Kearsney and Maritzburg College prepare for King Price Derby Series battle
Maritzburg College have only been getting better and better throughout their 2026 campaign, and so will be confident that they can earn their fifth win on the trot when they play Kearsney College on Saturday.
The King Price Derby Series event takes place at 15:30 on Stott Field along Botha’s Hill. Kearsney lost the bout 20-35 last year, so they’ll have the added incentive of vindication to fire up their desires for victory.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
Last week, the Pietermaritzburg locals became the first side to defeat Hilton in 2026 with a 14-9 scoreline – a feat which neither Westville nor Michaelhouse could achieve.
Scrumhalf, Dom du Toit was influential on the scoresheet in that victory, claiming nine points from a try and two conversions. His goal-kicking and fast distribution will be key to Maritzburg’s efforts. It’s no surprise that he’s been selected for the Sharks u18 squad for the 2026 Craven Week.
The Greyhounds have played some tough contests recently, losing 24-36 to Durban High and 34-45 to Northwood. They’ll be hoping that their third consecutive game at home against top opposition will result in their favour.
They have their own Sharks-selected playmaker in the form of their flyhalf, Daniel Miskey. He’s one of the most reliable goal-kickers around, and loves giving short, flat passes to put his loose forwards and centres through gaps in the opposition defence.
Maritzburg Head Coach Kelvin Elder shared his thoughts and feelings going into the contest: “I’m feeling positive. We have a great culture going, and all stakeholders in our environment are happy. We’re growing both individually and in a rugby capacity, which is our main focus. It’s been a tough few weeks regarding competition, but it’s been really enriching. This sport humbles you quickly and has seasons to it. We are enjoying our success thus far and are continuing to work towards bettering ourselves as we near the end of our season. We’ve come off the back end of a good win against Hilton on Old Boys Day and are now faced with a good Kearsney side on their Founders Day. We’re very excited for the challenge!”
Kearsney Director of Rugby and former Springbok utility back Keegan Daniel shared his perspective on the importance of this fixture, and also noted the progress his side has made this season: “Our Founders Day is an awesome occasion. We’ve got some old boys coming back to witness this match after not having been at the school since graduating.”
“It’s something we’re feeling confident and excited about. Our season has had some missed opportunities in games we didn’t close out. Nonetheless, the boys have fought hard and played an exciting brand of rugby against some really big schools. Our boys are looking forward to playing on Stott’s in front of a huge crowd. Some of these players have been dreaming about this day since they entered the school on their first day in grade eight.”
It’s looking like a tight affair with the odds slightly in Maritzburg’s favour; however, these derby encounters have proven unpredictable time and time again.
The teams:
Kearsney College vs Maritzburg College at 15:30 on Stott Field along Botha’s Hill:
Kearsney College: 15 Lwazi Mbebe, 14 Luke Grobbelaar, 13 Thomas Aylward, 12 Keanu Williamson, 11 Lwandle Mkhize, 10 Daniel Miskey, 9 Fynn Verbaan, 8 Nhlanhla Ndlovu, 7 Oliver Ludwig, 6 James Whatmore, 5 Thomas Francke, 4 Robert Gelderman, 3 Tunga Griffiths, 2 Luke Fauré, 1 Clement Makelele.
Maritzburg College: 15 Sandiswa Hadebe, 14 Sakhokuhle Xaba, 13 Olwethu Kosani, 12 Brent Smith, 11 Matthew Harris, 10 Luthando Dladla, 9 Dominic du Toit, 8 Rory Stanton, 7 Caleb Sweetnam, 6 David Colenbrander, 5 Joshua Thompson, 4 Sean Jansen, 3 Alande Ngubane, 2 Theodorus Boshoff, 1 Linamandla Mabanga.
