Kearsney Festival: Drostdy Prosper

HTS Drostdy, playing for the first time at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, certainly produced some good festival rugby with hard running backs and strong forwards to win the first game of the first match at the 2017 Festival. Early mistakes by both sides were eliminated and a good game yielded ten tries, seven by Drostdy.

Playing in warm breezy conditions, it took a little time for Drostdy, playing with the wind, to settle down. Kearsney had the early running and, after chasing a long kick downfield, a timely try by Kearsney fullback James Sutherland gave the hosts an early 5-0 lead.

Much of the play was in the mid-field with early-season mistakes by both sides preventing either team from dominating. Defence patterns were sound and although Kearsney were making some good turnovers, mistakes at vital times prevented possible points.

An attempted kick through while on attack was prevented and instead Drostdy centre Christie Grobbelaar toed the ball a number of times and beat the defence to dot down for a five pointer, converted by fullback Cohen Jasper, putting the visitors 7-5 in the lead.

The game came alive in the last three minutes of the first half when Drostdy scored three times to take a commanding lead in what had been an even match at that stage.

The first of this trio went to second-time scorer Grobbelaar when a relieving kick was charged down. The second, when fullback Jasper joined the line, forced a break and some passes found centre Keanu Mong, who ran round and dotted down under the posts.

From the kick-off the Drostdy forwards won the ball and scrumhalf captain Romeo Eksteen broke through a tackle to score. It was converted by Jasper to leave Drostdy 26-5 ahead.

The second half saw some brilliant rugby, initially by Kearsney who narrowed the gap to 17-26 by scoring two tries. The first was by Robbie Koenig with a determined run to score in the corner and the second by eighthman Dylan Richardson, who found his way over next to the upright. This was converted by Sutherland.

As in the first half, Drostdy got stronger towards the end and scored three tries in the last six minutes. Mong scored his second by rounding the defence. A brilliant conversion from the touchline by Jasper put them 33-17 in front.

Scrumhalf Eksteen and flank CJ van Rensburg scored the final two tries to leave the visitors convincing winners in an exciting opening festival game.

Scorers:

For Kearsney:

Tries: James Sutherland, Rob Koenig, Dylan Richardson

Cons: James Sutherland

For Drostdy:

Tries: Christie Grobbelaar 2, Keanu Mong 2, Romeo Eksteen, CJ van Rensburg, Cohen Jasper

Cons: Cohen Jasper 5

Referee: Quinton van Rensburg

 Photo by Tracey van den Aardweg