Can Founders Day inspire Candies?

Pretoria Boys’ High School celebrates its Founder’s Day, turning 122 years old, which is relatively young compared to some of the other traditional boys’ schools in the country.

The school will be looking to celebrate in style with the prospect of some fine sporting action taking place on the special day.

This weekend, the Pretoria school will be hosting a very strong Jeppe High School for Boys first XV, who have demonstrated this season that they are a side not to be taken lightly at all. The first time these two schools met was back in 1935.

Last weekend, Jeppe nearly pulled a heist over the Candies’ traditional rivals, Affies, losing narrowly by two points in the final stages of what was an extremely exciting match. Jeppe looked like they were going to cause a major upset but found themselves on the back foot of a powerful onslaught by the Affies forwards.

The Candies came off a 15-point loss to the Midlands school, Michaelhouse, who won the match 34-19. Boys’ High would have felt that had one or two things gone their way the result might have ended differently.

In 2022, these two schools played each other twice, with Jeppe walking away victorious on both occasions, winning 16-10 and 36-12.

In total, the schools have faced up against each other 88 times, sharing the spoils, with Pretoria Boys having won 47 times compared to Jeppe’s 34 wins.

However, based on the last 10 results, Jeppe have won nine matches and Boys’ High only winning once.

Jeppe have shown that they have a strong forward pack this season, where they have contested evenly with other schools such as King Edward VII and Hoërskool Monument’s front row, flanker Luke Cannon fired last weekend.

Jeppe’s Thulani Shabalala looks a good player. He will need to have his radar on this weekend, when kicking for poles, as a few points might make the difference. He is well supported by outside centre Khuthadzo Rasivhaga who has moved out of the full-back position.

Pretoria Boys’ High have made a few changes to the side which faced Michaelhouse last weekend, fullback Kyle Hezlett makes a return to the side. He reads the game well and marshals the back three effectively and efficiently.

Chris Smith comes in for Ntsako Ndlhovu in the outside centre position and will relish playing in front of a home crowd.

The lanky lock Tshepiso Shikhilbana, has shown his ability to win lineouts for his side and will be someone that will be on Jeppe’s radar.

Expect the grass bank, behind the poles to have a strong old boy contingent, who will be there cheering on their side. With mid-year exams fast approaching, both teams will want to end this half of the season on a strong and positive note.

Can Pretoria Boys’ High draw inspiration from what is a special day for the school on the hill and walk away with a much-needed win under the belt? Or will Jeppe ruin the celebrations with their tenacity for big matches?

Teams:

Pretoria Boys’ High: 15 Kyle Hezlett, 14 Itumeleng Baloyi, 13 Chris Smith, 12 Rickus Wessels, 11 Ompfuna Jack Tsanwani, 10 Tebogo Nchabaleng, 9 Joshua Naude (vice-captain), 8 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 7 Stephen Adams 6 Etienne Du Preez 5 Tshepiso Shikhilbana 4 Seth Venter, 3 Kitso Mokoena, 2 Shaun Schurmann, 1 Randy Muzungu.

Jeppe High School: 15 Sanele Shabangu, 14 Thulani Shabalala, 13 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 12 Exauce Kevani, 11 Bokamoso Maphisa, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Bryce Samuel, 8 Mosiki Ndlaba, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Lesedi Masemola, 5 Nathan Claasen, 4 Risima Khosa, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Kaleb Burger, 1 Ricardo Burger.

Fixtures:

u14A – 9:00 (Dorey Near)
u15A – 10:00 (Oehley Far)
u16A – 11:00 (Oehley Far)
u19B – 12:00 (Brooks Field)

u19A – 13:10 (Brooks Field)