Kearsney performs well at Founder’s Hockey Festival
The team was missing five senior players so it was an opportunity for the younger players to show off their skills.
KEARSNEY College’s first hockey side had a successful tour to the 150th Paul Roos Founder’s Festival in Stellenbosch during the holidays, where they played six tough games – winning four, drawing one and losing only one.
The team was missing five senior players – James Stamatis, Matthew Lees, Luke de Vlieg and Steven Conway (due to cricket commitments) and Cameron Rencken to injury – so it was an opportunity for the younger players to put their hands up.
Kearsney’s first game was against a fairly strong Rondebosch side where Kearsney went 2-0 down in the first half before ending the game 2-1 down.
The first half was always going to be a tough one with a new group and youngsters getting their first run.
The second fixture that day, against host school, Paul Roos, was a great game which ended 0-0 – already seeing the improvements from the first game for the Botha’s Hill boys.
Game three saw Kearsney win convincingly against Dale College (5-1), and later that day beat a tough SACS team 3-1. Going into the last day, the boys were starting to fatigue and the last two games were played with only 13 players, but they finished off with two good wins against Potch 8-1 and a clean sheet 4-0 win against Parktown.
Kearsney captain, Lyle Jarvel, showed outstanding leadership on and off the pitch through his physical presence and communication skills, and vice-captain, Blake Tyack, also led by example.
Grade 10 player, Guy Morgan, impressed with his drag flicking to become a dependable option on penalty corners.
