Kearsney narrowly miss win against Michaelhouse
The local team was eager to put their skills to the test in their first game since the Covid-19 lockdown last year.
KEARSNEY College hosted Michaelhouse in a highly-anticipated fixture since the worldwide Covid-19 outbreak. The visitors claimed a narrow victory with 26 – 24.
Kearsney kicked off the game in high gear and Matthew Bergset scored the first points of the match from a penalty. The hosts dominated the proceedings and, apart from their sloppy line-out work, deserved an early lead of 17 – 0 with a try from lock Ben Field.
Eighthman Thomas Carmody contributed with a converted try after some good continuity play from a loose ball in the opposition half. Credit was given to the visitors who put their best passage of the half together to score an unconverted in the right-hand corner, to head into half time 5 – 17.
The visitors continued with their newfound energy and soon scored from a midfield scrum after some elementary defence errors by the hosts. The converted try narrowed Kearsney’s lead 17 – 12.
Michaelhouse put the home team’s pack under pressure with line-out mauls. The next house try came from a quick tap penalty that followed an infringement by Kearsney in the attempt to stop a driving maul. The converted try saw the lead change hands for the first time, with the visitors ahead 19 – 17.
ALSO READ: Kearsney swimmers make waves
Michaelhouse stretched their lead after another defence pattern blunder and the converted try saw them with a 26 – 17 advantage. The visitors seemed to be in control as the home team suffered disruptions with many injured players.
Kearsney pulled together and found rhythm again and, in the last 12 minutes, produced more than a few exciting moments. One opportunity came from a failed clearance from the visitors when they were turned over at a breakdown.
Kearsney’s man of the match centre, Singele Mkhize ran a sharp line and scored, almost untouched, next to the upright for Bergset to convert and shrink the deficit to 24 – 26.
The home team had some further opportunities, but solid defence brought the match to a closely contested end.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
