Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, Day 3

The final day of the Standard Bank Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival opened with a primary school’s game, as had the first two days.

The Under-13 KZN Development team had drawn their game with Umhlali Prep and beat Hillcrest Primary School on the first two mornings. Today Highbury Prep appeared to be in a position to win when they were 20-7 at the break, but the Development team came back to win comfortably, Highbury unable to score in the second half.

Hoërskool Noord Kaap vs Dr EG Jansen, 24-21

After heavy rain over the past 24 hours, damp overcast conditions met the players from Noord-Kaap and Dr EG Jansen when they ran out for today’s first game, but the Stott field was firm underfoot. Both teams were looking for a second victory after they had each lost their first game and won their second.

EG Jansen were more effective when they kept the game tight, because Noord-Kaap backline always looked dangerous on attack, as long as their forwards gave them good ball.

The first try came 12 minutes into the game when Jansen set up a maul, rumbling 15m forward and their hooker Kyle Pepler went over, converted by Kyle Potgieter, for a 7-0 lead. Noord-Kaap centre Keano Windvogel broke the defensive line, passing to his captain and fullback Elzandro Fredericks who scored out wide, narrowing the gap to 5-7.

EG Jansen again did what they do best, another maul, another try, again by hooker Pepler, and again converted by Potgieter, to increase the lead to 14-5.

Noord-Kaap hit back, moving the ball amongst the backs. Wing Jacquin van Wyk sliced through the defence to score, thereby reducing the deficit to 12-14, after a successful conversion by Corné du Plessis.

Just before half-time there was another break, ending with wing Moemagare Molete scoring in the corner for Noord-Kaap to lead at the break.

The second half was only minutes old when Molete scored his second try to take the lead to 24-14 with the conversion by Du Plessis.

EG Jansen replacement flyhalf Keagan Balfour broke the defence to score, converted by Potgieter, to make it a three-point game 21-24 for the final 10 minutes.

In the final seconds, EG Jansen looked as though they may have won, but the ball was dropped on the line by their wing, giving Noord-Kaap the victory in a highly entertaining game.

Scorers

For Noord-Kaap:
Tries: Elzandro Fredericks, Jacquin van Wyk, Moemagare Molete 2
Cons: Corné du Plessis 2

For Dr EG Jansen:
Tries: Kyle Pepler 2, Keagan Balfour
Cons: Kyle Potgieter 3

By Sue Miles of Working Words
Photograph by Tracey van den Aardweg