Surprising Draw at Jeppe

Rugby draws between Jeppe and King Edward's are rare. It was just the sixth when the two teams drew 17-17 in a hectic match before a huge crowd on a lovely winter's day on the Collard Field at Jeppe on Saturday.

The result was something of a surprise as Jeppe were favourites to win and were at home. Furthermore they looked to be in charge of the game and had far better chances to score. And when it was over they had scored two tries to one, but KES were magnificent on defence and in the end the+ boot of Rashard Fuller was a coat of paint away from winning the match for KES.

It was an exciting match, not just because of the closeness of the schools and the might-have-beens. It was exciting in the skill of the players and the way they were willing to take chances. It was exciting in the defence and it was exciting in the excellent behaviour of the two teams.

Mind you having as a referee the most experienced Test referee the world has known is like to facilitate what is good, and Jonathan Kaplan did that.

There was a lot of pick-'n-go in the match and a lot of close-quarter bashing , but there were also surprise thrusts.

The first such thrust came when Jeppe captain Jethro de Lange burst straight ahead. One man to beat and he passed to his left where, despite competition Sibusiso Nkosi got the ball and headed to the line but about a metre from the line Jeppe were penalised.

KES attacked and a chip made a line-out five metres from the Jeppe line. Jeppe threw in and scrumhalf Itumeleng Monyai broke brilliantly racing nearly 50 metres and burly prop Bradley van Waardhuizen went on the burst.

Jeppe kicked and KES's fullback, Rashard Fuller, a player much involved, raced on counterattack brought down four metres from the Jeppe line.

Two penalties at scrums put Jeppe on the attack and Robert Hartley burst ahead and was pulled down just short. The ball went left where the burly Bastareaud of a centre, Sibusiso Mngomezulu, burst over for a try. 7-0 after 20 minutes.

Rashard Fuller's first penalty reduced the score to 7-3 after 25 minutes.

Robert Hartley had a great long break, but stumbled and fell. Jeppe then attacked and bashed at the KES line only to be met by adamantine defence.

The half-time score stayed 7-3.

KES took the lead early in the second half with a startling try. They went right and then left where they had an overlap when suddenly powerful flank Brendon O'Donahue swerved inside and raced past two defenders to score a wonderful try in a tackle by Sibusiso Mngomezulu.  8-7 to KES after 38 minutes.

A run by Sibusiso Nkosi down the left wing set Jeppe bashing at the KES line, again meeting firm resilience. In the end they settled for a penalty goal by Bradley van Waardhuizen to take the score to 10-8 after 46 minutes. But just after that Rashard Fuller goaled a long penalty to make it 11-10 to KES.

A strong run by Sibusiso Mngomezulu set Jeppe on the attack. They went left with a two-man overlap and skipper Jethro de Lange swept over for a try at the posts. 17-11 to Jeppe after 53 minutes.,

Four minutes Later Rashard Fuller made it 17-14 and four minutes after that 17-all.

Sibusiso Mngomezulu had a long break. A try seemed inevitable but his pass to his right went awry. Jeppe nudged closer and closer but two metres from the line Rashard Fuller saved his side with a tackle that resulted in a penalty.

Time was up when Jeppe were penalised five metres inside the KES half near to the left touchline. Rashard Fuller lined up the kick. The ball fell off the tee. He lined it up again. The ball flew high and true towards the middle of the Jeppe posts but then it dipped and it hit the black mark in the middle of the crossbar and bounced back into the field of play where there was a scramble for the  ball that ended when Manny Mbatha was tackled into the touch a few metres short of the left corner.

The final whistle went.

The two schools massed for war cries.

It was a great place to be, Jeppe High School for Boys, on Saturday afternoon.

Scorers:

For Jeppe:

Tries: Sibusiso Mngomezulu,  Jethro de Lange

Cons: Bradley van Waardhuizen 2

Pen: Bradley van Waardhuizen

For KES:

Try: Brendon O'Donahue

Pens: Rashard Fuller 4

Teams

Jeppe: 15 Abraham Hartley, 14 Robert Hartley, 13 Sibusiso Mngomezulu,  12 Ryan Doubell, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Brenton Faulds, 9 Itumeleng Monyai, 8 Wade Hassett, 7 Patrick Wait, 6 Jethro de Lange (captain), 5 Andile Ngobe, 4 Joshua Allan, 3 Bradley van Waardhuizen, 2 Emmanuel Morowane, 1 Ricky Nwagbara

KES: 15 Rashadr Fuller, 14 Keketso Maphathe, 13 Sicelo Champion, 12 Joshua Bryan, 11 Manny Mbatha, 10 Tony de Zorzi,  9 Nkosana Mathaba, 8 Jordan Mills (captain), 7 Brendon O'Donahue, 6 Senzo Mkhize, 5 Rowan Coetzer, 4 Dorian Botha, 3 Keagan Mills, 2 Naas du Plessis, 1 Jake Glass

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Western Province 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