What better way to round off an Easter weekend than watching some of the best schools in the country battling it out at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival. I had the pleasure of watching the last two games where I was entertained with an exciting draw and some enterprising running rugby all at the same time.
I arrived to HTS Middelburg scoring a try to take the game away from Affies, meaning the ‘Rooi Bulle’ remained unbeaten over the three days’ games, also beating hosts Kearnsey and Nico Malan.
The big game for the day was up next, Grey taking on Monument. It had to be a big game to warrant Craig Joubert taking the referee’s whistle for the match. Grey scored twice in the opening ten minutes to open a 10 – 0 lead, both tries being unconverted. Monument had to wait until the second half to score their first points through a try, and together with a penalty, levelled up matters. It was a gutsy game and a deserved result for both teams.
The host school faced EG Jansen in the final match of the weekend, with the stands filled in anticipation of a home team win. But what followed was a lesson in running rugby as EG Jansen ran in four unanswered tries. Kearsney opted to play the territorial game, doing plenty of kicking, while the East Rand team opted to keep ball in hand and run at the opposition. Kearsney could only muster up three points in the match, thanks to a penalty in the second half. The end result of 25 – 3 to the visitors a fair reflection of how the match went, but a score that could have been much higher if two more tries were correctly allowed.
Fullback Martin van Wyk scored two brilliant tries from his own half, running rings around the Kearsney defence. He actually scored a third try which was disallowed due to an earlier infringement, but was brilliant to watch nonetheless, as he ran through and around any would be tacklers to dot down in the corner. The young man was easily my Man of the Match, and is surely a name to remember for the future. Another young man to keep an eye out for is lock Hendre Stassen who, at 2m tall already, gave the team plenty of go-forward in the tight five, playing like a Bakkies-type enforcer already.
Kearsney: 3 (Pen: T Tedder)
EG Jansen: 25 (Tries: M van Wyk(2), C Barkhuizen, J Strydom. Pen: F Roos. Con: D Kotze)
The full results for the three day event are below:
Day 1 – Thursday 17 April
Kearsney 25 – 31 HTS Middelburg
Framesby 16 – 21 Monument
Westville 41 – 10 Nico Malan
Selborne College 12 – 34 Affies
Glenwood 31 – 17 Dale College
Grey College 26 – 8 EG Jansen
Day 2 – Saturday 19 April
Selborne College 21 – 13 Framesby
HTS Middelburg 43 – 22 Nico Malan
Kearsney 24 – 19 Dale College
Glenwood 31 – 20 EG Jansen
Grey College 32 – 20 Westville
Affies 14 – 36 Monument
Day 3 – Monday 21 April
Nico Malan 10 – 25 Dale College
Glenwood 31 – 29 Framesby
Westville 14 – 20 Selborne College
Affies 10 – 20 HTS Middelburg
Grey College 10 – 10 Monument
Kearsney 3 – 25 EG Jansen
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Great to see the local KZN schools doing good.
Thanks for the update Rich!
Thanks for a great update Richard. Although I’m pretty sure Hendre Stassen wouldn’t have given his tight five “plenty of impotence” if he was that impressive!! 🙂
@pastorshark (Comment 3) :
I have no idea what you are on about 😉
How did glenwood keep scoring 31 points 😎
@Poisy (Comment 5) :
That actually happened!!
Well done to the Green Machine for 3 out of 3..
@pastorshark (Comment 3) :
Little bit of a unnecessary comment.
Have to congratulate Kearsney on a absolute great tournament. Having been at lots of tournaments and Craven weeks this tournament rates as the best there is. Hope that many parents in years to come will have the pleasure of attending this.
@Mike Stassen (Comment 8) :
No, it was my bad, I made a mistake in the original write-up. My choice of words was way off, so I have updated it.
Apologies all round..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 10) :
Thanks for the feedback Richard. Apologies for jumping the gun as i did not see the original article.
@Mike Stassen (Comment 11) :
No worries and welcome to the site..
@Mike Stassen (Comment 11) : so Mike, is it safe to assume that young Hendre already has a Bulls contract safely tucked away somewhere, or is there a chance he might consider Durban in 2016?
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
He would make a wonderful addition to the Sharks academy.. And our U19 team..
@Mike Stassen (Comment 11) : @Mike Stassen (Comment 8) : No problem…I was just pointing out the error in the original article… 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
Hi Rob as with my eldest son I am not a favorite of contracts for young guys of his age (only turns 17 in December) as its complicated the development process. There has been offers from various unions but all have been put on hold till his Grade 12 year. he was at the Sharks in Jan 14 for a week when Gavin was still there etc etc. So we will see what the future holds. Thx for the positive comments highly appreciated.
@Mike Stassen (Comment 16) : you’re a good man! Too many fathers seem to jump at the first piece of paper waved at their kids (usually by that crook Xander van Rensburg at the age of about 15 months).
At Hendre’s age the most important thing is to get a good education.
Who does your older son play for? He’s not Bulls centre Morne, is he? Hmm, perhaps I should take back what I said about Xander being a crook 🙂
@Mike Stassen (Comment 16) : welcome to the aite and I must complement you on the way you put the development of your child before the temptation of money. Hats off to you sir!!!! It’s just a pity that not more parents are like you!!!
@robdylan (Comment 17) : @JD (Comment 18) :
Thx for the compliment guys. My son is Morne the center that was contracted to the Bulls but unfortunately he broke his ankle very badly and 7 ops later cannot play this beautiful game anymore.
That’s why i am even more focused on the educational side than just money money. Further the child only gets bigger than the game from a mental perspective and you have to battle to keep his feet on the ground.
The professional era is actually sickening when looking at it from a child perspective. I must also say the Sharks approach when Gavin was still there as I have not met the new guys was very very professional,accommodating and understanding if you inform them about your thinking about junior contracts.
After discussing this with Gavin he still flew my son to Durban to spend a week there with the thinking that if and when he enters into a contract he will consider the Sharks. Great approach.
@Mike Stassen (Comment 19) : I personally think Gavin is a great loss to the Sharks. I hope that the discussions between yourselves and them will continue now that Butch James has taken over the role.
Condolences regarding Morne’s injury. What is he doing now?
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
He is now a employee at one of my businesses (hardworking for a change) lol
@Mike Stassen (Comment 21) : very nice… and a very fortunate young man indeed