10 April 2023
Day three of the 2023 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, brought to you by Standard Bank, began with the standout performance of the event, with Glenwood turning in a magical display to totally dismantle the challenge of a dangerous Worcester Gimnasium line-up, while Pinnacle Schools hit up the coaches and captains for their take on the festival.
The Green Machine hit their straps from the first whistle to the last, dominating all aspects of play, and they managed, too, to keep the ball out of the hands of their opponents’ dangerous backs as they roared to a stunning 57-8 victory.
It was as complete a performance as a coach might hope for. Glenwood coach Derek Heiberg was hugely satisfied by his charges’ showing. “We were very happy,” he said. “I was a bit worried. We had a lot of injuries. But to produce that kind of performance and that kind of accuracy was fantastic.”
He continued: “We haven’t been accurate in previous games. We’ve had moments where it’s clicked, but this was just unbelievable from start to finish. It shows the potential of this team. It reminds me a lot of the 2018 team that we had. There are a lot of similarities, so we’re looking forward to Saturday [when we host Northwood].”
You might be wondering about that 2018 team coach Heiberg mentioned. They played 19 games, won 18 of them, and played to a memorable 25-25 draw against Grey College. Apart from that draw, they had two tight wins, the rest were comfortable victories.
Up front, the pack, led by captain and loosehead prop Lithemba Mfupi, put the Worcester scrum on the back foot. They also stole lineout ball, and they punched massive holes in the Western Cape team’s defences with hard running around the rucks.
The skipper scored a memorable try, executing an outrageous swan dive (see top photo) before registering about 3.7 on the Richter scale when his 102-kilogram frame crashed to the ground.
Laughing, he said: “I really don’t know what was going on in my mind. I just wanted to celebrate it.”
Mfupi’s was one of nine Glenwood tries on the day that suggested the Green Machine could be one of the best teams in South Africa this season.
“I’m really proud of the boys,” he said. “They really came through for the final game. It really tested our character, and the boys showed a lot of character and desire.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Mfupi concluded: “We’re very excited. Our upcoming game is Northwood. We’re focusing on that one now. It’s going to be a big game for us.”
“We knew they were a dangerous team. They beat DHS on Thursday, so we were very mindful of how to play against them, and we’re very proud of the boys in terms of how accurate they were,” coach Heiberg said.
DHS vs Hoër Landbouskool Marlow
DHS, meanwhile, tackled Hoër Landbouskool Marlow in the day’s second match. It was a tight tussle from first to last, with first one team landing a blow and then the other responding.
With less than a minute to go, it was 25-25, with both teams have dotted down three times. Marlow had challenged DHS with strong running from their loose trio in pods that they ran off of the rucks. The Horseflies had manned up and tried to play the ball wide, but too often they took wrong options.
“They were very physical. They came hard at us,” DHS captain Christian Everitt said. “We knew what they were going to do. They were going to try to bully us up front, so we just had to handle that and make sure we dominated them there.”
Coach Peter Engledow told Pinnacle Schools: “I thought the boys didn’t get it right in the first half, but in the second half we adapted our plan. The boys did very well, and we scored some good tries. In the end, we got a lucky score. It’s not nice for any side [to lose like that], but we will take the win, and we march on.”
That “lucky score” was lucky from the point of view that DHS were afforded one last shot at snatching a victory, but there was nothing lucky about the winning score.
“Our back and our forwards came together. We spoke about what we were going to do in that moment, and we had to dominate the scrum,” Everitt said. “The backs had to do the same, and we knew what we had to do. We executed it well, and we ended up scoring right at the end.”
A successful conversion made it 32-25 to DHS and the final whistle sounded.
In the end, DHS outscored Marlow by four tries to three, with both teams landing two penalties, and DHS slotting one more conversion. They will be concerned, however, by a number of injuries players sustained during the match. With a showdown coming up against a very physical Westville team, they’ll be hoping for a fully healthy squad come Saturday.
Coach Engledow said it had been a test of character, something that he had discussed with his team in the build-up to the game. He explained: “It was our fifth game in 11 days, and I’m very proud of the boys. We’re broken a bit, if I’m honest, and we’ve got another game coming up on Saturday. Westville [our forthcoming opponents] have been at Kearsney as well.
“Noord-Suid, followed by Kearsney, was a tough ask, but we went for it. We won two out of three here, but we knew this would be our tough one physically.”
He also said he was troubled by the heavy programme of matches many of the top teams have been subjected to: “It’s something of concern to me. SA Rugby are going to have to come in at some stage. We can’t do this again: five matches in 11 days. Everyone is more conditioned, stronger, bigger and the collisions are massive. We’ve got to look after these boys. They’re schoolboys, not academy boys.”
However, he said he was thrilled to again be a part of the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. “What a festival!” he exclaimed. “It’s my second one and it’s amazing. The Kearsney Festival is really good.”
Monument vs Dale College
Monument recorded their third win on the trot at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, brought to you by Standard Bank, with an efficient and, ultimately, dominant victory over a game Dale College.
The Eastern Cape side saw their hopes of victory take a big hit when, early on, one of their players was dismissed for a high tackle on Monnas’ scrumhalf Hanno du Toit. Late in the game, they lost a second player, also given his marching orders because of a high tackle.
For the first half of the game, though, Dale challenged Monument with their free-flowing running, but once the Wit Bulle came to grips with it, and brought their size advantage to bear, there was only going to be one winner. They ended up scoring seven tries to one in a decisive 41-5 victory.
Westville vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen
Westville faced Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen in their last match of the festival. Jansies had suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday, going down 12-17 to Kearsney after a fightback helped them to a 28-28 draw with Hartpury College on Thursday.
Westville expected a very physical clash, and they got it from the team from Boksburg. It was thrust and counter-thrust in the first half, with Westville missing out on some half-chances they had created. At the break, it was level at 10-10.
However, the Griffin began the second half with a bang. From a scrum on their own 10-metre line, Westville centre Likhona Finca surgically sliced through the Jansies’ defence after a neat switch with flyhalf Unathi Mlotshwa. He was brought down five metres inside the 22, but, keeping his wits about him, he popped up the ball for number-eight Caleb Dreydon to run onto and take over for a try. Delighted, Dreydon celebrated with the Griddy, a huge grin plastered across his face.
Fullback Tshegofatso Ramaloko’s conversion attempt was high and handsome, and Westville led 17-10.
Within five minutes, they had tacked on another try, this one scored by their captain Tebogo M’khomazi. With Finca again putting the EG Jansen defence under stress, Westville moved the ball from the left to the right flank, where wing Michael Satade cut inside before finding his captain running on his inside.
“It was a beautiful try,” M’khomazi said afterwards. “I saw a gap…and I thought why not take the risk and go to the line, get the ball and see what I can do. It actually worked. When I ran the support line, I was in for the try.”
Try as they might, EG Jansen could not find a response. They came close, with only a desperate cover tackle stopping them in the right-hand corner, but Westville then contested the ruck and won themselves a penalty, which helped them clear the danger. It ended 22-10, with the Griffin joining Glenwood and Monument as the teams to complete the Kearsney Easter Festival with perfect records of three wins from three games.
“I’m really thrilled. Our theme was ‘one last big effort’ and the boys put out a big effort, so I am a very proud coach,” said Westville’s coach Njabulo “Jabz” Zulu after the game.
“I said the team that wins today will be the team that is hungrier. Last year, we were in a situation where we had done well, and then I could see that we had our minds on a rest already. Mentality was the most important thing, to be up for it. In the second half, I was so proud to see that the guys were up for it.
“The message at half-time was we have to be the hungrier team to win the game. Keep the ball, continue to get good space, and cut out the soft things. I felt in the first half we made a lot of little errors, which cost us a bit at important stages. I felt, in the second half, we came out and kept the ball, and we cut out the errors.”
Westville moved the ball wide very quickly and it caused EG Jansen problems. “We realised that they like the physical side of the game, and like to hit it up, so why not speed up the game and make them run for a change?” asked Westville captain M’khomazi.
Coach Zulu, who once ran at centre alongside Waylon Murray for the Westville 1st XV, had praise for midfielder Likhona Finca, who played a prominent role in his side’s victory. “I watch him closely. I’m very proud of him,” Zulu said.
“The first two games of the season, he wasn’t quite on. He messaged me one day and said ‘I’m sorry, coach, I’m trying my best.’ I told him I’m not phased. ‘I know that if I’m patient with you now, you’re going to reward me with big match performances’. I think in this festival he has been the standout centre.”
Zulu also reflected on his job coaching the Westville 1st XV. He said: “It means so much to me. When I was living in Joburg, there was only one project that would make me come back to KZN, and that was to coach Westville. To be an assistant coach with Jeremy [McLaren] was awesome. Then, to finally be able to lead the team [is very special]. The environment I have tried to create is one where the boys are really playing for each other.”
Looking at it from the perspective of being an Old Boy of the school, he said: “I’m preaching the message of the Griffin, and what it stands for. It’s something that I really believe in. Not only as the coach. I am so proud to make the Old Boys proud. I am so blessed to be given an opportunity to be that guy.”
Captain Tebogo M’khomazi added: “Last year, at this time, we were sulking over the game against Selborne (a 7-20 defeat). It didn’t go as we wanted. This year, we decided to work as hard as we could, and we would get three out of three, and I think the results are plain to see.”
Hoërskool Framesby vs Hoërskool Noord-Kaap
In a clash between two teams seeking their first wins of the festival, it was Framesby who notched up a sweet victory, sweeping past Noord-Kaap by 35 points to seven.
Five tries to one reflected their superiority, which began up front, and was well supported by a stubborn, hard-hitting defence. And it really didn’t help the Noord-Kaap cause that Framesby flyhalf Logan Muller goaled every one of their tries.
The team from Kimberley gave it their all and were robbed of a second try right on the final whistle when they knocked on only two metres from the try-line, thanks to a desperate tackle from the Framesby cover-defence.
Kearsney College vs Hartpury College
The festival concluded with the hosts Kearsney taking on ACE League champions’ Hartpury College, who entered the contest with a record of one draw and one loss in South Africa, but who were, in fact, just two turnovers away from a record of two wins in two outings.
The English side began like a house on fire, moving the ball confidently and swiftly about the field. They had Kearsney on the run and it didn’t take long for them to penetrate the home side’s usually stout defence.
Three times they crossed for five-pointers, and two successful conversions from Sonny Greenman saw the tourists jump into a 19-0 lead. Kearsney appeared to be in desperate trouble, but looks can be deceiving.
Crucially, before half-time, they hit back with an excellent try wide on the left from flank James Francke. They may have trailed by 14 points at the break, but they were back in the game.
Ten minutes into the second stanza, scrumhalf Chad Croshaw sniped over from close range. Daniel Eager’s kick at posts wasn’t quite there, but at 10-19 Hartpury were feeling the pressure.
Their captain Mason Watkin then showed how to lead from the front, picking up from a ruck in the Kearsney 22 and bursting over the top of it to run in for a try next to the poles. The simple conversion by Greenman put Hartpury 26-10 in the clear. Kearsney, though, would not go away.
They hit back through centre Siso France, whose step off his left foot from close range created just enough space for him to sneak over in the left-hand corner. This time, the kicking duties were handled by Croshaw. He was good from the sideline, making the score Kearsney 17-26 Hartpury.
As time slipped away, Kearsney won a penalty with less than two minutes to play. Down by nine points, they opted for a shot at goal. Croshaw’s kick was wide to the right, but then, inexplicably, Hartpury tried to clear their lines when simply dotting down would surely have sealed the victory.
Sonny Greenman’s attempted clearance was charged down by lock Jack Rankin, who snuck around the right-hand upright to block the kick. He regathered and scored, giving the home crowd hope of a sensational come-from-behind win. The Kearsney boys sprinted back to their half as Croshaw knocked over the conversion.
Just over a minute remained to play. Hartpury, though, claimed possession after a Kearsney attack floundered, and when the whistle sounded their bench sprinted onto the field to celebrate the victory with unbounded joy. Just two points separated the teams: Hartpury College 26, Kearsney 24.
Commenting on the game, Hartpury captain Mason Watkin said his side’s strong start was vital to their success: “It was nice to come out like that. We drew the first one and lost the second. We wanted to come away with something. We dug in deep. Fair play to Kearsney for an awesome game. We’re really happy with the result.”
Coach Wayne Thompson said: “We’ve been to South Africa before, and we know how tough the competition is here. Playing a home college, any ground, even in the UK, is always tough, especially with home support, and credit to Kearsney, they stayed in it right to the last.”
Citing the exceptional level of competition, Thompson added: “It’s been a brilliant experience for us: won one, drawn one, lost one. It has been a great learning experience for our boys.
“We had an unbeaten season in the UK. You need to be challenged and, if you come to South Africa, you get challenged. From what I have seen, this is the best schoolboy rugby in the world. For our boys to come here and challenge themselves is only going to help them get better.”
Kearsney had the better of the set scrums. “Both our first and second team scrums are almost equally strong. It’s something that the boys really do pride themselves on, and it is definitely a facet of the game that we think seriously about,” said coach Neil van Heerden.
However, Hartpury were superb at lineout time, winning their own ball convincingly, while also pilfering a number of Kearsney throw-ins. Coach Thompson said: “We analysed their game. We looked at their lineouts and then tried to work out where the space was. Credit to Kearsney, they have got a good lineout and we had to do our homework to come out on top in that area.”
Reflecting on the charge-down that pulled Kearsney to within two points right at the death, Hartpury skipper Watkin said: “I think it was the pressure of the crowd, the pressure of the score, the pressure of the time. It all built up. But the boys dug in deep, and we got the win.”
Facing a champion team from the UK was a special opportunity, Kearsney coach Van Heerden said: “Hartpury came with a great name, so we have the utmost respect for them and for their coaches. They are incredibly well drilled. They’re what you’d expect from a northern hemisphere team, very set piece oriented, very well coached. It was a tremendous honour and privilege to play them.”
And Hartpury, for their part, did more than bring a lot to the festival on the field. They proved themselves to be winners off of it, too, as coach Thompson explained: “Loads of friends made. They’ve swopped shirts. They’ve made friends for life, I think. This is a great festival. We’ll definitely come to it again. We’ve been really happy to be hosted here.”
RESULTS
Glenwood 57-8 Worcester Gimnasium
DHS 32-25 Hoër Landbouskool Marlow
Hoërskool Monument 41-5 Dale College
Westville Boys’ High 22-10 Dr EG Jansen
Hoërskool Framesby 35-7 Hoërskool Noord-Kaap
Kearsney College 24-26 Hartpury College
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