THE ninth annual Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival kicked off in sunshine with a light breeze blowing down the field.
As the host school, Kearsney College played into the breeze and established early pressure against Hoërskool Noord-Kaap from Kimberley.
The forwards had the better scrums and line-outs and the backline showed the willingness to spread the ball from touchline to touchline.
Noord-Kaap gradually adapted to the conditions and, although Kearsney had the better of the first half, the visitors scored a try to end off the half.
It took Kearsney only six minutes before they opened the scoring with a try by flank Dylan Richardson. He broke through the defense with a strong run. The conversion was successful by fullback, James Sutherland.
There were two further tries, the first by prop and captain, Greg van Noordwyk, and the second, a brilliant try, where the movement was started by Richardson and finished by flank, Luke Croshaw. Both were converted by Sutherland for a commanding 24-3 lead.
Just before halftime, some elusive running by Noord-Kaap flyhalf, Byron Qupa, found support in centre, Ruan Schultz, with Hufke converting, Noord-Kaap narrowed the gap to 10-24 at the drinks break.
Kearsney then had the breeze behind them and they were quickly on the board again after good pressure, ending with scrumhalf Warren Driver diving over.
Then came the try of the game as the ball moved through the hands, ending up with left wing, Matthew Watts, who ran 40 metres down the touchline to dot down. Sutherland had his most difficult kick but he split the uprights for another two points and a 38-10 lead.
Kearsney were not finished, scoring another three tries. Sutherland put in a strong run to score in the right corner and this time he did not convert.
Watts scored his second try with another strong run down the left touchline, converted again by Sutherland. Matthew Blair then scored the final try with a run down the right touch, again converted by Sutherland for a 57-10 win.
Unfortunately, Noord-Kaap were their own worst enemies as some promising moves were spoilt by poor handling.
Point-scorers:
Noord-Kaap: Try: R Schultz. Conversion and penalty: C Hufke
Kearsney: Tries: D Richardson, G van Noordwyk, L Croshaw, W Driver, M Watts (2), J Sutherland, M Blair. Conversions: J Sutherland (7). Penalty: J Sutherland.
