Match Report Kearney vs Maritzburg
Kearsney beat Maritzburg College 23-20
Kearsney hosted Maritzburg College in a much anticipated fixture with the visitors coming off a good win against KES the prior weekend. The match will not remembered as a spectacle of running rugby but rather as a tactical and physical encounter, understandably with so much at stake. Both teams’ goal kicking was not of the usual high standard but it was an exciting 70 minutes with the lead score changing team eight times during the match.
College dominated the opening 15 minutes but the hosts’ defensive structures were impressive, with hooker Swanepoel eventually crashed over for a converted try and a 7-0 lead. Kearsney bounced back with an intercept from hooker Josh van Vuuren from pressure play at the breakdown, to outsprint the visitors’ defence for half the length of the field. James Tedder then added a penalty to give the hosts an 8-7 lead for the first time in the match.
College attacked again with furious intent during the closing stages of the half and managed a drop goal for a 10-8 half-time lead.
Kearsney added the first points of the second half with a Tedder penalty. College responded with an unconverted try from their left winger after sustained phase play involving a number of pick and go actions. Kearsney responded quickly after some brilliant tactical play by their half backs pair, which resulted in a quick tap penalty by Tedder to put lock Ryan Jackson in possession which, with a well-timed pass, sent prop Nicholas Luyt over in the right-hand corner.
College soon chased an up field kick and masterfully turned the possession at the ruck from which they had numerous pick and go movements. It paid off when the burly loose-head prop dived over for an unconverted try and a lead of 20-16 with 13 minutes left.
The try of the match occurred when winger Cian Waugh made good yardage from a poorly directed College kick. From the resulting ruck the Kearsney attack was quickly organised and lock Jared Meyer off-loaded at a good angle for captain Tristan Dixon to sprint 25m. Tedder converted for a 23-20 lead.
College attacked most of the remaining half but never seemed a real threat as the hosts’ defence was solid and well organised. Strangely the visitors opted not to convert a kickable penalty to draw the match and were unable to justify the captain’s decision. The score-line remained with Kearsney as deserving victors.
Outstanding players for Kearsney were Luyt, Van Vuuren, Van Noordwyk, Meyer, Dixon, Tedder and Waberski.
HOCKEY
Kearsney 1st X1 lost to Maritzburg College 1st X1 0-1
Kearsney had a difficult but exciting match against Maritzburg College – a highly anticipated game with both teams showing form coming into the fixture. College are currently ranked number one in the country with Kearsney sitting fourth, so it was always going to be a close encounter.
The game played out evenly in the first half, with College enjoying a lot of ball position, but Kearsney’s disciplined defence easily keeping them out and creating a couple of their own opportunities on counters.
College came out strongly in the second half and were pushing hard to get the break through. They won a number of short corners which the hosts’ defensive team managed well with some great saves from man of the match goalkeeper Jayme Crouch.
After a number of well-defended short corners, College eventually scored a well-worked set piece which saw them go 1-0 up with under 10 minutes to go.
Kearsney then pushed hard in the last couple of minutes to at least force a draw, and were rewarded with a penalty stroke with one minute left. Kearsney were unable to convert this stroke to draw the match and College went on to win the tight contest 1-0.
Credit must go to both teams who had very different game plans – Kearsney with the more defensive and counter attack style of hockey and College with the all-out attack and open game plan.
Photographer: Tracey van den Aardweg
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