Kearsney's big win over DHS
Kearsney hosted DHS on a warm afternoon in Botha’s Hill and ran out 55-15 winners.
DHS kicked off with both teams seeming tentative initially. Centre James Tedder opened the Kearsney score with a penalty from a scrumming infringement by the visitors. DHS put the hosts under pressure and, after some phase play, centre Coetzee pushed a grubber through which his midfield partner collected, to dive over in the right-hand corner. Scrumhalf Simpson converted for a 7-3 lead after 15 minutes.
The next five minutes produced a penalty each from place-kickers Tedder and Simpson respectively for a 10-6 lead to the visitors. From the next Kearsney kick-off captain Tristan Dixon masterfully produce a turnover from a tackle situation, which saw Cameron Ritchie and wing Mitchell Nesbit making good yardage. From the ruck the ever-present hooker Josh van Vuuren dived over for a Tedder converted try.
Kearsney scored again in the 33rd minute when scrumhalf Brendan Vorster darted well from a quickly taken penalty, to feed Van Vuuren in space which put lock Jared Meyer in possession with a backhand offload, to score close to the left upright. Tedder converted, taking Kearsney to a half-time lead of 20-10.
Kearsney opened their second half account with right wing Cian Waugh collecting a poorly executed clearance kick by DHS. Waugh gathered the ball on the 10m-line and swerved his way through a number of defenders to score untouched. Tedder converted for a 27-10 lead.
The visitors kicked upfield from deep in their own 22m area which Kearsney fullback Cullen Waberski collected and opened the midfield with a good counterattack. He drew and passed to flyhalf Ritchie who stepped inside his direct defender and offloaded to wing Waugh who scored his second try in quick succession. Tedder converted and Kearsney stretched the lead to 34-10.
DHS fought back and scored in the 15th minute after good phase play and tremendous patience to eventually score an unconverted try in the left corner.
Kearsney then started to dominate the match, however, and soon thereafter flyhalf Ritchie out-sprinted the defence to score in the left corner, courtesy of a Van Vuuren turnover. The ever-reliable Tedder converted for a 41-15 score line.
Kearsney’s next try resulted from a quick tap penalty which Tedder carried well. From the ruck scrumhalf Vorster sniped around the fringes for a well-deserved try. Tedder converted for a 48-15 lead.
The last try of the match was scored by wingr Waugh for a personal hat-trick on his return from injury. Lock Meyer intercepted an attempted offload on the DHS 22m line and scrumhalf Vorster made a good break to feed fly-half Ritchie who sent Waugh in near the right hand corner. Once again Tedder was successful with the conversion and Kearsney was victorious at 55 – 15.
Outstanding players for Kearsney were Tedder, Ritchie, Van Vuuren, Meyer, Croshaw, Dixon and Waugh.
By Sue Miles
Photographer: Tracey van den Aardweg
