KES and Jeppe combined to deliver another thrilling value for money match. This derby is already one of the biggest in South African schoolboy rugby, but with non-stop action and the vocal crowd’s involvement from start to finish, it had everything and more. It’s undoubtedly a strong candidate for match of the season.
It was the Red Army of KES versus the “Get-out-of-Jailbirds” of Jeppe Boys. The latter made an incredible comeback, fighting back from a 23-6, 17-point deficit to win the Joburg Derby. In true tight derby fashion, the match, at 28-30, came down to a last-minute drop goal for the hosts, KES, as time expired. But Jeppe’s flank Kuhle Shitlhangu charged down the all-or-nothing kick, then displayed remarkable pace to sprint the full 70-meters to score a try at the KES try line. The match ended 37-28 in favor of the visitors.
Despite the loss, KES will have a chance to avenge this defeat when they travel to Kensington later in the season. The Reds also produced the try of the match. With beautiful hands, great offloads, and well-timed runs, players like the dangerous Indi Mbonsiswa (15), active Joshua Wilkinson (11), Sam Smith (who was a revelation at 12), influential Reegan McGurk (9), and try-scorer Taig David combined to score a thrilling try, regaining the lead soon after Jeppe had fought back to 23-all.
Side note: One of schoolboy rugby’s most renowned voices in the commentary box, Lucky Letshabo, delivered once again behind the mic for this epic clash. Lucky has a unique position in this interschools rivalry, as he is both a KES old boy and a current teacher at Jeppe.
| TEAM | KES | TEAM | JEPPE |
| 1 | Kenny Prins | 1 | Joshua Hamman |
| 2 | Tristan Randall | 2 | Ayanda Funeka |
| 3 | Dylan Budler | 3 | Jack Cannon |
| 4 | Tyron Smith | 4 | Lagan Leisher |
| 5 | Michael Bownes | 5 | Glodi Tshipamba |
| 6 | Nkosendle Mafu | 6 | Kuhle Shitlhangu |
| 7 | Sam Bruwer | 7 | Grady Ngui |
| 8 | Chinedu Amadi | 8 | Mihle Dyakala |
| 9 | Reegan McGurk | 9 | Talent Sithole |
| 10 | Andrew Jackson | 10 | Nehemia Hollenbach |
| 11 | Joshua Wilkinson | 11 | Kamva Mvinjelwa |
| 12 | Sam Smith | 12 | Phano Letsie |
| 13 | Skye Segal | 13 | Lindelani Nkambule |
| 14 | Jarrel Mbuyi | 14 | Ndimphiwe Mjiji |
| 15 | Indi Mbonsiswa | 15 | Joel Akilo |
| Coach | MARCO ENGELBRECHT | Coach | DRICKUS VENTER |
Went to a Jeppe-KES derby back when Bullet Dalton was a ball-boy (…not an altar boy mind you), so many people there we had to stand about five rows deep of standing room on the paving behind the concrete steps north end…lucky I’m a tall oke, still, on my tiptoes remember seeing a classic KES backline move, appreciating fully the outright skill and class of those speedy three-quarters that won yet another tightly contested epic.
@Kaya 85 (Comment #8)
Last year the Jeppe leg was the most packed I’d ever seen the game. The Old Boy stands were new bigger ones nearly twice the size of the normal ones we’d used for the OBs come derby day, stands that I am sure Jeppe didn’t own until the occasion.
I wasn’t there this past Saturday but normally there are 3rd party vendors and stuff on top of the one they’d ordinarily have to address the numbers, was this not the case this time?
Unless you are there very early, I wouldn’t even recommend trying to get a bite at Jeppe-KES, I’d do it before and/or after, somewhere else outside. If you plan to come to Jeppe for the second leg it is going to be even worse with regards to this given the attendance, though they do and did try with the vendors. Last year I saw spectators sitting outside the school up on the Scottish Cross that overlooks the bottom fields – emphasis on OUTSIDE of the Jeppe premises. It actually ended up looking like a good view for them.
RE Shitlhangu, agree fully, he was moving like a back who had been subbed on. There was never a hint of him getting caught or tiring out, I was off celebrating after his first 2 strides. Never heard of him til this season, happy for him, I liked his interview after – right amount of arrogance/personality.
On the downside though…couldn’t get a boerie / rib roll, sold out. Wonder what their sales record is?
Kuhle’s sprint to charge down the dropgoal followed by his 70m sprint to score was just such a jaw-droppingly incredible piece of determination, athleticism, commitment, yikes… fitness with a capital F at the end of a full throttle 65 minutes of bone jarring rugby to the max…well… words fail me.
What a great spectacle! KES 12 stepped up big time, Amadi had a physical edge to him that died down in the 2nd half. Jeppe hooker was my man of the match, simply outstanding
@wanza_15 (Comment #4)
Hi Wanza, I think the good KES headmaster said
“I’ve got well beyond stressing now mate. I’ve been doing this for too long. As long as the boys get stuck in and play to their best, the outcome will be what it is. We cannot influence it.”
Agreed. Massive challenges coming up for Jeppe so soon after the high of a KES match.
2 gruelling fixtures await at Noord-Suid. Having watched Bosch and Grey College this season, we are going to be up against it massively. Will be watching in hope as I do always, I liked what the KES headmaster said at halftime on Saturday when asked if he thinks KES will hold on or whatever, he said, “Been doing this too long, we can’t influence these things, so we shouldn’t let them beat us up too badly, all we can do is ask the boys to give their best effort”. Winning in Saturday’s fashion will aid a little in the confidence column, and some guys who were quiet the 3 games prior popped up and raised their hands on Saturday, so given that there’s maybe now a couple more guys now that will want to keep impressing as they did.
I heard the commentators say on Saturday v KES that Poulton is out “majority of the season” that means if nothing else that our scrum isn’t gonna get any better. If there is a world where we do win, it is going to be in similar circumstances to last year, a lot of and very very reliable kicking (ok, we can bank on that), and a very scrappy stop-start affair – and more kicks Nehemia
. It’ll be a masterclass from the boot again if we win.
Nail biting stuff, right to the end, but glad we came out with the W, and a lot less injuries… Hope we take this positive momentum forward to Noord/Suid this weekend.
Ya, Lucky doesnt get enough kudos for what he brings to school boy rugby commentary. High honours surely is an inevitability.
It was a great end to a great day out! There is simply no better way to spend a Saturday morning/afternoon!!
This match embodied what schoolboy rugby is all about