In a very evenly keeled KZN 1st XV rugby season, where no single team dominated and each of the major teams had ecstatic wins, and some disappointing losses, Westville ended the season on a euphoric high. In a classic Saturday clash in front of thousands of spectators, Westville and Kearsney locked horns in a match that saw the lead change several times.
Gustav du Rand played outstanding rugby in the No 2 jersey in Westville’s clash against Kearsney on Saturday scoring two of the team’s three tries. Westville won 27 – 17
The visiting team started the match with a great opening running try from the first kick-off which silenced the crowd of Westville supporters. The visitors struck again with a try from good play. After the second try, WBHS slowly found their composure and came back to score from a line-out mistake from Kearsney on their line, Gustav du Rand scoring the opening try. Then beautiful play from WBHS saw Jaryd Lombard scoring a good try in the left corner. A second successful conversion by Dylan Labuschagne saw the home team take the lead for the first time in the match. A penalty from Dylan Labuschagne increased the WBHS lead to 17-12 before half time. The second half started as the first half with Kearsney going over for a good try and leveling the score at 17-17. A great individual break-away chip, gather and score by the hooker Gustav du Randt saw Westville regain the lead 24-17 after another successful conversion by Dylan Labuschagne followed by a penalty. The end score in the home team’s favour was 27-17 – a fitting way to end the season on a high!
Westville’s success was not limited to the 1st XV, but they enjoyed wins throughout all the age groups. The U14A won 27-0, with the entire age group not having a single point scored against them. The U16A also ended the season on a high, running in comfortable 27-5 victors. The U15A was a much closer affair with Kearsney narrowly winning 10-13, after Westville missed a penalty on the stroke of time to draw even. In total 17 fixtures were played, with Westville winning 11 and drawing 1.
In Hockey, it was a titanic struggle on the astro-turf, which saw the two highly ranked 1st teams battle it out for a 1-1 draw. In the first movement of the game, Kearsney’s Ben Proctor scored the opening goal but Westville absorbed this initial pressure, and struck back 15 minutes into the second half with a goal by Caleb Carney.
Throughout the age-groups though, Westville managed to trump their Highway neighbours on the results column, winning 7 fixtures, drawing 3 and losing 4, scoring an impressive 37 goals for, and only 14 against.