Jeppe Boys High vs KES Match Report 11 May 2013

May 14 • School, School Rugby Results • 9266 Views • Comments Off on Jeppe Boys High vs KES Match Report 11 May 2013

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Jeppe Topple KES

King Edward VII School played host to one of the most prominent fixtures of the South African schoolboy rugby calendar on Saturday, when old rivals Jeppe High School for Boys visited them. Jeppe were in search of their first 1^st XV win against the Reds on KES soil since 1991, while KES looked to rectify an indifferent season with a victory on the biggest stage.

The derby was long awaited, as heavy rains delayed the fixture by three weeks. The customary war cries of the schoolboys were amplified by the contribution of the “Old Boys” from both schools.

Jeppe kicked off, and immediately imposed themselves upon their opposition, entering the KES half. Their siege was halted by brave defences from KES, who turned the ball over, and began stringing a series of phases together. The Jeppe defence was solid, but KES soon opened the scoring with a penalty kick.

KES had gained confidence, as they calmly turned the ball over on an opponent attack. This resulted in a breakaway run that was meters from yielding the first try of the match, but was halted by the Jeppe guard.

Jeppe began to show off their slick running ability, but handling errors prevented early dominance. They received their first points of the match off the second penalty awarded to them, equalling the score at 3-3.

The Reds fought back, and began to seriously threaten the Jeppe Boys. Had it not been for some exceptional defence by the men in Black and White, KES may have opened up a bigger lead early on. KES picked up another three points of a penalty.

The viewers were captivated, particularly when Jeppe began an onslaught soon after KES took the lead. The visitors struggled to find space, as KES countered their potent backline. However, Jeppe captain Andrew Acton picked up a pod in the far corner of the field, and crashed through the KES defence to score the first try of the match.

In the dying minutes of the first half, a dazzling kick helped KES snatch a 9-8 lead going into the break.

The second half was a brutal encounter. The see-saw battle for dominance was relentless, as momentum shifted between the two sides. Jeppe looked to have bravado and territorial control, but the fighting spirit of the Reds undermined Jeppe’s attempts at progress.

KES extended their lead with another penalty kick, and when Jeppe were reduced to 14 men due to a breach in play, many felt that KES had gained the upper hand in the proceedings. They continued to bombard their counterparts with strong movements, but the Jeppe Boys defended with inspiring character.

Jeppe returned to full strength when their 15^th player was allowed back onto the field, and applied all of their strength and skill to find points. The roar of the crowd fuelled their fighting spirit, and with a mere 5 minutes left on the clock, Jethro De Lange broke the KES defence to score a try, which was converted.

The Reds could not find a way back in, and when the final whistle blew, the crowd erupted. The army of Jeppe Boys flooded the field, and the euphoria exploded from the mass of Black and White.

KES had shown tremendous fight and defiance, but it was not enough to defeat the visiting team. Jeppe had won 15-12, a fitting end to a first-class clash between to this historic event.

Report by Michael Venter (Jeppe – Grade 10 Pupil)