Watch VideoWestville, DHS make big statements on day one of Kearsney Easter Festival

Helpmekaar centre Ethan Loureds scores during his team’s defeat of Glenwood on day one of the Kearsney Easter Festival in Durban. A beautiful, warm day heralded the start of this year’sKearsney Easter Rugby Festivalon Thursday. The main Stott rugby field was lush and perfectly manicured in expectation of the exciting match-ups over the weekend between 12 top teams from across the country and Zimbabwe.

As the morning dew burned away by the sun, handling improved, and spectators were treated to some exciting running rugby. In the first game of the day, Helpmekaar Kollege beat Glenwood 24-5, scoring the first points of the festival only two minutes into the opening game. Both teams struggled with their handling in the slippery early morning conditions.

With just three minutes remaining in the game, the Green Machine found some momentum, taking the ball through eight phases before outside centre Cade Isaacs forced his way over to make sure Glenwood didn’t finish the contest empty-handed. Hoërskool Transvalia and Peterhouse delivered a well-contested clash in the second game. The team from the Vaal Triangle beat the boys from Zimbabwe 26-5.

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Westville Boys’ High showed intent early in their clash against Framesby in the third match when the jet-shoed Avumile Lisa sped clear for a long-range try. It was the start of an astonishing performance from the local side. Unbeaten at KERF in 2025, Westville were full of running and quickly began punching holes in the Gqeberha side’s defensive line.

After a tight first half, Westville let loose. Framesby couldn’t handle their speed, precision and execution and were hammered 83-0. A big roar greeted home side Kearsney College when they opened the afternoon’s action against Hoërskool Rustenburg.

Straight from the kick-off, the One-Stripe forced their way deep into Rusties’ half, winning a penalty in the 22, from which they set up a lineout five metres from the try line. Rustenburg escaped that threat, but Kearsney kept control of the territorial battle. With a big lead, Kearsney was able to send on more substitutes. That led to the hosts losing some of the fluency that had caused Rustenburg so many problems, and Rusties took advantage of the slight respite to gain more possession and play the game in Kearsney’s half.

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