CC: Huge win for Kearsney

It was an astonishing win for Kearsney over Maritzburg College in an FNB Classic Clash on Goldstone's on Saturday.

That Kearsney won was rare – just the eighth time they have beaten College since 1943. That they won by so much is astonishing. But the truth is that they deserved the win and the size of the win. In fact they could well have won by more than just 30-10.

Kearsney were far livelier, more intent, crisper in what they did and better organised. College on the other hand suffered especially at line-outs and in the tackle. Afterwards Reegan Smith, the disappointed College captain wondered at his teams lack of vigour, querying if they were not 'overhyped' by the whole occasion of the Reunion.

The only aspect of the game where College had the better was in the penalty count but it did not help them greatly because they were mostly in their own half and when a penalty produced a line-out they as like as not lost it.

Kearsney's backs were sharper and in the pack there were the powerful Du Preez twins. Their stamp on the game was forceful.

The first try was generated by a turnover won by Jean-Luc du Preez. Kearsney went right and then came back wide left as Jean-Luc du Preez received the ball from his brother Daniel and gave it to lively Sandile Kubheka who gave a sharp pass to fullback Joshua Devine who hared for the left corner as Jesse Kriel covered. fullback tackled fullback but Joshua Devine managed to slam the ball down for the try. Tristan Tedder converted from touch, the ball bouncing over off an upright. 7-0 after 6 minutes

Kearsney kicked downfield and sturdy Jesse Kriel countered. He beat one and then tried a Sonny Bill Williams pass which gave the ball to Sandile Kubheka who ran off through empty metres for a try at the posts. 14-0 after 15 minutes.

Marcel Coetzee kicked a penalty goal for College and Tristan Tedder did the same for Kearsney.

Kearsney won a turnover and attacked with the powerful Du Preez in the van. A high tackle gave Kearsney another three points. They were now enjoying 61% of possession and led 20-3.

College's line-outs were rickety, to say the least. They lost their own throw six times and threw in skew once. Daniel du Preez won one of their line-outs and went right. Sandile Kubheka broke and as he got close to Kriel he passed a perfect pass to Dean Seals on his right and the wing had a clear run to the line. 27-3.

Just before the break College won a line-out and mauled. They had a five-metre scrum and Reegan Smith broke off the back but a knock-on ended their attack.

College actually outscored Kearney in the second half but there was not really any sign that they would won the match. Kearsney had three early chances to score tries in the second half and in the end settled for a penalty. Kearsney had two more serious attacks before College used a penalty to form a five-metre line-out and a maul but the referee ruled that they had been held up. The last part of the match was their best of the 70 minutes and from a tapped kick Cameron Christie darted and twisted over for a try near the posts. The conversion was the final act of the lively match.

The scorers:

For Kearsney:

Tries: Joshua Devine, Sandile Kubheka, Dean Seals

Cons: Tristan Tedder 3

Pens: Tedder 3

For Maritzburg College:

Try: Cameron Christie

Con: Marcel Coetzee

Pen: Coetzee

The teams:

Maritzburg College: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Marcel Coetzee, 13 Richard Bamber, 12 Murray Janse van Rensburg, 11 Banele Ngwenya, 10 Lukas Booysen, 9 Josh Rencken, 8 Reegan Smith (captain), 7 Cameron Christie, 6 Jacque Conradie, 5 Robert Kamhoot, 4 Everett Pieterse, 3 Mvelo Khumalo, 2 Vuyo Khathide, 1 Alex Cahill.

Replacements: 16 Tyron Maher, 17 Jonathan Grobler, 18 Seko Buthelezi, 19 James Smith, 20 Kelvin Elder, 21 Thato Molelekoa, 22 Cyle Muil.

Coaches: Ryan Strudwick, Steve Botha

Kearsney College: 15 Joshua Devine, 14 Dean Seals, 13 Sandile Kubheka, 12 Tyler Smith, 11 Isolethu Ngidi, 10 Tristan Tedder, 9 Matthew Reece-Edwards, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Jarred Hayes-Hill, 5 Daniel du Preez, 4 Jayson Hirshovitz, 3 Mthunzi Moloi, 2 Roy Meaker, 1 Jono Deighton (captain).

Replacements: 16 Biaggo Pelliccia, 17 Ben Karnezos, 18 Sean Kelly, 19 Guy Francis, 20 Blair Cremer, 21 Travis Pears, 22 TBC.

Coaches: Barend Steyn, Francois Lubbe

Referee: Jaco van Wyk (KZN Referees' Society)

Assistant referees: Brad Swift (KZN Referees' Society), Schalk Smith (KZN Referees' Society)