24 June 2023
Kearsney College turned in a brilliant first half performance on their way to an emphatic 47-12 win over Saint Alban’s at the Independent Schools Rugby Festival in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
It looked as if it was going to be a far greater margin of victory, with the Botha’s Hill boys opening up a 40-5 lead at the break. In the second half, though, the accuracy and outstanding execution of the first half was missing. In fact, both teams scored seven points in the second stanza.
Let’s not overlook an exceptional first half performance, however. It was urgent, intense, and accurate. The running was hard, the handling good, and the support play superb.
Saint Alban’s had no answers, apart from when some miscommunication from a kick-off allowed the Pretoria boys to snatch a quick response to Kearsney’s opening try.
An eye on the future
Neither school ran out their 1st XV. In fact, Kearsney did not wear the famous one-stripe of the school’s 1st team. Rather, with inter-provincial tournaments around the corner, both schools opted to field units that looked towards 2024.
Given that they had played little rugby together before the festival, the Kearsney side should be hugely encouraged by the rugby they produced. It was, at times, irresistible. And it didn’t help Saint Alban’s that Daniel Eager converted all but one of the seven tries run in by the boys in maroon.
Results
Clifton College 29-8 Union High
Saint Charles College 21-5 Cornwall Hill College
Kearsney College 47-12 Saint Alban’s College
CBC Boksburg 38-5 Free State Development XV
Saint Andrew’s School 21-24 Saint David’s Marist Inanda
Hilton College 43-5 Saint Stithian’s College
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