SA Schools’ star misses out for KES, while Parktown faces a huge challenge

In a big blow, King Edward VII (KES) will be without their SA Schools’ loose-forward Kebotile Maake for the visit of Maritzburg College on Saturday.

Maake rolled an ankle in last weekend’s 13-23 defeat to Jeppe. His place is taken by Siya Radebe.

College makes a trip up the escarpment for a second week in succession for a big clash on Reds Field, which kicks off at 13:15.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport School (www.supersportschools.com).

The Red, Black and White beat Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) on Brooks Field last weekend, scraping a 19-18 victory. There is one change to their starting lineup, with Sharks’ Craven Week lock Jake Jansen taking over from Naz Isaacs in the second row.

The midlands outfit has put together a middling season, winning nine of their 16 matches. They’ve been a bit up and down, but at their best they’re capable of hanging with anyone.

KES has enjoyed a strong year, recording eight victories, which included six in a row, before they were held to a 36-36 draw by Westville in one of the games of the season. Last weekend, they went down to Jeppe after having won 38-28 on Collard Field on 27 April.

Maritzburg College played one of their best matches of 2024 when they beat that same Westville team 41-10 at the KZN High Schools Rugby Day in late April. Last year, when they hosted KES on Goldstone’s, College won by nine points, claiming a 33-24 victory.

College have shown they enjoy a trip up to the highveld – they beat Affies and Pretoria Boys High in Pretoria last year and won last weekend against PBHS on Brooks Field – with flyhalf James Slevin enjoying the higher altitude and the further distance it affords kickers.

The Red Army’s SA Schools’ flyhalf Vusi Moyo will be a good challenge for Slevin, who shone playing opposite Blue Bulls’ no. 10 Ruben Pienaar when College and Affies clashed in a classic on 13 July. Moyo employs an educated boot, and his tactical kicking will, no doubt, challenge the visitors. He’s set up a number of tries this season with astute kicks and his combination with the speedy left-wing Haniel Monkoti is a dangerous one.

PJ Nel will take the whistle for the big game.

Meanwhile, Jeppe High School for Boys has named an unchanged team for their match against Parktown Boys’ High School. It will be a last outing on Collard Field for Jeppe’s grade 12 learners and they’ll be chasing an impressive victory ahead of a testing final fixture against Durban High School (DHS) next weekend in Durban.

Parktown Boys’ High recently beat Northcliff High School 20-10 to reverse a defeat to the same opposition early in April. Tsepiso Tladi dotted down twice for Parktown in the win and will be a key figure in their match at Jeppe. 

In the latter stages of the season, Parktown has found some form but, in the biggest blemish on their record, KES overwhelmed them 80-0 on 13 April. Jeppe, meanwhile, shared the season’s spoils with KES.

Jeppe has enjoyed a stellar year, recording some noteworthy victories, which have included toppling KES last weekend and beating Grey College and Hoërskool Monument.

With seven wins on the trot, Jeppe is on a roll and they’re the firm favourites. A defeat appears extremely unlikely.

There’s is a settled line-up, and some fireworks should be expected from the exciting Jeppe backline. But it is the home side’s pack that will pose the biggest threat to Parktown.

Watch out for SA Schools’ A prop André Poulton. He packs a serious punch. He’s immensely strong and has also been a dynamo around the field, adept at clearing out defenders from rucks and securing quick ball for his side.

With the season drawing towards its conclusion, the opportunities to create unforgettable memories are dwindling, but that’s all the more reason to expect some excellent rugby over the next couple of weeks.

FIXTURES

KES vs Maritzburg College

u14A: 9:00 – KES vs Maritzburg (John Hurry 1)
u15A: 09:50 – KES vs Maritzburg (John Hurry 2)
u16A: 10:45 – KES vs Maritzburg (Reds Field)
u19B: 12:00 – KES vs Maritzburg (Reds Field)
u19A: 13:15 – KES vs Maritzburg (Reds Field)

Jeppe vs Parktown

u14A: 8:00 – Jeppe vs Parktown (White Field)
u15A: 10:00 – Jeppe vs Parktown (White Field)
u16A: 11:00 – Jeppe vs Parktown (Collard Field)
u19B: 10:00 – Jeppe vs Parktown (Collard Field)
u19A: 13:20 – Jeppe vs Parktown (Collard Field)

TEAMS

King Edward VII: 15 Tristan Maugeri, 14 Jarrel Mbuyi, 13 Sky Segal, 12 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 11 Haniel Monkoti, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Siya Radebe 7 Chinedu Amadi, 6 James Kobrowisky, 5 Michael Bownes, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Nathan Frank vd Merwe, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Connor White.

Maritzburg College: 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Ntsika Mkhize, 13 Swelithle Mbatha, 12 Nkululeko Sithole, 11 Amahle Hadebe, 10 James Slevin, 9 Rayke Maartens, 8 Imivuyo Kemke, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Struan Oosthuizen, 5 Jake Jansen, 4 Bohlale Maphisa, 3 Alande Ngubane, 2 Siya Nyathi, 1 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka.

Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Sanele Simelane, 14 Lindelani Nkambule, 13 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 12 McMillen Mongwana, 11 Leruo Dithagiso, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Risima Khosa, 7 Nathan Claasen, 6 Grady Ngui, 5 Luke Cannon, 4 Lagan Leisher, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Joseph Zulu, 1 André Poulton.

Parktown Boys’ High School: 15 Muna Imenda, 14 Owami Phambuka, 13 Benjamin Nettleton, 12 Lisasa Mnukiso, 11 Christian Cele, 10 Kelvin Kotey, 9 Tshepiso Tladi, 8 Siya Masinga, 7 Keith Mncube, 6 Vuyo Ndlovu, 5 Sibu Dyi, 4 Kingsley Okonkwo, 3 Azola Peter, 2 Lethoko Mallane, 1 Manuel Motsi.