Three teams eyeing unbeaten KERF records; Westville downs Helpmekaar
Durban High School (DHS) will be aiming for a third unbeaten record at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) in succession when the event concludes on Easter Monday.
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Westville Boys’ High will have a second straight clean run on their minds, while Kearsney College will have a shot at three out of three, too.
Westville was given a thorough workout by Helpmekaar Kollege on Saturday on Stott Field in the final match of the day, winning 33-17 after Helpies pulled to within 17-19 with a penalty try early in the second half.
It was an uncompromising clash in which the Johannesburg school forced Westville into some untidy kicking, which allowed fullback Xander van Niekerk to test the Griffins with his speed and slippery moves.
Helpmekaar was also challenged on defence, especially by Jadrian Afrikaner, who scored two long-range tries, taking his tally to five for the festival. He demonstrated why he was selected for SA Schools in 2025. His balance of speed, power, vision, and moves is exceptional.
Westville shaded the set scrums, and their big no. 8, Lwandle Makhanya, made some splash players, but the Griffins‘ pack was made to graft by Helpies, who were at their best when driving the ball up near the goal line. They looked after possession well, and that brought them a try by flyhalf, Ethan Kruger, in the first half.
Fullback Van Niekerk, meanwhile, set up Zuan Krige for a try four minutes from halftime with a scorching run, which gave Krige a simple finish in the left-hand corner.
It was welcome payback for Krige, who was cleverly targeted with a pinpoint high-up-and-under by Westville flyhalf, Jade-Will Koopman, which left Krige isolated and up against three Westville attackers. When the ball went loose, Makhanya snaffled it and ran through for a try.
DHS led only 12-0 at halftime against Hoërskool Rustenburg but found traction late in the game to score a 38-7 victory. The Horseflies‘ late successes were a result of building and maintaining pressure on a stubborn, well-drilled outfit, whose only try, scored by Wicus Arnold, came from a sustained battering of the DHS try line. Eventually, a gap opened for the tall utility forward to race through.
DHS is outstanding at grinding down their opponents, dragging defenders in before releasing their runners out wide, and that’s what they did against Rusties.
Fullback Cilermo Carolus was influential, running in two tries while also setting up penetrative counterattacks, while DHS no. 8, Daniel Kazambo, demonstrated his speed off the back of the scrum and added another try to his mounting tally. He and Kearsney captain and 8th-man Nhlanhla Ndlovu are both athletic runners and pose serious questions to opposing defensive lines.
Ndlovu added a brace to the try he scored against Rustenburg in the One-Stripe‘s 33-13 win over Hoërskool Transvalia. Despite the 20-point defeat, the Vanderbijlpark school impressed with their heart. In fact, they outscored Kearsney two tries to one in the second half after falling behind 3-26 at the break.
Kearsney’s creative counterattacking again brought them some delightful long-range tries, with the spine of the team – no. 8 Ndlovu, flyalf Daniel Miskey, and fullback Lwazi Mbebe – leading the way. Another who has consistently caught the eye for the One-Stripe is their right-wing Luke Grobbelaar. Always looking for work, he’s a hard-hitting defender and every bit as impactful on offence.
Transvalia, in the second half, kept the play closer to their forwards, which kept the Kearsney defence honest, and that bore fruit. Flyhalf Jaydee Maree created another opportunity for a third try, but after he made a smooth break and passed out wide, the ball was spilt in an unforced error as the ‘Valia wing crossed the whitewash.
Peterhouse opened the day’s proceedings against Milnerton High. The Capetonians won the same fixture 34-18 in 2025, but Peterhouse turned the tables, deservedly claiming a 29-23 win.
It was a case of their attacking ambition being rewarded, with Zvinko Matipano dotting down twice as the boys from Marondera, Zimbabwe, outscored Millies four tries to three.
Their 8th-man, Prosper Zimbango, stood out with the heavy physical presence he exerted, both on attack and defence, while flyhalf and captain, Chadlin Sellidon, was the pick of the Cape Town school’s performers.
Perhaps, though, the performance of the day belonged to Hoërskool Framesby. Crushed 83-0 by Westville on Thursday, they dug deep and took to Stott Field, motivated to right the wrongs of their previous outing. With lock Raynhardt Brown leading a feisty forward pack and Miles Feltham pulling the strings at flyhalf, they battled their way to a 15-14 win.
A fantastic piece of skill by centre Roan Saaiman, a grubber in behind the Glenwood defence off the outside of his boot, which set up Jaco George for an easy run over the try line, highlighted the contest.
Hoërskool Zwartkop, after a bruising, physical clash with DHS, and ahead of another big test against Kearsney College on Monday, started their substitutes against Dr EG Jansen, in a clash between Noordvaal schools that contest the Plate and Cup competitions, respectively.
It was Zwarries, though, who came away with a 41-32 victory, which included overcoming a 14-20 deficit at the break after introducing some of their frontliners at the start of the second stanza.
They tallied six tries in total, including a penalty try, to the five of EG Jansen.
Their general at flyhalf, Tilon Baron, provided the side with smoother direction after he joined the fray in the second stanza, while centre, David van Jaarsveld, a standout performer against DHS, positively impacted both their offence and defence.
He’s not afraid to get stuck in, and his power and determination brought him a try when he rode two tackles before crashing over.
SCORES
Peterhouse 29 (13) – Tries: Zvinko Matipano (2), Victor Watama, Tasso Dombropoulos. Penalties: Victor Watama (3).
Milnerton 23 (11) – Tries: Charl Michaux, Akho Mkaya, Troy Ferreira. Conversions: Chadlin Sellidon. Penalties: Chadlin Sellidon (2).
DHS 38 (12) – Tries: Cilermo Carolus (2), Sterling Padi, Hlomela Mbani, Daniel Kazambo, Richard Kriel. Conversions: Tanwil Onkers (4). Penalties. Drop goals.
Rustenburg 7 (0) – Tries: Wicus Arnold. Conversions: Ricardo Enos.
Zwartkop 41 (14): Tries: Luan Wepener, Stiaan Botha, Waylin Papier, David van Jaarsveld, penalty try, Dian du Plooy. Conversions: Ruvan Burger (2), Tilon Baron. Penalty: Tilon Baron.
EG Jansen 32 (20): Tries; Rayzandu van Wyngaard, Dian Botha, Jordan van der Westhuizen, Jaco Engelbrecht, Werner Breydenbach. Conversions: Renaldo October (2). Penalty: Renaldo October.
Glenwood 14 (0): Tries. Conversions: Lebohang Skosana, Andile Mbokazi. Vincenzo Loutz (2).
Framesby 15 (8): Tries: Jaco George, Handré Schnetler. Conversion: Miles Feltham. Penalties: Miles Feltham.
Kearsney 33 (26) Tries: Nhlanhla Ndlovu (2), Luke Grobbelaar, Lwazi Mbebe, Daniel Miskey. Conversions: Daniel Miskey (4).
Transvalia 13 (3) Try: Anro van Biljon, Matthew van Niekerk. Penalty: Jaydee Maree.
Westville 33 (19): Tries: Jadrian Afrikaner (2), Sandiswa Mbokazi, Lwandle Makhanya, Bukho Sotaka. Conversions: Jade-Will Koopman (4).
Helpmekaar 17 (10): Tries: Ethan Kruger, Zuan Krige, penalty try.
