Kearsney too Strong for Northwood
The boys from Botha's Hill were too strong for the willing Durban North-side.
There was nothing wrong with the Northwood effort they were just not up to their more famous (in rugby at least) opponents, led as they were by strong Dylan Richardson who played for KwaZulu-Natal at the 2016 Craven Week. He was playing No.8, though he is also an outstanding hooker.
Despite the wind, the temperature was 28°C and the big crowd was happy in shirtsleeves - most of them but not the Kearsney boys in their blazers. The support of the two teams was excellent.
The wind was with Kearsney in the first half and it took them just four minutes to get onto the scoreboard. After a Richardson break, the ball went wide left to Robbie Koenig who had an overlap. He raced down the touchline, kicked ahead, collected the bounce and scored. Flyhalf Jacques Odendaal, who, regardless of the wind, kicked brilliantly for goal, converted.
There were five boys from the Netherlands in the Northwood side, including the captain and flyhalf Robin Weersma, who is also the schools deputy headboy. Weersma goaled a penalty to make the score 7-3.
Kearsney had other opportunities to score but the next try was a rare bit of rugby perversity.
Northwood were in their own goal when they kicked to clear. The ball struck and upright and went gently to prop Matt Heard who was standing in in-goal. He caught the ball and gently and rather bemused put the ball on the ground at his feet. 12-3, which was the half-time score.
Two minutes into the second half, Kearsney countered to a kick and Odendaal broke and passed inside to Heard who scored his second try - a more orthodox try this time. 19-3
Northwood were penalised, Kearsney tapped and Richardson scored in the corner. With an outstanding kick in the wind, Odendaal converted from touch. 26-3.
Kearsney attacked going left. Heard was in a centre position. He ran to the line but instead of completing his hat-trick he passed to Reece Daniel on his right and the wing scored. 31-3.
Kearsney won a tighthead at a scrum. Richardson picked up and beat six defenders to score at the posts. 38-3.
The last score ended the match. James Sutherland started it with a dashing counter-attack. Richardson carried it on and when Grant Sander was tackled he popped a pass to lock Ross Taylor who strode straight to the posts for the try which Odendaal converted.
Scorers:
For Kearsney:
Tries: Koenig, Heard 2, Richardson 2, Daniel, Taylor
Cons: Odendaal 5
For Northwood
Pen: Weersma
Teams
Northwood: 15 Staten Kennedy, 14 Mvelo Mlangeni, 13 McMillan Mudhara, 12 Tyren Kroos, 11 Tapiwa Nyungani, 10 Robin Weersma (captain), 9 Hugo Scholler, 8 Quniso Khati, 7 Sinbusio Khumala, 6 Cameron Smith, 5 Mpumelelo Xulu, 4 Daan Hoogwerf, 3 Brandon van Wyk, 2 Bayanda Cele, 1 Junior Mbulino.
Kearsney: 15 James Sutherland, 14 Reece Daniel, 13 Matt Blair, 12 Grant Sander, 11 Robbie Koenig, 10 Jacques Odendaal, 9 Matt du Toit, 8 Dylan Richardson(captain), 7 Sibu Sangweni, 6 Nicholas Baines, 5 Torin Tedder, 4 Ross Taylor, 3 Matthew Heard, 2 Daniel Cherry, 1 Ross Parsons.
Replacements: 16 Taine Polzi, 17 Robert Lawrence, 18 Zwakele Mchunu, 19 Dylan Bissett, 230 Jared Williamson, 21 Ayron Kayser, 22 Taine Muirhead, 23 Gcina Gumede.
Referee: Wayne Miller
Assistant referees: Siphemandla Shabalala, Luseda Mtiya