Kingswood takes K-Day crown!

Nail-biter sees their first win on home turf since 1980

BREAKING THE LINE: Kingswood College first rugby team smashed the St Andrew’s College boys last week in their first victory on home ground since 1962 during last week’s K-Day sports festival.
BREAKING THE LINE: Kingswood College first rugby team smashed the St Andrew’s College boys last week in their first victory on home ground since 1962 during last week’s K-Day sports festival.

THE annual clash between St Andrew’s College/DSG and longtime rivals, Kingswood College, known fondly by pupils and alumni as K-Day, remains one of the biggest sporting highlights in Grahamstown every year.

This year, K-Day returned to the Kingswood turf and dished an exciting hand of Kingswood competitiveness and triumph over the St Andrew’s/DSG counterparts.

The three-day-long clash has long-existed as a day to divide Grahamstonians, with its footing strongly planted in more than a 100 years of competitiveness and camaraderie.

Anyone, no matter what school affiliation, who has been on the sidelines, will recall what a unique atmosphere it is as the school spirit can be very easily seen both on and off the field. Once again this year, pupils, parents and members of the Grahamstown community flocked from field to field, eagerly watching the high level of sport on offer, as the three schools competed in netball, hockey and rugby.

St Andrew’s first team rugby boys marched onto the field last Saturday for the ultimate K-Day showdown against the Kingswood firsts.

It was St Andrew’s game to win since they suffered a close defeat last year, losing to Kingswood with only one point but, unfortunately, home ground gave the Kingswood gladiators enough reason to pummel the St Andrew’s first team, beating them by 34-22.

It was their first victory on home soil (played on Gane Field) since 1962 and, while they faced intense pressure to perform, Captain Olehile Losaba stated in the build-up that the pressure had been a privilege.

Ultimately, Kingswood triumphed at City Lords last Saturday in front of the biggest crowd seen at the derby in years.

According to Kingswood College marketing coordinator, Mfundo Ncube, the game got off to a flying start, with St Andrews setting the pace and drawing first blood with a try from Ross Ferguson three minutes in. Centre Matt Moore made no mistake in converting.

Not letting the quick try and conversion break their spirits, the Kingswood boys held their composure and hit back straight away with a try of their own. Kingswood’s Lutho Nomoyi put through a clever grubber for fellow centre Siba Mzanywa to dart through for a try, which was converted by fly-half Weston Potgieter.

From there on, a nail-biting battle followed, and with only 12 minutes from half-time, Lubambo Sibam broke through the tight St Andrew’s defence after sustained pressure on the side’s try line, to put the hosts ahead. This time, Potgieter failed to convert. Five minutes later, St Andrews’s’ Moore nailed a penalty to place them within touching distance.

However, Kingswood once again wasted no time responding with Sibam scoring his second try of the game. Potgieter added the extra two points.

On the stroke of half-time, winger Matthew Takeloo burst through for Kingswood, handing off two tacklers to score a sensational try. Potgieter converted once more. Moore had a chance to close the gap on the stroke of halftime, but his penalty kick from roughly 40m out went wide. Kingswood went into the break with a 26-10 advantage.

The second half began as a tough arm-wrestle, although the power of Kingswood’s forward pack was now beginning to tell as they kept making ground charging up field.

With only 17 minutes from full-time, Potgieter’s penalty kick increased Kingswood’s lead to 19. Right after the penalty kick, St Andrew’s put the Kingswood defence under sustained pressure for the next 10 minutes, but failed to break through.

Then eventually, after a 40m break up field from lock Shane Weweje, Kingswood scored a try through full-back Athi Halom – which Stevens failed to convert. As Kingswood rolled on all seven of their substitutes, the St Andrew’s fullback Ferguson hit back with his second try of the game. Ferguson tried his hand at converting the try, but was unsuccessful.

As the clock ticked down, St Andrew’s prop and captain Sazi Sandi scored a consolation try. Moore returned to kicking duties and converted.

However, it was too little, too late – as Kingswood College kept their K-Day crown.

The hockey and netball clashes also saw some excellent play.