Jeppe beat KES 40-25 in the second of their two derby clashes, at Jeppe on Saturday. THEO GARRUN reports.
The hosts scored six tries to the visitors’ four in a dominant performance in which they never looked like losing, despite KES closing the gap to just six points shortly after half-time. Two bits of individual brilliance shortly after the interval saw Jeppe draw clear again and KES were always chasing the game in the second half.
Jeppe’s backs were in great form. Their centre pairing, Boitumelo Tstatsane and Muzi Manyike, complemented each other perfectly. The power of Tstatsane and the guile of Manyike were simply too much for KES. They had a hand in almost all of the try-scoring moves – Manyike scored two tries himself – and they were particularly good on the counter-attack, and their ability to run the ball from their own tryline helped greatly with the Jeppe exit strategy.
Honours were even in the set pieces as KES scrummed well and Jeppe edged the lineouts. Jeppe were strong on the drive, while KES mauled well and scored two of their tries from lineouts.
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Jeppe scrumhalf Kabelo Mokhethi sold an outrageous dummy and went over untouched to open the scoring in the third minute and, three minutes later, winger Sipho Vayise muscled his way over to put Jeppe 14-3 up early on, before KES pulled one back through Tokollo Molotsi.
Jeppe prop Kyle Everton scored following a series of forward onslaughts on the line. KES then mauled a lineout and Joshua Nkomo went over to make it 19-15 to Jeppe.
Manyike scored the first of his two tries on the stroke of half-time, making it 26-15.
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KES prop Jason Cloete got the early second-half try that closed the gap to six points, but it was all Jeppe from then on.
Manyike and Mokhethi both got their second tries, before winger Cade Robinson scored a consolation try minutes from the end.
It was good old derby clash. There was passion aplenty on display, watched by a massive crowd.
In the end, it was the first time that one of the schools won both encounters in the three times so far that a double-header has been staged.
Jeppe extended their run of recent successes to six out of the last 11 encounters, although KES remain well ahead in the overall stakes – 57 to 26, with six draws.
Jeppe – Tries: Kabelo Mokhethi (2), Sipho Vayise, Kyle Everton, Muzi Manyike (2). Conversions: Declan Raubenheimer (5).
KES – Tries: Jason Cloete, Joshua Nkomo, Tokollo Molotse, Cade Robinson. Conversion: Reece Botha. Penalty: Botha.
Photo: Theo Garrun
