The Jeppe High School for Boys and Northwood School 1st XVs have clashed 47 times. Jeppe holds the edge with 25 victories, while Northwood has claimed 16 wins, and six matches have ended in draws. They meet again in Durban on Saturday.
Jeppe’s narrow 9-8 victory in 2022 and their commanding 50-17 win in 2023 serve as reminders of the unpredictability and excitement that the fixture can deliver.
The Johannesburg boys have enjoyed a strong season, but so, too, has Northwood, and it’s always tough to travel long distances. There is not much time to settle in.
Kick-off takes place at 13:00 on Northwood’s Reece-Edwards Field.
With two strong teams set to go head-to-head, Saturday’s encounter promises to add another exciting chapter to the rivalry.
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com)
Northwood is enjoying a fine season, and they head into the contest fresh off a neat 34-24 victory over Kearsney Collegeset up by a dominant first half performance, which had the Knights 22-3 ahead at the break.
They’ve lost only once all season, going down 22-24 at Michaelhouse. Their results also include a 10-7 win at Hilton College and a 7-7 draw with a very good Durban High School (DHS) team at home.
In their most recent action, Jeppe played two matches at the Standard Bank Gray Rugby Festival. They won both comfortably, with their defense excelling. On the first day, they outplayed Graeme College 29-3. Two days later, this past Saturday, they followed that up with a convincing 33-5 victory over St Andrew’s College.
In a change to the pack, Jeppe will start Joseph Zulu at hooker on the weekend, with Bonga Nxumalo shifting to the bench.
It should be a fascinating clash, starting up front, where both schools boast abrasive and powerful packs. There will be plenty of support for Jeppe, but the Reece-Edwards’ cauldron should be electric with loud support for the home team, which has gone viral this year. Expect the crowd to go wild when the cheerleaders bang out Drake’s Nonstop, with a South African twist of flavor added in.
Up on the Highveld, St Benedict’s College hosts an in-form King Edward VII, who recently beat Jeppe in the first of their two annual clashes. KES has been hit hard by a tummy bug this week, coach Marco Engelbrecht revealed, with a number of notable players set to miss out as they recover from the illness.
Bennies will be bolstered by the return of their captain Jason Cutler from injury. He will be eager to make a telling impact on home soil against the Red Army.
St Benedict’s have struggled this season, however, and have been on the receiving end of some hefty defeats against the likes of St Stithians College and the Eastern Cape’s Graeme College at the St John’s Easter Festival earlier in the season. Despite KES missing some players, Bennies will be the underdogs. The Red Army has been formidable this season.
With an overwhelming 80-0 victory over Parktown Boys’ Highwhich was followed by victories over Pretoria Boys High and Jeppe, KES has momentum and confidence on their side. They’;; be chasing a sixth successive victory.
The breakdowns will be a key area of contestation that the team in red will seek to exploit.
They feature a new-look front row, which includes props Michael Anthony and Kenny Prins packing down with hooker Dylan Peakewho has already featured in the starting lineup this season, with Esethu Mnebelele missing out due to an injury.
KES will be hoping to see the talented Tristan Maugeriwho was instrumental in the team’s success last year, shift gears and add some fire to their backline.
Bennies’ coach Andrew Barnes recently completed an advanced coaching course in New Zealand during the April holidays and will be eager to put his tactics and newfound knowledge to the test against KES.
St Stithians College hosts Parktown Boys’ High School. Saints are likely the slight favourites, but Parktown has shown encouraging signs of improvement in recent weeks. Thrashed by 80 points by KES, they subsequently lost to Pretoria Boys High by a single point. The Candies went down to KES by only 10 points.
Kick-off at St Stithians is at 11:50.
Saints traveled down to Gray High School last weekend where they played in the Standard Bank Gray Rugby Festival, winning one and losing one. They drink Die Brandwag 16-12 but were well beaten by Queen’s Collegegoing down 19-54.
St Stithians will be without their first choice flyhalf Chris Anderson but will turn to Josh Meyer to deliver the goods from the kicking tee, which he did in Gqeberha.
Parktown has some size in their squad, which will challenge Saints, while their flying winger Kabelo Jwili is a dangerman
Last weekend, Parktown was also in action at Gray High. They lost 17-25 to St Andrew’s College but won 20-13 against Ithembelihle.
TEAMS
Jeppe High School for Boys: 15 Sanele Simelane, 14 Lindelani Nkambule, 13 Kuthadzo Rasivhaga, 12 McMillen Mongwana, 11 Leruo Dithagiso, 10 Matthew Coetzee, 9 Talent Sithole, 8 Risima Khosa, 7 Nathan Claassen, 6 Grady Ngui, 5 Luke Cannon, 4 Lagan Leisher, 3 Luca Trevisan, 2 Joseph Zulu, 1 Andre Poulton.
Northwood High School: 15 Aphiwe Buthelezi, 14 Kwenzo Dlamini, 13 Siyanda Nkosi, 12 Bongane Khumalo, 11 Nokutenda Gunda, 10 Savio Stevens, 9 Jed Mun-Gavin, 8 Ethan Macey, 7 Titas Cesonis, 6 Ayavuya 5 Lian Terblanche, 4 Kwezi Kunene, 3 Reuben Vos , 2 Werner van Nieuwenhuizen, 1 Sphe Ntshangase.
St Benedict’s College: 15 Tshegofatso Mojapelo, 14 Anogona Marufu, 13 Freddie Durrant, 12 Braeden Le Roux, 11 Wade Ramsay, 10 Iviwe Mlilo, 9 Declan Le Roux, 8 Jason Cutler, 7 Nicholas Moravec, 6 Tebogo Phukuile, 5 Luke Carr, 4 Andrew Scott- White, 3 Matthew Rourke, 2 Thato Ntshangase, 1 Luke De Koker.
King Edward VII: 15 Mbuso Methula, 14 Jarell Mbuyi, 13 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 12 Tristan Maugeri, 11 Haniel Monkoti, 10 Andrew Jackson, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Maake 7 Sam Bruwer, 6 James Kobrowisky, 5 Michael Bownes, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Michael Anthony, 2 Dylan Piek, 1 Kenny Prins.
Parktown Boys’ High School: 15 Calestin Felkers, 14 Owami Phambuka, 13 Promise Kanda, 12 Lisasa Mnukiso, 11 Kabelo Jwili, 10 Kgotso Tumahole, 9 Tshepiso Tladi, 8 Siya Masinga, 7 Sibu Jiyane, 6 Keith Mncube, 5 Anashe Matuku, 4 Disema Mofokeng, 3 Azola Peter, 2 Lethoko Mallane, 1 Manuel Motsi.
St Stithians College: 15 Cullen Bradford, 14 Hlelo Ngwenya, 13 Gabriel Hore, 12 Tyler Maclennan, 11 Sicelo Sakawuli, 10 Josh Meyer, 9 Aphelele Ngcuka, 8 Tashinga Chingonzo, 7 Ryan Zvinavashe, 6 Ross Turner, 5 Francois Botes, 4 Luke Thorrold, 3 Keabetswe Mapukana, 2 Jean-Antony Eblen, 1 Branden Lightfoot.
FIXTURES
Northwood High School vs Jeppe High School for Boys
u14A: 8:00 – Northwood vs Jeppe (Reece-Edwards Field)
u15A: 09:00 – Northwood vs Jeppe (Reece-Edwards Field)
u16A: 10:15 – Northwood vs Jeppe (Reece-Edwards Field)
u19B: 11:30 – Northwood vs Jeppe (Reece-Edwards Field)
u19A: 13:00 – Northwood vs Jeppe (Reece-Edwards Field)
St Benedict’s College vs King Edward VII
u14A: 10:30 – St Benedict’s vs KES (C Field)
u15A: 07:30 – St Benedict’s vs KES (A Field)
u16A: 08:30 – St Benedict’s vs KES (A Field)
u19B: 12:15 – Krugersdorp High School (u19A) vs KES (A Field)
u19A: 1.30pm – St Benedict’s vs KES (A Field)
St Stithians College vs Parktown Boys’ High School
u14A: 09:30 – St Stithians vs Parktown (Baytopp Field)
u15A: 08:30 – St Stithians vs Parktown (Baytopp Field)
u16A: 10.30am – St Stithians vs Parktown (Baytopp Field)
u19B: 10:55 – St Stithians vs Parktown (Dlamini Field)
u19A: 11.50am – St Stithians vs Parktown (Baytopp Field)
Tags: SuperSport Schools Nonstop thrills Knights Jeppe bug hits KES
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