KEARSNEY College’s 1st rugby team played Hilton’s 1st team in the Midlands at the weekend, but lost 23-31.
Kearsney started the match with high intensity and dominated proceedings for the first 10 minutes and was handsomely rewarded with an early 10-0 lead.
The first points came courtesy of winger James Sutherland’s trusty boot from a breakdown infringement by the hosts. After continuous pressure Kearsney was awarded another penalty which captain Greg van Noordwyk opted for a scrum close to the right-hand upright. Scrumhalf Warren Driver justified his decision with a snipe around the fringes. Sutherland converted and Kearsney seemed set for a good performance.
Hilton fly-half Angus Curtis soon converted two penalties while Sutherland added another penalty for Kearsney. Kearsney ended the first half stronger but possibly spilt three-point scoring opportunities which kept the halftime score at 16-6 to Kearsney.
Hilton started the second half employing smothering tactics and the visitors were unable to relieve the pressure exerted by the hosts. Hilton soon scored a well-worked backline move unconverted try from a right hand scrum for an 11-16 deficit. Hilton was soon rewarded with another Curtis penalty to narrow the gap to two points.
Hilton had the upper hand in the territorial stakes and the Hilton fly-half and fullback did great work in this department. The hosts scored another somewhat contentious try after the Kearsney defenders stopped playing to what seemed a handling error by Hilton’s ever present eighthman Phiri.
The referee however awarded the try which Curtis converted for his team to take the lead for the first time in the match.
Kearsney immediately hit back from the kick-off with the forwards using pick and go tactics with great effect.
A penalty resulted and eighthman Brady Erlich took a quick tap only to be stopped close to the line.
The visitors moved the ball to the left and back and continued with the pick and go momentum until lock Jared Meyer barged over for Sutherland to covert and to regain the lead at 23-21 with five minutes left.
Hilton capitalised from a defensive error out wide to score their third try of the match and a five-point lead. With Kearsney attempting to keep the ball in hand and the hosts hanging desperately on to their lead the hosts conceded another penalty at the breakdown which man-of-the-match Curtis converted for a final score of 31-23 to Hilton.
