Champs beaten in Kearsney Soccer Tournament playoffs

The last of the pool matches at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Saturday included some surprises, with the defending champions, Durban High School (DHS), unbeaten after the opening day, going down 3-4 to Sutherland, and Clifton College shocking previously undefeated Siyajabula 2-1.
Paul Roos edged out Maqhutshana 2 3-2 to slip ahead of Kearsney College in the final Pool A standings.
Both teams won two games and they drew against one another, but the Boland team’s goal difference was just one better than that of the hosts.
Pinetown Boys’ High, after three victories on the opening day, had already secured top spot in Pool B, but Northwood, who drew 2-2 with Maqhutshana 1 in their last pool game, claimed second spot.
DHS, despite their setback against Sutherland, had done enough on Friday to top Pool C, but it was a very tight group. Sutherland sneaked into second place ahead of Urban Academy. Both teams finished with four points and a goal difference of nought, but Sutherland had scored six goals and Urban Academy only four.
Clifton pulled off a shock with their 2-1 defeat of Siyajabula, while Ashton International Ballito found their goal scoring form to overrun Lebone II College 4-0.
Siyajabula, though, claimed top spot in Pool D, but only on goal difference from Lebone II College and Clifton, with all three finishing on six points. Siyajabula had a plus-five goal difference, Lebone II finished with a plus-two, and Clifton at plus-one.
Then, in the Roberts Field playoffs, DHS had their title defence ended by Kearsney College, who claimed a 2-1 win. Paul Roos won by the same margin against Sutherland.
The contest between Maqhutshana 2 and Curro Hazeldean went to the penalty spot after the teams had finished level at 1-1, and Maqhutshana advanced 3-1 in the shootout.
Urban Academy blasted their way past Thomas More, slotting nine times without reply.

In the Matterson Field playoffs, Clifton, again, pulled off a stunner, outplaying Tuks 4-0. That wasn’t the biggest winning margin, though. That honour belonged to Pinetown, who cruised to a 6-0 defeat of Lebone II College.
Siyajabula kept Northwood off the score sheet, winning 2-0, and Maqhutshana 1 claimed a 4-2 win over Ashton International Ballito.
Girls’ High Schools
The girls’ pool matches also wrapped up on Saturday morning. Ashton Ballito pulled off a big win, surging to a 5-1 victory over Lebone II College, while Kloof High finished with three wins from their three outings in Pool B after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Thomas More College.
St Mary’s DSG matched Kloof’s perfect record, picking up their third Pool A win in a 2-0 defeat of Danville Park. Durban Girls’ High, meanwhile, posted a closely contested 1-0 win over Curro Hazeldean.

In the playoffs, however, Durban Girls’ High ran rampant against Lebone II College, scoring a big 8-0 victory.
Curro Hazeldean won 3-1 against Thomas More, but unbeaten St Mary’s DSG was forced into a penalty shootout by Ashton Ballito. Their game finished 1-1, and St Mary’s then advanced 3-2 from the spot.
Boys’ Primary School
In the Boys’ Primary School competition, Merchiston Prep edged out Atholl Heights 3-2 and then cruised to a 7-0 win over Reddam House Ballito to finish top of Group B with a perfect record of four wins from four matches.
Highbury Prep A topped Group A. They won their first game on Saturday, beating Ashton 4-2 but then had their clean record ended by Thomas More, who beat Highbury by exactly the same score.
With that win, Thomas More claimed second place in Group A, while Hillcrest Primary, the top goal scorers in the pool stage, with 19 goals, ended second to Merchiston in Group B.
Boys’ High School Results
Roberts Field
DHS 3-4 Sutherland
Paul Roos 3-2 Maqhutshana 2
Urban Academy 1-1 Curro Hazeldean
Matterson Field
Clifton College 2-1 Siyajabula
Northwood 2-2 Maqhutshana 1
Ashton International Ballito 4-1 Lebone II College
Roberts Field playoffs
DHS 1-2 Kearsney College
Paul Roos 2-1 Sutherland
Maqhutshana 2 (3)1-1(1) Curro Hazeldean
Urban Academy 9-0 Thomas More College
Matterson Field playoffs
Siyajabula 2-0 Northwood
Pinetown 6-0 Lebone II College
Maqhutshana 1 4-2 Ashton International Ballito
Clifton College 4-0 Tuks
Girls’ High School Results
Curro Hazeldean 0-1 Durban Girls’ High
Lebone II College 1-5 Ashton International Ballito
St Mary’s DSG 2-0 Danville Park
Thomas More College 0-3 Kloof High
Playoffs
Durban Girls’ High 8-0 Lebone II College
Thomas More College 1-3 Curro Hazeldean
St Mary’s DSG (3)1-1(2) Ashton International Ballito
Boys’ Primary Results
Merchiston Prep 3-2 Atholl Heights
Ashton International Ballito 2-4 Highbury Prep A
Hillcrest Primary 8-0 Highbury Prep B
Winston Park 1-3 Kloof Senior Primary
Merchiston Prep 7-0 Reddam House Ballito
Kloof Senior Primary 2-2 Thomas More
Reddam House Ballito 1-5 Hillcrest Primary
Thomas More 4-2 Highbury Prep A
Highbury Prep B 0-8 Atholl Heights
Winston Park 2-5 Ashton International Ballito
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