schoolsthatrock
Easter Rugby Festival 2026. Day two, match five.
Kearsney College’s 1st XV were greeted with a roar as they ran onto Stott Field for their Saturday afternoon showdown against Hoërskool Transvalia. The lure of the home team drew a strong crowd, eager to see if the One-Stripe could maintain their winning momentum.
Both sides had opened the festival with victories – Kearsney by 43-14 over Rustenburg, and Transvalia by 26-5 against Peterhouse – setting the stage for a clash between two unbeaten teams.
First Half
Transvalia started brightly, controlling possession and shaping their attacks with precision. Scrumhalf Johan Smit dictated the tempo, while flyhalf Johan Smit distributed smoothly. Kearsney’s defense held firm, but a penalty conceded in front of the posts allowed Maree to slot an easy three points.
The hosts responded midway through the half. A clever cross-kick from Thomas Aylward found right wing Luke Grobbelaar, who cut inside, shrugged off defenders, and finished superbly. Soon after, Daniel Miskey’s deft pass released Aylward, who sent Lwazi Mbebe over for Kearsney’s second try. Miskey converted, stretching the lead to 12-3.
Kearsney’s counterattacking edge then came to the fore. Captain and No. 8 Nhlanhla Ndlovu powered clear to score under the poles, before Mbebe set up Miskey for another five-pointer. With Miskey’s accurate boot adding the extras, Kearsney surged to a commanding 26-3 halftime lead.
Second Half
The One-Stripe continued their dominance after the break. Ndlovu claimed his brace with a close-range finish, and Miskey’s fourth conversion pushed the score to 33-3.
Transvalia, however, refused to fold. Flyhalf Maree’s sharp step created a chance for Dave Mthizi, but he spilled the ball over the line. Their persistence was eventually rewarded when Anro van Biljon crossed wide on the left. In the closing stages, Matthew van Niekerk added another try, ensuring Transvalia edged the second half 10-7.
Despite their spirited fightback, the visitors could not overturn Kearsney’s first-half blitz. The home side’s ambition, creativity, and ruthless counterattacks thrilled the crowd and secured a comfortable 33-13 victory.
Final Score
Kearsney College 33 (26)
- Tries: Nhlanhla Ndlovu (2), Luke Grobbelaar, Lwazi Mbebe, Daniel Miskey
- Conversions: Daniel Miskey (4)
Hoërskool Transvalia 13 (3)
- Tries: Anro van Biljon, Matthew van Niekerk
- Penalty: Jaydee Maree
Read more outstanding school news here: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/ https://www.kearsney.com/college/
Photos: Gabrielle Swanepoel
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