4 August 2024
(Article by Marlowe Bloem)
Durban High School (DHS) hosted Jeppe High School for Boys on Saturday on Van Heerden Field in an eagerly awaited early afternoon clash. When the two sides met last year in Johannsburg, Jeppe won a 75-point thriller by a narrow three points. However, the hosts were undefeated on Van Heerden’s Field this year and determined to continue that run.
The visitors were the first to score, though, in the 3rd minute after DHS was penalised for illegally advancing at a Jeppe lineout. Flyhalf Matthew Coetzee slotted the 30-metre kick.
In the 20th minute, Jeppe was reduced to 14 players when their captain and SA Schools’ centre Kuthadzo Rasivhaga was shown a yellow card for a tip tackle. Unfortunately for the home side, fullback Aka Boqwana missed a 35-metre kick at goal.
Five minutes later, though, Boqwana was presented with another shot at goal after Jeppe was penalised for a high tackle. The kick was just 10 metres out and he had no problem knocking it between the posts.
Coetzee tried his luck from 52 metres after DHS was penalised for the tackler not releasing the player with the ball. The Jeppe no. 10 gave it a good thump, but his long-range effort landed just under the posts.
Still with a man down, Jeppe scored a brilliant try from a scrum on their 10-metre line. 8th-man Risima Khosa picked up from the back of the scrum and when tackled offloaded to scrumhalf Talent Sithole. He picked out centre McMillen Mongwana, who ran into space before passing back inside to the no. 9. Sithole then passed out wide to right-wing Nkambule Lindelani, who made the dive for five in the right corner. Coetzee failed to add the extras.
From the start of the second half, though, the Horseflies pounced on Jeppe. After claiming possession in the visitors’ 22, they played a couple of pod phases until their big tighthead prop Teddy Dlamini powered over for a try. Boqwana added the conversion to put School in front for the first time in the match.
In the 41st minute, the hosts scored again from a lineout variation. From five metres out, they mauled their way over the try-line, with flank Daniel Ikotela being driven over the whitewash for another five points. Boqwana was bang on target to extend the DHS advantage to 17-8.
Horseflies’ scrumhalf Marcwin Nero received a yellow card in the 44th minute when he sealed off the entrance to a ruck, which put a stop to a Jeppe try scoring opportunity.
However, in the 53rd minute, Jeppe, struck from a move that started five metres from the DHS try line. With their backline shifting quickly from right to left, a long pass out wide from Coetzee picked out fullback Sanele Simelane who bobbled the ball, regathered, and dotted down in the left-hand corner. The conversion attempts, from near the touchline, was missed.
On the hour-mark, DHS stole the ball off Jeppe, once again in the Joburg school’s 22-metre area. They played the ball through the phases until their big centre Zingce Simka blasted his way over for five. Boqwana secured the extras.
Jeppe responded well and built up momentum. Soon, they were moving through phase after phase in the home side’s 22. From a ruck two metres out, Sithole gave a show and go before dotting a try. Coetzee added the 67th minute extras.
Three minutes later, it was all over. Full Time-score: 24-20 in favour of DHS.
In the second half, the Horseflies fought back with a vengeance. The Jeppe forwards tired, which allowed DHS too many comfortable periods of possession, and they turned attacking momentum into points. Jeppe replied with good set piece moves, but it was not enough to overcome the hosts.
The match was the last of the season for the two schools, who both produced impressive results. Jeppe beat Grey College at the NMI Toyota North-South Tournament in March, while DHS was undefeated against KZN opposition.
While the 15-man season is now done, rugby action continues with sevens, with many tournaments scheduled over the coming weeks.
Overall, the rugby results favoured DHS, who won all of the A team matches. A 24-point victory by the 2nd XV secured that side’s first unbeaten season since 1939! Congratulations to coach Lyle Matthysen and his side, and congratulations, too, to the u14B team. They matched the 2nds by completing the season with an undefeated record.
RESULTS
1st: DHS 24-20 Jeppe
2nd: DHS 34-10 Jeppe
3rd: DHS 41-7 Jeppe
16A: DHS 33-14 Jeppe
16B: DHS 17-24 Jeppe
15A: DHS 19-3 Jeppe
15B: DHS 3-3 Jeppe
14A: DHS 42 – 0 Jeppe
14B: DHS 26 – 0 Jeppe
HOCKEY
In a classic clash in 2023, Jeppe edged out DHS 3-2 on the Boden AstroTurf. On Friday night, at The Coliseum, DHS reversed that result, beating Jeppe 3-2 in another entertaining match.
Competition was tight, with both schools picking up three wins each. The open age group games were split, DHS won the u16 matches, and Jeppe returned the favour at u14 level.
RESULTS
1st: DHS 3-2 Jeppe
2nd: DHS 1-3 Jeppe
16A: DHS 1-0 Jeppe
16B: DHS 1-0 Jeppe
14A: DHS 0-1 Jeppe
14B: DHS 1-4 Jeppe
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