Reds look to march on while Candies search for groove

The King Edward VII (KES) 1st XV is flying, having stormed through Parktown Boys’ High School last weekend, when they won 80-0, and having brushed aside their rivals, St John’s College, the weekend before that.

Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) will be tougher opposition than Parktown, but they have played a murderers’ row of a schedule and enter Saturday’s showdown against KES off the back of a 15-43 defeat to Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg.

The game is at picturesque Brooks Field, however, and PBHS will be hoping to make full use of home field advantage and the solid support of parents and old boys.

Kick-off in Pretoria is at 13:15.

SA Schools’ hooker Esethu Mnebelele returns to action for KES after sitting out last weekend’s fixture with an injured ankle.

He enjoyed his last outing on Brooks Field, where he put his skills up against Boys High captain Shaun Schürmann, who has since matriculated and is now playing within the Bulls’ junior structures.

This year’s Boys High hooker Thapelo Mphela will have his work cut out for him, but what better way to test your ability than to face one of the top hookers in the country? Some would say “Carpe Diem”.

Fortunately for Mphela, he is well supported by props Ofentse Moeng and Jeffrey Singo, and PBHS performed well up front against College on the past weekend, especially when mauling.

Last year, when the teams met, it was KES who came out on top on both occasions after hard-fought games, winning 28-19 and 32-23.

It has been a tough run over the last few seasons for the Candies when facing their rivals from Johannesburg. Based on current form, they face another difficult challenge.

Slowing down a marching Red Army, will take some good match-day tactics and sure tackling. Coach Paul Anthony will draw from his rugby nous to find a way to stop the barrage of strong offensive plays that Marco Engelbrecht has instilled in his side.

Expect a fast-paced match with neither team holding back. If Boys High can restrict ball to the KES backline – and their impressive rolling maul could be one avenue for them to explore – it could end up closer than the pundits are calling it.

KES, though, are full of confidence and rightfully the hot favourites heading into the game.

Teams

Pretoria Boys’ High:  15 Luyanda Khumalo, 14 Ntsako Ndlovu, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Rickus Wessels, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Seth Venter, 9 Cole Williams, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Akin Akingbola 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Matthew Parrott, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Jeffery Singo.

King Edward VII: 15 M Methula, 14 Jarell Mbuyi, 13 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 12 Tristan Maugeri, 11 Haniel Monkoti, 10 Simphiwe Moyo, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Sam Bruwer, 6 James Kobrowisky, 5 Chinedu Amadi, 4 Michael Bownes, 3 Nathan Frank VD Merwe, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Connor White.

Fixtures

Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII

u14A: 8:55 – Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII (Dorey Near)
u15A: 10:00 – Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII (Oehley Far)
u16A:  11:00 – Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII (Oehley Near)
u19B: 12:00 – Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII (Brooks Field)
u19A: 13:15 – Pretoria Boys’ High School vs King Edward VII (Brooks Field)