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Hilton beats Kearsney in try-fest, St Charles shines on Old Boys’ Weekend

By Brad Morgan , in Rugby | Featured Rugby | News , at 2024-04-23 Tags: , , , , ,

Scrumhalf Matthew Fick played the role of field general in St Charles College's win over Clifton College on their Old Boys' Weekend. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography.
Scrumhalf Matthew Fick played the role of field general in St Charles College’s win over Clifton College on their Old Boys’ Weekend. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography.

Two teams usually recognised more for their rugged defences than their offences put on a scoring clinic on Gilfillan Field on Saturday as Hilton College fought off an enterprising challenge from Kearsney College to capture an entertaining 55-37 victory.

With the points flowing at more than one a minute, it was a fun contest for the spectators. Maybe, though, the coaches will feel there’s some work to be done after Hilton ran in eight tries and Kearsney five. Sometimes, though, there is no defensive answer to a clinically executed attack.

Kearsney’s decision to move Cameron Veenstra to fullback gave the visitors a sharper cutting edge on the counterattack, but Dan Eager, who moved from the back to the left-wing, joined Veenstra as one of Kearsney’s try scorers.

The visitors struck first through Veenstra, who went over on the left, but that set off a furious response from Hilton, with Daniel Sweeney rounding off a wonderful long-range effort from the home side.

A charge down by Jaque Olivier led to Ricky Adonis going over next to the uprights to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the match. Kearsney replied, though, through hooker Blake Kruger, who provided a strong finish in the right-hand corner from a sharp lineout move.

Hilton’s response was outstanding as they dialled up the intensity and broke open the game. Always well drilled in the rolling maul, the home side used it to good effect to force their way over the Kearsney try line, and a conversion by Liyema Nela, one of five he made in the game, put Hanu Pieterse and company 21-12 in the clear.

Cameron Veenstra slotted a penalty to pull the visitors within six, but Hilton then delivered a decisive passage of play. Nela sliced through Kearsney’s defences with ease by looping around Ben le Roux and running into a gap. When confronted by fullback Veenstra, he flung out a long pass to Adonis, who had an easy run-in to score.

A beautifully weighted kick over a ruck, wide on the left and just outside the Kearsney 22, by scrumhalf Zander Vorster brought Hilton another five-pointer before the break, with the ball falling kindly into the hands of Adonis, who waltzed over the line, and they changed sides 33-15 to the good.

To their credit, Kearsney fought back well in the second stanza and, in fact, edged it 24-22.

Eager went over in the left-hand corner early to bring the One-Stripe within two converted tries. Then, they stopped a Hilton attack on the Kearsney 22, where they forced a turnover.

Kearsney broke away from the ruck, with their captain and tighthead Anele Cele barrelling forward. They were briefly halted on the halfway line, but swiftly moved the ball out to the backline.

Jarred van Staaden spotted space behind the Hilton backs and kicked over the top. The ball sat up invitingly for a flying Valentino Lenge and the right-wing gathered and accelerated away from the cover defence to score beneath the posts. Veenstra converted to make it 33-27. Game on!

Hilton worked their way into Kearsney half, probing left and right, and soon won themselves a penalty when the visitors were caught offsides. Nela had no problem from in front and extended the home side’s lead to nine.

Doan Nel, though, caught Hilton unawares when he snapped off a sweetly struck drop kick from about 28 metres out to make it 36-30.

Then, for the second time in the match, the home side benefitted from a charge down, with some quick hands getting them over the line in the right-hand corner.

A sharp-eyed break from Nela set Hilton on their way for another five-pointer. Sweeney was brought down within metres of the try line, but a quick pick ‘n go put Brad McLeod-Henderson‘s charges over the line and they opened up a comfortable lead.

Kearsney, then, strung multiple phases together to work their way down deep into the Hilton 22, stretching the defensive line out. In the end, though, they crossed from a ruck, and another conversion from Veenstra made it 48-37.

Hilton had the final say and, appropriately, it came from their captain Hanu Pieterse, who picked up off of a five-metre scrum, pinned his ears back and broke wide and to the blind to crash over.

Substitute Xola Makongolo nailed the conversion to put the seal on an enthralling game that was a fine advertisement for schoolboy rugby and for both schools.

In Pietermaritzburg, St Charles College welcomed Clifton College to Old Orchards on their Old Boys’ Weekend.

St Charles's offensive approach saw them put up 50 points on Clifton. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography.
St Charles’s offensive approach saw them put up 50 points on Clifton. Photo: Justin Waldman Sports Photography.

Saints played an attractive brand of rugby, letting the ball do the work and, with scrumhalf Matthew Fick, who was part of the Sharks’ Craven Week squad in 2023, directing the show, they ran in some thrilling tries in a captivating display, which brought them a 50-15 victory.

Raphael Ajibade led the way, breaking through for a hat-trick, while Okuhle Peti went over for two of his own. Athenkosi QumoMatthew Ludick and Christian Allardice made it eight tries in total for St Charles.

It was a tough day for Clifton, but they played to the final whistle and scored the last try of the match through Wandile Ngubane. Matt Hammond also got over the whitewash.

Scores

Hilton College 55 (33) – Tries: Ricky Adonis (2), Dan Sweeney, Josh Grant, Seb Gaboreau, Liyema Nela, Hanu Pieterse, Zander Vorster. Conversions: Liyema Nela (5), Xola Makongolo. Penalties:
Liyema Nela. Kearsney College 37 (15) – Tries: Cameron Veenstra, Blake Kruger, Dan Eager, Valentino Lenge, maul. Conversions: Cameron Veenstra. Conversions: Cameron Veenstra (3). Penalty: Cameron Veenstra. Drop goal: Doan Nel.

St Charles College 50 (31) – Tries: Raphael Ajibade (3), Okuhle Peti (2), Athenkosi Qumo, Matthew Ludick, Christian Allardice. Conversions: Ukhanyo Ntsangani (5) Clifton: 15 (3) – Tries: Matt Hammond, Wandile Ngubane. Conversion: Athabe Mthabela. Penalty: Adam Selikow.

Brad Morgan
error: Sorry ol' chap, those shenanigans are not permissible.