Kearsney 2-3 Northwood
16C: Kearsney 3-1 Northwood
16D: Kearsney 1-4 Northwood
16E: Kearsney 0-2 Northwood
16F: Kearsney 1-8 Northwood
14A: Kearsney 1-2 Northwood
14B: Kearsney 0-0 Northwood
14C: Kearsney 0-3 Northwood
14D: Kearsney 1-0 Northwood