Time to find a winning side

DAVID Livingstone and Paterson High will have some unfinished business to deal with when the Northern Areas Rugby Festival takes place at the Adcock Stadium from Thursday to Saturday.

Last year, for the first time in the history of the event, the trophy was shared when the finalists played to a thrilling 10-10 draw.

Both sides will feel they missed out on chances because Livingstone led 10-5 until a late try by Paterson's Cuan Plaatjies levelled the scores. The conversion went just wide, leaving the match deadlocked.

A total of 16 teams will contest the boys' competition, while there will be eight girls' sides involved in a sevens competition from Friday.

The festival follows the highly successful Makro Northern Areas Sevens competition last month when Gelvandale defeated Arcadia 21-12 in the final.

Now the teams will need to prove their worth in the longer format, a test of their stamina and ability.

Thursday's matches are:

1pm: Morningside v Bethelsdorp (A field), Walmer v Westville (B field); 2.15: Bertram v Chatty (A), Arcadia v Sanctor (B); 3.30pm: Chapman v Paterson (A), St Thomas v David Livingstone (B); 4.45: Hillside v Woolhope (A), Booysen Park v Gelvandale (B).

KC v Kirkwood

WITH their pack dominant, Kingswood enjoyed a surfeit of possession to run out comfortable 45-3 winners over Humansdorp Secondary in the Kirkwood rugby day at the weekend.

The game was a fast-paced affair, with both sides running the ball at every opportunity. Although Kingswood were missing four key players, Humansdorp's pack was no match for the Kingswood forwards, who took control to supply their backs with plenty of ball.

This allowed the Kingswood backs ample opportunity to run at their opposition. Flyhalf Josh Shelley's decision-making and distribution was good, while Michael Braans and Alon Dawe complemented each other at centre. On the wings, Cameron Hertz and Ezra Mager wreaked havoc.

The try of the match belonged to Alex Trow who finished off a wave of attacking play which started deep inside the Kingswood 22m when Mager beat his opposite man with a surge of pace and set off upfield.

Passing before contact, the ball went through several hands before Trow dotted down under the posts.

Hertz will be pleased with six successful kicks at goal out of seven, while a highlight was the work-rate of number 8 Devon Barnard.

P Alfred v Ukhanyo

PORT Alfred High ran in seven tries to outclass Ukhanyo 37-3 in their schools rugby clash in Alexandria last week.

The dominant performance ensured that Port Alfred progressed to the Graeme College Rugby Day in Grahamstown on Friday when they will play against Muir.

Port Alfred attacked from the outset and were comfortably ahead 17-3 at half-time after Ukhanyo had taken an early 3-0 lead through a penalty by Siya Ntantiso.

The second half was no different as Port Alfred continued to dominate, led by hooker Jac Peer, who ran strongly with the ball and twice forced his way over for tries. -