Rampant Kearsney storms to 59–9 win
St Alban’s College began their final home game with energy and dominance, but Kearsney College weathered the early storm before unleashing a flurry of tries to seal a comprehensive 59-9 victory at Moshate Field, in Pretoria, on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts struck first after sustained pressure in the opening exchanges, with scrumhalf Everett Gosling slotting a penalty to give St Alban’s a 3-0 lead.
Kearsney, however, responded swiftly in the eighth minute with a well-worked team try. Fullback Lwazi Mbebe showed quick hands to send winger Bukho Hlwatika over the line, although Mbebe failed to convert, leaving the score at 5-3 in favour of the visitors.
After a dangerous off-the-ball tackle by Kearsney’s captain Simanye Mlakalaka, Gosling added another penalty to edge the hosts back in front at 6-5. He slotted a third penalty shortly after to extend the lead to 9-5 in the 22nd minute. But from there, Kearsney turned the tide and never looked back.
Mbebe and Hlwatika continued their deadly combination, linking up again for tries in the 25th and 31st minutes. The fullback’s dazzling run and offload set up Hlwatika for both scores, although Kearsney kept missing the conversion kicks.
A stunning solo effort from wing Lwandle Mkhize, who sprinted from his own half, gave Kearsney a 20-9 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Kearsney was dominant, adding another 39 points to their tally. It began with a powerful try from eighthman Nhlanhla Ndlovu in the 42nd minute. That sparked a relentless sequence of tries, including solo efforts from centre Doan Nel and Mbebe, and a brilliant assist from Mbebe to scrumhalf Fynn Verbaan.
Nel successfully converted two of the second-half tries, pushing the lead to 44-9 by the 53rd minute.
Tensions flared midway through the half when Kearsney’s hooker Micah van Wijk was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, while St Alban’s fullback Thabiso Simelani received a red card for retaliating.
Undeterred, Kearsney continued their scoring spree. Tries from flank Oliver Ludwig, Hlwatika, and another from the wing, following a slick offload by Nel, brought the final score to 59-9, with Hlwatika dotting down five times.
Scorers
St Alban’s College 9 (9) – Penalties: Everett Gosling (3). Kearney College 59 (20) – Tries: Bukho Hlwatika (5), Lwandle Mkhize, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Doan Nel, Lwazi Mbebe, Oliver Ludwig, Fynn Verbaan. Conversions: Doan Nel (2).
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