Jeppe extends winning streak against Candies

Amidst a backdrop of solemn remembrance and deep respect for the late Kaiden Bowie, Pretoria Boys’ High School and Jeppe Boys High School clashed with the hosts securing a 36-20 victory.

Rewatch all the action on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

Emotions ran high and the boys’ mental mettle was put to the test. Jeppe managed to hang onto an impressive winning streak against the visiting boys from Pretoria.

For Boys High, the match held added significance as they sought to break free from a string of defeats against their formidable opponents, Jeppe Boys High, who have dominated the fixture in recent years.

For the first 12 minutes of the match, the hosts pushed deep into the Candies half and applied pressure as the visitors struggled to move forward resulting in Jeppe opening the match with a converted try by McMillen Mongwana.

Boys High opened their account through the uncanny conversion of a penalty struck by flanker Seth Venter who timed the ball sweetly through the posts – he soon added a further conversion after a sublime team effort that saw Ompfuna Tsanwani cross the try line for the first time in this match.

Scrumhalf Tumisho Motswi found himself in the sin bin for a minor offence, reducing Boys High to fourteen players which created space for Jeppe, which they duly took advantage of by pressing hard, deep into their opponent’s half.

McMillen Mongwana scored a neat try after a great bit of ball handling from Nathan Classen who provided the inside centre with a backhanded pass before getting taken out into touch.

At halftime, the game very much hung in the balance with the score reading 12-10 to Jeppe.

Jeppe however had other ideas, spurred on by a pumped-up supporters stand, a dummy try scored by substitute Imivuyo Kwenxe all but sealed the match taking the lead to 23 points with less than five minutes to play.

Flyhalf Mathew Coetzee looks like a good prospect as he converted 83% of his placement kicks for the day and guided the team to a convincing win in the end.

Despite the result Pretoria Boys played with determination which was evident in the final minute where the team scored a consolation try through hooker Thapelo Mphela.

The fightback was clear and will be integral for this side’s performances going forward.

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the contest, it was clear that the true victory lay in the camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed by all who participated.

It will be interesting to watch both sides as the season develops, the return fixture later in the year will be one to keep a close eye on.

Scorers:

Jeppe High School for Boys 36 (12) – Tries: McMillen Mongwana (2), Andre Poulton, Risima Khosa, Imivuyo Kwenxe. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (4) Penalties: Matthew Coetzee. Pretoria Boys’ High 20 (10) – Tries: Ompfuna Tsanwani,  Thapelo Mphela. Conversions: Seth Venter, Tebogo Nchabaleng. Penalties: Seth Venter, Tebogo Nchabaleng.

The teams:

Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Sanele Simelane, 14 Lesego Zungu, 13 Kuthadzo Rasivhaga (captain), 12 McMillen Mongwana, 11 Leruo Dithagiso, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Risima Khosa (vice-captain), 7 Nathan Classen, 6 Wanga Ndou, 5 Luke Cannon, 4 Nathan Boyder, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Bonga Nxumlao, 1 Andre Poulton.

Pretoria Boys’ High:  15 Luyanda Khumalo, 14 Itu Baloyi, 13 Ntsako Nhlovu, 12 Londie Nemudzivhadi, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Rickus Wessels, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Seth Venter, 6  Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana 4 Stephen Adams 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Matthew Parrot.

Results:

u19A: Jeppe High School for Boys 36, Pretoria Boys’ High School 20.
u19B: Jeppe High School for Boys 36, Pretoria Boys’ High School 20.