Kearsney punished in tournament opener
HTS Drostdy, playing for the first time at the Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, certainly produced some good festival rugby with hard running backs and strong forwards to win the first game 45-17.
Early mistakes by both sides were eliminated and a good game yielded ten tries, seven by Drostdy.
Much of the play was in the centre of the field with early-season mistakes by both sides preventing either team from dominating. Defence patterns were sound and although Kearsney were making some good turnover, mistakes at vital times prevented possible points.
An attempted kick through while on attack was prevented and instead Drostdy centre Christie Grobbelaar toed the ball a number of times and beat the defence to dot down for a five pointer, converted by fullback Cohen Jasper, putting the visitors 7-5 in the lead.
The game came alive in the last three minutes of the first half when Drostdy scored three times to take a commanding lead in what had been an even match at that stage.
The first of this trio went to second time scorer Grobbelaar when a relieving kick was charged down. The second, when fullback Jasper joined the line, forced a break and some passes found centre Keanu Mong, who dotted down under the posts.
From the kick-off the Drostdy forwards won the ball and scrumhalf captain Romeo Eksteen broke through a tackle to score. It was converted by Jasper to leave Drostdy 26-5 ahead.
The second half saw some brilliant rugby, initially by Kearsney who narrowed the gap to 17-26 by scoring two tries. The first was by Robbie Koenig with a determined run to score in the corner and the second by eighth man Dylan Richardson, who found his way over next to the upright. This was converted by Sutherland.
As in the first half, Drostdy got stronger towards the end and scored three tries in the last six minutes. Mong scored his second by rounding the defence. A brilliant conversion from the touchline by Jasper put them 33-17 in front.
Scrumhalf Eksteen and flank CJ van Rensburg scored the final two tries to leave the visitors convincing winners in an exciting opening festival game.
Point Scorers:
Kearsney: Tries: James Sutherland, Rob Koenig, Dyland Richardson; Conversions: Sutherland
HTS Drostdy: Tries: Christie Grobbelaar (2), Keanu Mong (2), Romeo Eksteen, CJ van Rensburg, Cohen Jasper; Conversions: Cohen Jasper (5)
All matches are being live-streamed. For links please go to www.kearsney.com
FESTIVAL FIXTURES:
Day 2 – Saturday 15 April
09h30 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap vs Queen’s College; 10h45 Selborne College vs Pretoria Boys High; 12h00 Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Framesby; 13h15 Dr EG Jansen vs Glenwood; 14h30 Dale College vs HTS Drostdy; 15h45 Hoërskool Monument vs HTS Middelburg
Day 3 - Monday 17 April
09h30 HTS Drostdy vs Pretoria Boys High; 10h45 Hoërskool Framesby vs Dr EG Jansen; 12h00 HTS Middelburg vs Dale College; 13h15 Glenwood vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap; 14h30 Selborne College vs Hoërskool Monument; 15h45 Kearsney College vs Queen’s College