Jeppe beats Westville 27-20 – match report

Jeppe Boys High from Johannesburg recorded a pleasing 27-20 over home school Westville after leading 15-10 at halftime .

Jeppe played some unpredictable high risk rugby at times and appeared to be with a decisive exit strategy on a few occasions but overall they were the more productive team and made efforts to play to their strengths.

Their two under-17 x-factor backline players Tyron Green and Wandile Similane were menacing. Containing them proved tricky for the Westville defence. If these two youngsters can tweak their obvious gifts at being able to get by first line defenders to include offloading at the right times, they could transform Jeppe into one of the best first teams in the country, based on the game breaks they are able achieve.

Other Jeppe players that impressed were their loose-forward trio of captain Patrick Wait, Martin Mangwiro and Hachivah Dayimani. Wait did much of the hard graft while Mangwiro was an ever present threat. Dayimani showed just why he is so highly rated. His pace and strength played roles in two of his teams tries.

In the backs the efforts of Jeppe left wing Moemisi Mosheledi and crashball centre Damian Paysley are also worth noting for the valuable contributions they made.

Tries for Jeppe were scored by Mosheledi, Similane (2) and Mangwiro. Similane also kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Westville had a bit of an off day. Their attacking game plan from broken play lacked innovation, resulting in very little continuity and very few good field positions from which to threaten the Jeppe try-line. In spite of this, Westville managed to score two tries, one either side of halftime which helped them to hold the lead during these two separate periods.

Both Westville tries were scored off lineouts set up as a result of penalties awarded to the hosts.

The first Westville try came after they were able to suck in Jeppe players at a maul, providing the necessary room in the midfield for their Tonny Mahlangu to join the backline and beat his marker Similane in a one-on-one challenge. From there the pacey wing finished in style.

Scrumhalf Bryce Kitching scored the second try, a very good individualist effort that required him to round and outpace a couple of defenders on his 50-metre carry. His try was initiated by quick thinking by two of Westville’s best players, hooker Hendrik Prinsloo and flank Devon Muller.

Flyhalf Neil van Rooyen had a reasonably good day with the boot, adding a total 10 points.