Kearsney win at St Charles
St Charles scored the first points with an early penalty to take the lead 3-0. The visitors responded immediately from the kick-off when they countered a return box kick with hooker Dylan Richardson prominent and giving the final pass to flyhalf Cameron Ritchie to score in the left corner.
The Kearsney pack took control and turned over possession at scrum and line-out time, and Ritchie scored his second try from turnover play as he darted through the defence to dot under the posts, for James Sutherland to convert.
Soon Kearsney was awarded a penalty and opted for the line-out maul and, after advancing a good 15m, Richardson broke away and was held up in the in-goal area. From the 5m scrum winger Reece Daniel scored from a rehearsed backline move, for Sutherland to convert and the 19-3 lead.
St Charles put together a good passage of play and was eventually awarded a penalty which they converted for a 6-19 score line. The hosts never stopped playing and displayed huge courage on their special day. Kearsney responded with their fourth try via their Craven Week flank Luke Croshaw, who collected an inside pass from fellow Craven Week selection Ritchie, to run 40m for a brilliant individual try. Sutherland converted for a 26-6 lead. This was also the half-time score.
Kearsney started the second half with the same intensity and once again hooker Richardson featured strongly. It was after another strong midfield carry that he off-loaded to lock David Weaver who found centre Matthew Blair on his outside and dotted just left of the upright for Sutherland to convert.
Kearsney totally dominated possession and territory now and Sutherland scored another try which came after several phases and entertaining interplay by forwards and backs with captain Greg van Noordwyk and centre Cameron Craze very prominent. Sutherland converted his own try for the score to grow to 40-6.
Probably the try of the match followed next, as Kearsney attacked with what was a good striker move by the backs and then the forwards carried from the breakdowns. Richardson and Van Noordwyk were prominent and Weaver dived over when he collected the ball at the back of the last ruck just short of the try line. Sutherland converted for a 47-6 lead.
St Charles must be commended for their efforts and continued to play with heart and soul. Unfortunately the ball was stripped from an attack and got to Richardson who displayed a lot of pace and evasive skill to dot down after a 40m run. It was a well-deserved try by the man of the match who is in impressive form and warranted his selection for the Craven Week team.
The final score was 52-6 to Kearsney. Their outstanding players were Dylan Richardson, Cameron Ritchie, Ryan Lewarne, Greg van Noordwyk, James Miller and Luke Croshaw.
From Kearsney
