Kearsney enjoys clean sweep of wins

KEARSNEY College had an outstanding weekend against Durban High School on the sports fields and in the water, with a clean sweep of wins in the 1st team cricket, basketball, tennis and water polo games.

Ensuring a successful weekend all round, Kearsney’s 1st squash team returned unbeaten from the prestigious St Andrew’s Festival in Bloemfontein.

Cricket

In humid conditions, Kearsney’s 1st XI enjoyed an excellent win at home on the Smith Oval. It was a clinical performance, after Kearsney lost the toss and were sent in to bowl on a flat track, which offered bowlers little assistance. The bowling was generally tight with DHS more intent on occupying the crease than moving the run rate along. After losing a few wickets up front, the DHS middle order batsmen guided DHS to a respectable score of 199/5 in 50 overs. It was felt that this was perhaps 40 runs short, which proved to be so.

Kearsney reached the DHS total in less than 30 overs. Captain Robbie Koenig (78*) and Taine Muirhead (54) put on a masterclass batting display in an impressive partnership, mixing caution with some aggressive and entertaining stroke play. Steven Conway also contributed with a lively cameo batting performance at the end of Kearsney’s innings.

The final score was: 1st DHS 198/6 – 50 overs (Tawanda 49; Mafudza 46 n.o.), 1st Kearsney 199/3 – 29 overs (Koenig 78 n.o.; Muirhead 54). Kearsney won by seven wickets.

Kearsney cricket teams across the age groups did well against DHS, winning all but one of the fixtures.

Basketball

Kearsney hosted DHS in their penultimate fixture of the summer season, getting off to a good start scoring easily and applying good defensive pressure and not allowing DHS to settle into a rhythm. They led 28-8 at the end of the first quarter and looked to dominate.

But DHS fought back and won the second quarter 14-12, taking Kearsney out of their comfort zone and forcing them into careless turnovers and silly fouls. Point guard Preston Barr and captain Levi Donjeany both fouled and had to sit on the bench, which did not help Kearsney’s cause.

The third quarter saw DHS ramp up their defensive intensity and Kearsney failed to respond. DHS clawed their way back to within five points but some good defensive pressure from Gcinathina Gumede saw Kearsney close down DHS point-scoring machine Buyani Ngcemu. The game was delicately poised at the end of the third quarter 47-38 to Kearsney, with DHS having convincingly won the quarter 16-9.

Kearsney took control in the fourth quarter despite Levi Donjeany having been fouled out with seven minutes to play. His team mates stepped up a gear and dominated the rest of the quarter, winning it 19-7. The DHS players looked exhausted and were unable to apply the same intense pressure they had done earlier.

Kearsney ran out comfortable winners 64-45, beating DHS on the basketball court for only the second time in the College’s history.

Top performers:

Kearsney – Levi Donjeany 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals; Dilon Wimbush 12 points; Ruben Darby 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks; Rabasotho Lenkoe 8 points

DHS – Buyani Ngcemu 18 points; Lihle Poswa 12 points; Kyle Madlala 11 points

Water polo

Kearsney dominated earlier games, but DHS have an SA U18 player and are coached by the current SA head coach, so weren’t going to be taken lightly.

Kearsney started with a drop defense in order to pull in the DHS attack, allowing Kearsney to counter attack. Kearsney’s Luc le Clezio was excellent at centre back, stealing the ball a number of times on the DHS attack. Initially Kearsney were frustrated by mistakes on their attack, but were creating too many opportunities to be denied for long. Once they settled, the goals came and they ended 3-0 up after the 1st chukka.

Sensing that DHS weren’t as fit as expected, Kearsney changed to a tight mark to force DHS into mistakes. The defence worked and the next few minutes saw William Young score a rather nervy counter-attack goal, Tyson Andrews convert an extra man and Taine Buys score from a penalty. Kearsney became impatient on the attack though and lapses in concentration allowed DHS chances against the run of play, which they did to take the halftime score to 8-2.

A tight mark from DHS at the start of the 3rd chukka kept scores even but the latter half saw it all come together for Kearsney. A strong tight mark of their own and more awareness on the transition led to some sublime counter attacks. Oliver Carmody and Wesley Marshall were rock solid on defence, allowing Oliver Kenny, Nicholas Baines, Josh Muller and Le Clezio to score and end the chukka 12-3.

The 4th chukka was more of the same with DHS offering very little resistance to the Kearsney pressure and controlled counter attack. Although Kearsney were dominating, they still managed to retain their focus and scored excellent team goals through good interplay. The final score of 22-3 is a testament to Kearsney’s determination and discipline throughout the match.

ALSO READ: Slam dunk for Kearsney boys

Tennis

The Kearsney tennis team travels to Stellenbosch this week for the annual top schools’ Paul Roos Festival. Kearsney beat DHS 9-0 at the weekend.

Squash

Kearsney’s first squash side travelled to the annual FNB St Andrew’s Festival in Bloemfontein at the weekend. The festival is a highlight of the SA Schools squash calendar, attracting 22 of the country’s top boys’ school squash teams.

The young Kearsney side – Reid Stuart, Dale Young (c), Jordan Baker, Kamo Bikwane, Dylan Thompson and Saffin van Straaten – acquitted themselves well against tough competition. Jordan Baker and Dylan Thompson who went undefeated over the weekend.

They achieved the following results:

Kearsney beat St Andrews College (Grahamstown) 6-0

Kearsney beat St Stithians (Johannesburg) 5-1

Kearsney beat Grey College (Bloemfontein 5-1

Kearsney beat Parktown Boys High (Johannesburg) 5-1

Kearsney beat Kingswood (Grahamstown) 4-2

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