Match Report: Kearsney vs Northwood
Kearsney 1st XV beat Northwood 1st XV 45-23
Kearsney hosted Northwood on Saturday in a FNB Classic clash in cool but almost windless conditions. The field was slightly slippery from rain the previous evening and drizzle during the morning, but conditions were good and had very little influence on the match itself.
First points came from the hosts’ goal kicker James Sutherland when he converted a penalty from a Northwood breakdown infringement in the 3rd minute. Northwood fought back from the kick off and turned possession in Kearsney’s half from a crushing tackle from captain Mthembu.
Kearsney defended well and eventually hooker Dylan Richardson ripped the ball from a Northwood carrier close to the Kearsney 22m line. The hosts launched a counter attack and moved the ball through the hands for outside centre Matthew Watts to sprint down the left hand touchline. He fed winger Sutherland on the inside, who scored under the post, before converting for a 10 – nil lead after eight minutes of play.
Northwood’s first points came from a penalty by centre Weersma after a repeated breakdown infringement by Kearsney no 8 Brady Erlich, which earned him a yellow card. Kearsney was soon back on the attack and fly half Cameron Ritchie sliced through two defenders from relentless pressure by the forwards, with driving mauls and pick and go attempts. Sutherland converted to put Kearsney in a 17 – 3 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Northwood’s Weersma succeeded with another close range penalty. The last 12 minutes before half time were shared by good attack from both teams. Northwood, using their huge pack and strong carriers, hammered at the opponents and only solid defence by the hosts prevented them from scoring. Kearsney in turn dominated the last five minutes with a more open style of play and eventually Richardson dived over from a worked left hand side scrum, for Sutherland to convert and bring the half time score to 24 – 6 in Kearsney’s favour.
The second half started with both teams passing the ball and attacking. Eventually Kearsney collected a clearance kick from Northwood from deep in their 22m area. Richardson passed to Ritchie, who collected the ball on the bounce and ran through for his second try. Sutherland converted for a 31 – 6 lead.
Credit to Northwood who never gave up. Fly half Van Kampen changed direction of play from a ruck and showed good pace to outsprint the defence to score in the left corner for an unconverted try. Northwood enjoyed a good patch and soon their full back scored again from a scrum using the blind side for a 31 – 16 score line.
The visitors played with more confidence and used their backs in attack. Unfortunately they conceded another try from a handling error, where Erlich gathered and off loaded to the ever-present flanker Croshaw to dive over under the posts. Sutherland converted.
Croshaw then stole a breakdown ball which the hosts used well with good play between backs and forwards. Captain Greg van Noordwyk made a clever decision at the fourth phase to change the direction of play and put Croshaw in possession. He masterfully off loaded to full back Lindo Nkabinde, who scored under the posts. Sutherland converted for a 45 – 16 lead.
Kearsney dominated possession and territory but spilled another three try scoring opportunities. One comically when the winger spilled the ball when tackled in the in-goal area under the posts, after he collected a perfectly weighted cross kick by Ritchie to the right hand touch line.
Northwood scored the last try of the match on the final whistle. It came after a series of penalties when lock Jansen dived over for Weersma to convert. It was an attractive match with good attacking play. The final score was 45 – 23 to Kearsney.
Outstanding players were Cameron Ritchie, Luke Croshaw, Jared Meyer and Dylan Richardson for Kearsney and Van Kampen, Mthembu and Weersma for Northwood.
Photos by Tracey van den Aardweg
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