The 2025 Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival (KERF) concluded yesterday (Monday) following three absorbing days’ play; with two schools going unbeaten during this 16th edition of the festival.
Durban High School (DHS) left Botha’s Hill with a 100% record for the second year in a row, while fellow KZN side Westville Boys’ High also managed to win all three of their matches at this year’s event.
After a draw to Glenwood and defeat to DHS in their first two games, Hoërskool Monument were made to work hard for an eventual 26-21 win over Milnerton High on Day 3, having led 19-0 at halftime.
The West Cape school, who had beaten Peterhouse Boys’ High before falling to Glenwood, were one of the most exciting sides to watch over the weekend, with twins Chadlin and Chadwin Sellidon in particular sparking some delicious counter-attacking plays.
Glenwood overcame a much-improved defensive performance from Dale College to claim an eventual 33-12 win in their final outing, with the Eastern Cape school having already copped losses to Hoërskool Durbanville and hosts Kearsney College.
Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen pipped Hoërskool Framesby 22-20, having beaten Kearsney on Thursday before losing out to a Westville team that themselves knocked over the Gqeberha boys on the first day – though Framesby did rebound to see off Peterhouse convincingly on Day 2.
Having opened their festival campaign with a big win over Hoërskool Rustenburg, who had held off Durbanville on Day 2, DHS collected their third victory in a 33-15 result over Ivan Jooste’s charges.
Westville completed their KERF grand slam thanks to a 24-17 result over Rusties, while Kearsney finished with a two from three record after beating Peterhouse 48-8 in the final game of the showpiece.
Despite their losses, the Zimbabwean tourists were true crowd favourites who earned many new supporters through their positive attitudes and good sportsmanship over the weekend.
In keeping with tradition, an independent panel of rugby selectors awarded the festival’s best forward player to Briint Davids from Milnerton and the best backline player Zekethelo Siyaya (Westville).
The Festival’s All Stars Team was named as 1 Eli Pedro (Durbanville), 2 Okuhle Mbanjwa (DHS), 3 Jo-seph Udo-Idung (DHS), 4 Vimbiso Kasvosve (DHS), 5 Lwandile Mlaba (Westville), 6 Briint Davids (Milnerton), 7 Sambesiwe Ndamase (Glenwood), 8 Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Kearsney), 9 Mondre van Heerden (Framesby), 10 Chadwin Sellidon (Milnerton), 11 Ruan Genip (Monument), 12 Zingce Simka (DHS), 13 Andrew Maringa (Peterhouse), 14 Zenkosi Mthiyane (DHS) and 15 Zekethelo Siyaya (Westville).
Some exciting rugby was played by all teams, but the organisers made special mention of Milnerton High for their display of running rugby, and Westville Boys’ High for having produced the most attractive rugby at the festival.
RESULTS
BOYS HIGH SCHOOLS FESTIVAL
DAY 3 (Monday 21) – Hoërskool Monument 26-21 Milnerton High; Glenwood High 33-12 Dale College; Hoërskool Framesby 20-22 Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen; Durban High School 33-05 Hoërskool Durbanville; Westville Boys’ High 24-17 Hoërskool Rustenburg; Kearsney College 48-08 Peterhouse Boys’ School
DAY 2 (Saturday 19) – Hoërskool Durbanville 22-26 Hoërskool Rustenburg; Hoërskool Framesby 45-19 Peterhouse Boys’ School; Milnerton High 34-37 Glenwood; Westville Boys 36-5 Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen; Kearsney College 34-13 Dale College; Hoërskool Monument 17-32 Durban High School
DAY 1 (Thursday 17) – Milnerton High 34-18 Peterhouse Boys’ High; Hoërskool Durbanville 66-22 Dale College; Durban High School 41-7 Hoërskool Rustenburg; Kearsney College 24-29 Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen; Hoërskool Monument 26-26 Glenwood Westville Boys’ 31-0 Hoërskool Framesby
PRIMARY SCHOOLS FESTIVAL
DAY 3 (Monday 21) – Hillcrest Primary 15-05 Winston Park; Chelsea Prep 22—10 KZN Ibutho Development; Kloof Senior Primary 05-60 uThukela Rugby; Glenwood Prep 29-07 Westville Senior Primary; Highbury Prep 05-19 Umhlali Prep
DAY 2 (Saturday 19) – Kloof Senior Primary 0-12 Winston Park Primary; Westville Senior Primary 7-7 Hillcrest Primary; Glenwood Prep 39-0 uThukela Rugby; Highbury Prep 29-5 KZN Ibutho Development; Penzance Primary 77-0 Umhlali Prep
DAY 1 (Thursday 17) – Highbury Prep 24-7 Kloof Senior Primary; Penzance Primary 77-0 uThukela Rugby; Winston Park Primary 3-14 Westville Senior Primary; Hillcrest Primary 7-32 Chelsea Prep; Umhlali Prep 34-10 KZN Ibutho Development
GIRLS U16 TOURNAMENT
DAY 3 (Monday 21 April)
Adams College 50-05 Grosvenor Girls High; Mowat Park High 0-05 George Campbell
DAY 2 (Saturday 19) – Mowat Park High 45-0 Grosvenor Girls High; Adams College 17-15 George Campbell
DAY 1 (Thursday 17) – Mowat Park High 20-5 Adams College; George Campbell 20-10 Grosvenor Girls High
