DURBAN – Spectators arriving on Monday morning for the final day of the 2026 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival were unaware of the extensive overnight recovery efforts following a tornado that brought high winds and 30mm of rain to Botha’s Hill and surrounding areas.
Plumbers cleared blocked drains and removed debris from water systems through the night, while maintenance crews pumped water from the medical centre and changerooms. Sponsors’ marquees were reinstated and hay bales were placed in high-traffic areas to stabilise ground conditions.
Rustenburg beat Peterhouse
Hoërskool Rustenburg claimed a hard-fought 26-17 victory over Peterhouse in their third match of the festival, having previously faced Kearsney College and Durban High School.
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Peterhouse started strongly, with hooker Bongani Dube scoring in the fifth minute after collecting a pass and finding open ground. Flyhalf Victor Watama converted for a 7-0 lead.
Watama extended the advantage with a penalty goal five minutes before halftime, but Rustenburg responded when Keegan Harmse scored from close range two minutes from the break. Ricardo Enos converted, leaving Peterhouse ahead 10-7 at the interval.
Rustenburg took the lead early in the second half when lock Thian Labuschagne scored in the right corner after Peterhouse lost a prop to the sin bin. Peterhouse struck back through captain Munashe Masamha, who scored from 55 metres out after lock Mufaro Mawoyo won a contested high kick. Watama’s conversion gave Peterhouse a 17-14 lead.
Labuschagne scored his second try to restore Rustenburg’s advantage before completing his hat-trick late in the match from a scrum five metres out. Enos converted both tries, securing the 26-17 win.
Glenwood secure two point victory over Dr EG Jansen
Glenwood High held on for a 14-12 victory over Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen despite a strong second-half fightback from the Boksburg side.
EG Jansen were reduced to 14 men in the second minute when fullback Renaldo October was sent off for a dangerous tackle.
Glenwood No 8 Makhaya Mbaile scored twice in the first half, with scrumhalf Vincenzo Loutz converting both tries for a 14-0 halftime lead.
EG Jansen responded in the second half with tries from Christopher van Rooyen and prop Elshaan Duminy. AJ Oeschiger converted Duminy’s try to bring the score to 14-12, but Glenwood’s defence held firm for the remainder of the match.
Second consecutive win for Framesby
Hoërskool Framesby claimed their second consecutive victory with a 10-7 win over Hoërskool Transvalia, recovering from their opening-day 83-0 defeat to Westville Boys’ High.
Framesby flank Josh Potgieter scored in the first half, with flyhalf Miles Feltham converting for a 7-0 lead.
Transvalia centre Lorenzo Flynn forced his way over five minutes into the second half, with Chester MacCammel converting to level the scores at 7-7.
Feltham kicked a penalty goal in the final minute to secure the victory for the Gqeberha side.
Westville maintain unbeaten record
Westville Boys’ High maintained their unbeaten record at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival for a second successive year with a comprehensive 41-3 victory over Milnerton High at Stott Field in Botha’s Hill on Monday afternoon.
Lisa Sijadu scored a hat-trick, crossing in the third minute and adding two further tries in the second half. Jadrian Afrikaner, Bukho Sotaka, Jade-Will Koopman and Drew Hollingsworth also touched down for the Griffins. Koopman converted three tries.
Westville led 22-0 at the interval and dominated territorially throughout the match. Milnerton captain Chadlin Sellidon scored a late penalty.
Two matches remained on Monday’s schedule, with Durban High School taking on Helpmekaar Kollege, and hosts Kearsney College meeting Hoërskool Zwartkop.
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