Pinetown and St Mary’s DSG rule Kearsney Soccer Tournament again
Pinetown Boys’ High and St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, went back-to-back as champions of the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Saturday, while Ashton Ballito claimed the honours in the primary school competition.
It was far from simple for Pinetown, however. They faced Gqeberha’s Urban Academy, with whom they had drawn goalless in the group stage, for the title, and Urban Academy hadn’t yet conceded a goal.
Pinetown had scored more than Urban Academy on their way to the final, but they had, at least, conceded once in a 2-1 win over Glenwood High, a team that Urban Academy comfortably beat 3-0.
Once more, both defences held firm and, in cold and wet conditions, the title game went down to a penalty shootout.
Pinetown, who recently claimed the Kloof High Football Tournament title after a penalty shootout win over the Absa Wildklawer champion, Virginia High School, demonstrated their BMT once more, claiming victory by a 3-1 margin from the spot.
In a tightly contested playoff for third, Durban High School (DHS), the winners of the inaugural tournament in 2023, edged out the host, Kearsney College, winning 3-2.
That was also the score in the fifth-place clash, with Siyajabula, the 2024 runner-up, defeating Queensburgh High.
Maqhutshana A scored a 2-1 win over Clifton College to finish seventh.
Glenwood, who had the misfortune of having both finalists with them in Group C, cantered to victory in the Plate final, outplaying Curro Somerset West 5-1.
The girls’ final also brought together teams that had met previously in the group stage when St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, took on Durban Girls’ High.
It had ended 1-0 in favour of Saints in their pool clash, and it finished 1-0 once more in the title decider.
Third place went to Danville Park Girls’ High who scored a 3-1 win over Curro Hazeldean.
Ashton Ballito lifted the Plate in style, defeating Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge 3-0.
Meanwhile, Ashton Ballito, also, enjoyed a fairy tale run to the primary schools’ title. They won all three of their group matches, beating the defending champion, Merchiston Prep, 3-0, Winston Park Primary 3-0, and Westville Senior Primary 4-3.
In round two of the Championship, they rolled to a 4-0 win over John Wesley. That was followed by a 2-0 victory over Pelham in the semi-finals, and a 2-1 win over Hillcrest Primary in the final. Six matches, six victories.
Merchiston and Pelham, both from Pietermaritzburg, met in the third-place playoff, with Pelham picking up a narrow 1-0 win.
RESULTS
Boys’ High School
1st/2nd: Pinetown Boys’ High 0-0 Urban Academy (Pinetown won 3-1 on penalties)
3rd/4th: Durban High School 3-2 Kearsney College
5th/6th: Siyajabula 3-2 Queensburgh High
7th/8th: Maqhutshana A 2-1 Clifton College
9th/10th: Glenwood High 5-1 Curro Somerset West
11th/12th: Curro Hazeldean 1-0 Sutherland
13th/14th: Maqhutshana B 1-1 Ashton Ballito (Maqhutshana won 6-5 on penalties)
15th/16th: Grace College 3-1 Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge
Girls’ High School
1st/2nd: St Mary’s DSG, Kloof 1-0 Durban Girls’ High
3rd/4th: Danville Park Girls’ High 3-1 Curro Hazeldean
5th/6th: Ashton Ballito 3-0 Trinityhouse Rand Park Ridge
- Clifton wins two KZN Top 10 titles, overall honours to Kearsney - 2025-10-28
- Hockly hauls Hilton to win against DHS - 2025-10-26
- White bats Northwood to win, Kearsney victorous at Glenwood - 2025-10-26
