Month: June 2019

This Saturday saw the most memorable rugby season for the Northwood Knights conclude in spectacular fashion.

Close on 11 000 people attended Old Boys Day at Northwood school which saw Northwood securing a famous 20-12 victory over Kearsney.

The Knights started off well with continuous pressure in the Kearsney 22, it took a lot to finally wear-down the gutsy Kearsney defence and allow winger Sali Mlenzana to go over after some good hands from the backs in the corner.

After a further 20 minutes with their wind at their back the Knights worked well to grind out another try in the form of young loose-head prop Ryan Francis carrying over the line near the poles. The hectic wind witnessed on the day wasn’t able to stop this one from sticking on course and JP Du Preez the number 10 got the first kick over for the day.

Northwood led 12-0 going into the half time break.

With the 2^nd half kick-off and the wind at their backs the Kearsney “one stripe” did well to get a quick try taking the score to 12-7.

The sky quickly turned from sunny to dark grey with rain starting to come down – in what seemed like a doomed setting for the Northwood community Kearsney scored another try with a failed conversion taking the score to 12-12. The atmosphere changed as the crowd suspected a momentum shift in favour of Kearsney but as Northwood were awarded a penalty which JP Du Preez converted, hope was aptly restored all in sync with a rainbow over the field, creating the most beautiful setting for things to come in the closing 10 minutes as Northwood went on to score a well worked try through tight head prop Vernon Matongo going over with a strong carry in the right hand corner.

The final score 20-12 in favour of the Northwood Knights, dedicated to their old boy community as well as the Durban-North community as a whole.

 

On Saturday the Northwood 1st XI played Kearsney on Northwood’s Old Boys’ Day. The match started with both teams playing within themselves somewhat. However it was Kearsney who drew first blood shortly after they defended a Northwood penalty corner by forcing a PC of their own. Daniel de Kock made no mistake as he blasted home a straight hit. The match continued to be played between the 23m lines with neither team being able to break down each others superb defensive shapes. However, as the half progressed, Northwood started to capitalise on some poor discipline from Kearsney to start creating some excellent chances. After several PC attacks and Nick Wright smashing the upright from close range, Kearsney somehow were able to go into half time with their 1-0 lead in tact.

The second half played out in a much different fashion with Northwood dominating the stats and having the better of the chances. Eventually Northwood walked through the Kearsney defence with an outlet of dreams which lead to Brent ‘Fireball’ Van Der Linde tapping home on far post to level the scores. However their comeback was short lived as Kearsney were awarded a penalty stroke after a messy goal mouth scrap and they regained their lead. From that point on, Northwood got stronger and stronger and the Kearsney boys struggled to keep the waves of attacks at bay and it wasn’t long until Northwood equalised early in the fourth quarter. Nick Wright made up for his first half miss when he crashed a backhand into the Kearnsey backboard to level the match once again.

Northwood finished the stronger of the two teams but a draw was probably a just result with both teams doing enough in the match not to deserve a loss.

Well done gents on a fine season.