KES surprise Jeppe

It was a surprise result as Jeppe have had much the better season this year and even allowing for Jeppe's missing players the visitors were expected to win. Jeppe had two players playing for SA Schools down in the Cape – threequarter Wandisile Simelane and flank Hacjivah Dayimani. Then flyhalf Tyrone Green was out after having a knee reconstruction. To make matters worse, there was the late injury withdrawal of flyhalf Cameron Burke. The result was that Bradley Robbins was moved from scrumhalf to flyhalf with Dylan Wadely coming into scrumhalf after a long lay-off with a broken arm. All of that may have been a big part of the problem but =even so Jeppe could have won the match,  

The match itself was surprising. Jeppe had the better of most facets of the match and did not score a single point. KES were outplayed but scored four tries. Four tries to nil seems a comfortable win, but it was not. Where KES won was in their adamantine defence. Time and again Jeppe battered at their line and time and again KES repelled them.

What KES did that Jeppe could not do was take their chances, even half chances, to score tries.

On a perfect Highveld day of blue skies and comfortable warmth, Jeppe Kicked off and attacked. From a scrum – and they were much stronger in the scrums – they bashed at the KES line. KES were penalised and Jeppe tapped and bashed. And the KES were penalised for a third time, this time right in front of the posts at a short distance. The kick hit the upright and bounced away, which may have had a bearing on some later Jeppe decisions.

Suddenly flank Senzo Mkhize, a star on the day, went galloping down the middle of the field to give KES a chance to attack, and attack they did till sinewy flyhalf Percy Matlatle, stepped and beat three defenders in going over for a try. 5-0 after 7 minutes. 5-0 to KES.

Back came Jeppe on the attack. Three times they looked certain to score but three times the ball-carrier ignored the overlap next to him.

KES were penalised and Jeppe tapped and bashed.

KES were penalised and Jeppe tapped and bashed.

KES were penalised right in front of their posts and Jeppe tapped and bashed. And this time Mkhize won a turnover.

The next penalty in Jeppe's favour was far out at an angle. They kicked at goal and missed.

Jeppe attacked and got to the  line, but knocked on.

KES were [penalised some 43 metres out and at an angle. Jeppe kicked at goal and missed.

It may just be that Jeppe were making their own defeat and for the purest of reasons – try to score tries, and the game was in fact exciting.

Just inside the Jeppe half, KES won a turnover and went right where Kalvin Mills broke clean through and raced over for a try at the posts, which he converted. 12-0 after 28 minutes.

The difference between the two defences was stark.

KES did have a bit of attack via penalty and maul but a great break by 1st XV newcomer Martin Mangwiro got his side out of trouble.

Half-time came and KES led 12-0. When full time came, KES led 24-0, a neat 12 points a half.

From a line-out free kick Jeppe attack. At a five-metre line-out they tried the All Black dodge that gave Richie McCaw a winning try at Ellis Park the week before but KES were more alert than the Springboks had been.

Jeppe built up 14 phases on attack and were penalised as the KES defence did not yield. Jeppe were attacking when from a  scrum 15 metres from their line, KES ran. Their eighthman Jared Dickson picked up and charged to his right. The pass to his left was not a good one but the ball bounced in kindly fashion for right wing Lwazi Monakali who raced down the field, through empty acres and a try under the Jeppe posts which Mills converted. 19-0 after 44 minutes.

The flow of the game went on – Jeppe attacking, KES tackling.

Mills had long break down the middle of the field but KES were bundled into touch near the cornerpost.

KES were penalised and Jeppe opted to scrum.

KES were penalised and Jeppe opted to scrum.

A KES prop was sin-binned (KES lost the penalty count 14-6) and Jeppe opted to scrum.

Jeppe bashed and Mkhize won a turnover.

KES were penalised and Jeppe opted to scrum,.

Because the Jeppe prop was off, the scrums – some four of them – became uncontested scrums. From one on the right scrumhalf Michael Moyo went left and gave to Monakali, the big Craven Week wing, stepped inside and opponent and against raced 73 metres through empty acres to score another try to delight KES. 24-0. It was more than KES could have dreamed of a little while ago.

Jeppe tapped a penalty and were held up over the line for a five- metre scrum. KES were freekicked and Jeppe tapped, bashed and then chipped to produce the final whistle.

It was an engrossing match.

Unpredictability is the spice of sport.

Scorers:

For KES:

Tries: Percy Matlatle, Kalvin Mills, Lwazi Monakali 2,

Cons: Kalvin Mills 2

Teams

KES: 15 Mpho Khambule, 14 Lwazi Monakali, 13 Manny Mbatha, 12 Kalvin Mills, 11 Dylan Petzer, 10 Percy Matlatle, 9 Michael Moyo, 8 Jared Dickson, 7 Senzo Mkhize, 6 Michele Marussi (captain), 5 Tyler Viadana, 4 Napoleon de Beer, 3 Matthew Germishuizen, 2 Mpatho Nkomo, 1 Mpilo Mabuza

Coaches: Carl Spilhaus, Jonathan Jacobs

Jeppe: 15 Moemisi Mosheledi, 14 Sydney-William Mdluli, 13 Damian Pasley, 12 Martin Mangwiro, 11 Nathan Grove, 10 Bradley Robbins, 9 Dylan Wadely, 8 Duncan Tverdon, 7 Patrick Wait (Capt), 6 Kelvin Tubadi, 5 Travis Cameron, 4 Andile Ngobe, 3 Henry Wickens, 2 Lehlogonolo Naka, 1 Ricky Nwagbara

Coaches: J van der Ryst, Reg Hammond

Referee: Rchard Schwulst (Golden Lions Referees' Society)

Assistant referees: Quinton Pretorius (Golden Lions Referees' Society), Pieter van Rooyen (Golden Lions Referees' Society)

Results Down the Years

1935: KES won 20-0

1936: KES won 26-0

1937: KES won 12-3

1938: Jeppe won 14-3

1939: KES won 9-6

1940: KES won 10-0

1941: KES won 8-3

1942: KES won 9-3

1943: KES won 11-3

1944: Jeppe won 11-9

1944: KES won 16-10

1945: Draw 3-3

1946: Jeppe won 9-3

1947: KES won 8-6

1948: Jeppe won 11-3

1949: Draw 0-0

1950: KES won 12-6

1951: Jeppe won 17-3

1952: Jeppe won 22-8

1953: Jeppe won 8-6

1954: Jeppe won 20-6

1955: Jeppe won 14-0

1956: KES won 13-3

1957: Draw 0-0

1958: KES won 16-14

1959: Jeppe won 16-8

1960: KES won 8-6

1961: KES won 12-11

1962: KES won 17-5

1963: Jeppe won 18-0

1964: KES won 22-19

1965: KES won 12-11

1966: KES won 6-0

1967: Jeppe won 16-9

1968: KES won 15-9

1969: KES won 9-3

1970: Draw 5-5

1971: KES won 12-5

1972: KES won 37-0

1973: KES won 15-10

1974: KES won 39-3

1975: KES won 28-3

1976: KES won 57-0

1977: KES won 51-3

1978: KES won 39-6

1979: KES won 22-20

1980: KES won 26-3

1981: KES won 22-10

1982: KES won 18-6

1983: Jeppe won 17-10

1984: KES won 18-15

1985: Jeppe won 18-13

1986: KES won 36-4

1987: KES won 18-10

1988: KES won 17-9

1989: KES won 21-18

1990: KES won 16-3

1990: Jeppe won 12-9

1991: Jeppe won 9-6

1992: Jeppe won 21-0

1993: KES won 22-21

1994: KES won 22-20

1995: KES won 24-22

1996: Jeppe won 12-5

1997: KES won 38-15

1998: KES won 23-3

1999: KES won 30-15

2000: KES won 27-9

2001: Draw 15-15

2002: KES won 38-3

2002: Jeppe won 20-14

2003: KES won 27-7

2004: KES won 12-0

2005: KES won 30-7

2006: KES won 12-0

2007: KES won 40-18

2008: KES won 24-14

2009: KES won 65-10

2010: Jeppe won 17-13

2011: KES won 36-15

2012: Jeppe won 28-13

2013: Jeppe won 15-12

2014: Draw 17-17

2015: KES won 24-0