Match Report: KEARNEY COLLEGE vs HTS MIDDELBURG #SBSchoolsFest

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KEARSNEY COLLEGE – HTS MIDDELBURG

The final match was between unbeaten hosts Kearsney College and HTS Middelburg. After losing their first two games at the festival, Middelburg came on determined to do better. This they did by outmuscling Kearsney in the tight-loose and showing great commitment with the ball in hand.

Middelburg opened the scoring early in the game with a kick ahead which flank JC Pretorius touched down just ahead of the Kearsney defence. The conversion was wide but it gave the visitors an early 5-0 lead.

Halfway through the half after Kearsney had been under pressure, they broke out of their 22m area and a penalty was awarded which James Sutherland slotted to close the gap to 3-5.

Some good handing between backs and forwards ended with left wing Waldo Conradie showing great pace to go over in the corner and give Middelburg a 10-3 lead.

Despite intense pressure by the Middelburg forwards, Kearsney held on with committed tackling to prevent any further score before the break.

Five minutes into the second half, right wing Japie Kleynhans showed commitment to go over close to the corner. This time fly-half Riekert Barnard slotted the conversion to extend the lead to 17-3.

With four minutes remaining, Middelburg captain Pretorius scored his second try of the match by bursting through the defence in broken play. The conversion was missed but Middelburg had increased the lead to 22-3.

In the final minute, Kearsney No 8 Brady Erlich made a break getting close to the line but the ball was held up. However from the scrum thereafter flank Dylan Richardson dived over for the final try, which was converted by Sutherland.

Middelburg won the match 22-10, which was closer than the score suggested; but they made more of their chances to finish off the festival with a crowd-pleasing game.

Score

Kearsney: Try: Richardson; Conversion: Sutherland; Penalty: Sutherland

HTS Middelburg: Tries: Kleynhans, Conradie, Pretorius (2); Conversion: Barnard