SuperSport Schools Plus

Westville shocks Monument, DHS and EG Jansen unbeaten at KERF


Scrumhalf Marcwin Nero ran in two tries for DHS. Photo: Hannah Shirley.
Scrumhalf Marcwin Nero ran in two tries for DHS. Photo: Hannah Shirley.

Durban High School vs Pearson High School

Durban High School (DHS) made it three wins out of three at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) after another dominant display in their 38-7 victory over Pearson High School on Monday.

In fact, the seven points they conceded were the only points they surrendered during the entire event.

Just like in their previous outings on Stott Field, DHS was unrelenting, hunting with a pack mentality when not in possession, and running good lines when they had the ball to break through the Pearson defences.

Their ascendency was never in question, and they have made an early case that they will be the KZN team to beat this season.

Pearson looked promising with the ball in hand on occasion, but a mix of unforced errors and some terrier-like defending left them with scant reward.

Adriano Jackson scored his fourth try of the festival to put the Horseflies ahead, before Marcwin Nero finished off skilfully to double their tally.

Skipper Kian Rademeyer‘s converted try earned Pearson their seven points, but Nero struck again to put the locals into a 21-7 leading at the break.

In the second half, Allston Cedras, Jordan van Wyk and Hlumelo Madikane each went over to extend School‘s advantage.

Westville Boys’ High School vs Hoërskool Monument

In one of the biggest upsets of the festival, an inspired Westville Boys’ High surged to a hard-fought 25-22 win over Hoërskool Monument in the penultimate match of day three.

Monnas were on top in the possession and territory stakes in the first half but just couldn’t make it count in the face of hard-hitting Westville tackling. They were later made to rue that inability to turn pressure into points as coach Njabulo Zulu‘s outfit made the most of their opportunities, to race into a significant lead.

Westville defended superbly in the first 20 minutes, absorbing everything Monument threw at them after the boys in white set up camp deep inside their territory.

They were rewarded for their staunch resistance when Unathi Mlotshwa kicked a penalty to put the KZN side in front, but it would get even better a few moments later.

A Monument set play was intercepted by Jadrian Afrikaner, who ran in from his own half unopposed, before Jade-Will Koopman raced through for his team’s second try in quick succession as Westville took an unlikely 15-0 lead into half-time.

Jade-Will Koopman struck a hammer blow for Westville, with his try putting the Griffin 15-0 ahead.
Jade-Will Koopman struck a hammer blow for Westville, with his try putting the Griffin 15-0 ahead.

Michael Satade extended the Westville advantage with a powerful break and score, before Kealan Milton and Keenan Myners dragged two back for the Witbulle.

Mlotshwa’s second penalty all but wrapped up the result, although Monument manufactured late tries for Milton and Vincent Robberts.

Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen

Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen‘s 36-11 win over Kearsney College in the final match of KERF 2024 ensured they finished their campaign with an impressive three from three record.

The hosts, who had already copped losses to Rondebosch Boys’ High and Hoërskool Framesby, were hoping to replicate last year’s 17-12 victory over the same opponents. Unfortunately for them, their challenge fell apart late in the second half.

EG Jansen were slow out of the blocks but found their feet as the match progressed to follow up their victories over Hoërskool Noord-Kaap and Glenwood with yet another to extend their unbeaten start to the season to eight matches.

Kearsney started strongly and Daniel Eagar nailed a three-pointer on his second attempt to break the deadlock, but Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar hit back with a try within a minute to put Egies ahead.

Kearsney enjoyed the territorial advantage and forced Jansies into conceding a number of penalties and another Eager three-pointer put the One-Stripe 6-5 ahead at half-time.

With a large crowd behind them, Kearsney was in the game well into the second half, but EG Jansen ran in three tries in the last eight minutes to score a convincing victory.
With a large crowd behind them, Kearsney was in the game well into the second half, but EG Jansen ran in three tries in the last eight minutes to score a convincing victory.

Shortly after the restart, Kearsney second rower Simo Mnqokoyi scored one of the tries of the festival: breaking, chipping, regathering and stepping his way to a magnificent finish in the corner, complete with a swan dive of which even Bryan Habana would have been proud.

Kearsney, though, soon conceded again with Matthew Bergman carving through the home side’s defences before setting up centre Jeandre Jacobs for EG Jansen’s second try. 8th-man Gerhard van Aswegen scored soon thereafter and suddenly all of Kearsney’s hard-won momentum had evaporated.

The visitors added to their tally through Keanu van Loggerenberg, Jacobs and Bergman, without conceding another point. Down by six early in the second half, they won by 25 points.

Scores and scorers

Durban High School 38 (21) – Tries: Marcwin Nero (2), Adriano Jackson, Allston Cedras, Jordan van Wyk, Hlumelo Madikane. Conversions: Aka Boqwana (3), Cedras. Pearson 7 (7) – Try: Kian Rademeyer. Conversion: Caleb Friskin.

Westville Boys’ High 25 (15) – Tries: Jadrian Afrikaner, Jade-Will Koopman, Michael Satade. Conversions: Unathi Mlotshwa (2). Penalties: Mlotshwa (2). Monument 22 (0) – Tries: Kealan Milton (2), Keenan Myners, Vincent Robberts. Conversion: Theuns du Plooy.

Dr EG Jansen 36 (5) – Tries: Jeandre Jacobs (2) Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar, Gerhard van Aswegen, Keanu van Loggerenberg, Matthew Bergman. Conversions: Matthew Bergman (3). Kearsney College 11 (6) – Try: Simo Mnqokoyi. Penalties: Daniel Eager (2)

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