KES hosts rematch against Pretoria Boys High
Pretoria Boys High will have their work cut out for them when they take on a KES side, which has shown its class throughout the season, on Saturday.
The Candies are the visiting side and will be eager to snag an upset on the Red Army‘s home turf, although that is a very stiff challenge.
In the first meeting of the schools earlier in the season, KES won 24-14 on Brooks Field.
Kick-off is at 13:30 on Reds Field. Catch all of the action live on SuperSport Schools.
Pretoria Boys also lost on both occasions last year, going down 23-32 and 19-28. KES has compiled a strong season in 2024, but coach Marco Engelbrecht hopes his side will produce a smooth performance after the long school holidays and not be rusty.
King Edward will be playing close to their strongest XV, although standout flank James Kobrowisky will be missing. Several players are making a return to the side after spending time on the sidelines with injuries. Captain and hooker Esethu Mnebelele, who was also named the captain of the South African Schools side, returns to action after being forced to miss time with an ankle injury which healed just before the Stadio Craven Week.
He and his props, Connor White and Frank van der Merwe, give the Red Army a solid front row, which will present Boys High with a tough challenge.
The KES lineup includes three South African Schools’ players, with Mnebelele, who also made the team in 2023, being joined in the side by flyhalf Vusi Moyo and eighthman Kebotile Maake.
Moyo, with his keen tactical awareness and educated boot, is a joy to watch in the number 10 jersey. Seth Venter, from Boys High, will face a challenging match-up opposite Moyo, but the former flank will enjoy the opportunity of trying to shut down his opposite number, who recently signed a contract with the Sharks.
Boys High’s winger Ntsako Ndlovu was named in the South African Schools A squad after sparkling for the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week. He was part of the team that edged out the Golden Lions 35-34 in a thriller. He is blessed with pace and will be itching for a bit of space to have a crack and show off that blazing speed.
Rickus Wessels is still out injured for the Candies, with Tyler Mason replacing him at inside centre position.
The Boys High coaching staff has not been shy about mixing it up in the backline this season, with several of the players playing multiple positions, including scrumhalf Tumisho Motswi, who has also featured at fullback.
Motswi and flank Akin Akingbola were member of the Bulls u17A team, which won the Rhino Week Rugby Tournament during the holidays.
For many of the matric players, this will be their final match against their rivals. Neither team will be holding anything back and, while Pretoria Boys High are the underdogs, they will view the contest as an opportunity to break their losing streak against their Johannesburg opposition.
FIXTURES
u14A: 9:00 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (John Hurry 1)
u15A: 09:50 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (John Hurry 2)
u16A: 11:00 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)
u19B: 12:15 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)
u19A: 13:30 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)
Teams
King Edward VI: 15 Mbuso Methula, 14 Ntsako Shivuri , 13 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 12 Tristan Maugeri, 11 Haniel Monkoti , 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Sam Bruwer, 6 Kebotile Maake (vc), 5 Michael Bownes, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Nathan Frank vd Merwe, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Connor White.
Pretoria Boys High School: Pretoria Boys High School: 15 Itu Baloyi, 14 Ntsako Ndlovu, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Tyler Mason, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Seth Venter, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Akin Akingbola, 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Stephen Adams, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Jeffery Singo.
