A big event on Kearsney’s rugby calendar is Founders weekend. The 1st XV was keen to impress visiting Old Boys, after younger age groups had already set the tone with good victories over St Charles College.
Kearsney came out firing with an excellent display of continuity on attack. Pressure on an early exit by St Charles led to a charge-down by hardworking prop Anele Cele. The scraps were picked up by flyhalf David Pohl, who raced to open scoring within the first two minutes of play.
Kearsney secured the ensuing kick-off only to launch an outstanding counter-attack from their own half. Exercising composure and patience on St Charles’ goal line, the ball was eventually sent wide, for Dan Eager to run over. This took the score to 12-0 within the first five minutes of the match.
It was almost a carbon copy from the next kick off, as Kearsney broke from their own half, only for the last pass to be deemed forward, and the try disallowed. This gave St Charles the opportunity to string together some phases of their own, earning a penaltywhich they converted, taking the score to 12-3.
St Charles, now enjoying more time with the ball, started applying increased pressure, but Kearsney’sdefence held firm. Midway through the first half, Kearsney had an opportunity to launch from a scrum 30m out from St Charles’ line. A well-constructed backline strike sent right wing LikhonaNunwana over for Kearsney’sthird try.
An opportunistic tap and go from a penalty led to St Charles’ first try, narrowing the scores to 17-10.
However, Kearsney bounced back. Scrappy lineout ball went to David Pohl who put over a delicate chip kick, into the arms of Siso France who left defenders in his wake and scored an outstanding try. Finding more space behind St Charles’defence, France this time caused confusion in St Charles’ backfield, for outside centre Lindo Mpungose to scoop up a loose ball and dive under the poles. This took the halftime score to 31-10.
The second half became a stop-start affair,with both teams losing concentration and showing signs of fatigue after a long season. St Charles were the only team to score in this half, as Kearsney were left to rue some poor decision-making. The clinical nature of their first half was enough to see them through, for a 31-15 win on their Founders Day.
A spectacular day culminated with the 1st XV and Old Boys singing the traditional Shosholoza in unison.