KES outclass Maritzburg College in annual Premier Interschools clash
King Edward VII (KES) School scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to see off a plucky Maritzburg College side 32-8 in their Premier Interschools match in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The match wasn’t quite the blowout the scoreline suggests, as KES only enjoyed a 10-8 lead at the break. College showed some real character throughout the encounter, but they just couldn’t match the class of the home side on lovely winter’s day in Gauteng.
The win was a fitting ending to a satisfactory season for KES following wins over Affies, Wynberg, Pretoria Boys’ High and Jeppe. They also currently find themselves in the top 10 rankings of schoolboy rugby in South Africa, while four of their players represented the Lions at this year’s Craven Week in Bloemfontein, with a further three also representing the Lions XV.
KES have now also beaten College for the third year in succession. The teams played to a 32-32 draw in 2016, while College’s last triumph in this fixture came in 2015 following a 34-33 win.
KES opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match when scrumhalf Nicholas Harris broke away from the back of a rolling maul before diving over in the left corner to score.
College opened their account three minutes later when flyhalf Sven Zunckel kicked a penalty, but KES scored their second try of the match in the 11th minute when outside centre Ethan Fisher powered his way through a gap before diving over to score.
College, though, had the last word in the first half when hooker Junior Mndaweni barged over from close range to make it a two-point game at the break.
After a tight opening 10 minutes in the second half, Fisher went over for his second try after good forward play and smart handling by his fellow backs. His centre partner Ngia Selengbe, who played at the Craven Week, then went over in the 50th minute to stretch the home side’s lead.
College were reduced to 14-men in the 55th minute when inside centre Jarred Hendrikz was sent to the sin bin for a knee to the head of a KES opponent.
KES took advantage of their numerical superiority when tighthead Wayne van Niekerk scored the final and probably most popular try of the day. Van Niekerk, easily the biggest lad on the pitch, burst his way over the line from about 15 metres out after brushing off four College defenders.
Scorers:
King Edward VII 32 (10) – Tries: Ethan Fisher (2), Nicholas Harris, Ngia Selengbe, Wayne van Niekerk. Conversions: Eulon Redcliffe (2). Penalty: Redcliffe. Maritzburg College 8 (8) – Try: Junior Mndaweni. Penalty: Sven Zunckel.
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