The second leg of Johannesburg’s biggest derby double-header fixture, and one of the biggest in the country, King Edward VII School (KES) vs Jeppe High School for Boys, takes place at KES on Saturday, with the 1st XVs kicking off at 14:00.
The match will be broadcast LIVE on DStv Channel 216 and on SuperSport Schools.
The King Price Derby Series meeting will be the 102nd clash between the schools. KES has enjoyed the better of the results. They have won 63 games since 1935, while Jeppe has recorded 33 wins, and six matches have finished in a draw.
In recent times, however, Jeppe has enjoyed a slight edge, winning six of the last 10 clashes, including the last four in a row, which included a 31-24 victory on 11 April.
Both teams have produced up-and-down results since that early-season clash. KES experienced heavy defeats at the hands of Westville Boys’ High (0-35) and Noordheuwel (19-50), while Jeppe was well beaten by Affies (10-78) and Monument (29-47).
KES scored good wins over St Andrew’s College (45-12) and Queen’s College (33-13), while the highlights of the year for Jeppe include a 29-26 win over Garsfontein, a 31-26 victory against Boland Landbou, and a stirring 21-21 draw away to Durban High School (DHS) last week.
Considering their mutual opposition, Jeppe’s win over Westville is significant, while KES fared significantly better than Jeppe against Affies. They lost 28-46, while Jeppe went down 10-78. And, last week, KES beat Pretoria Boys High 29-17, while Jeppe lost 33-37 to the Candies at the end of last term.
As is the case with many of these big derby games, however, the massive crowds, the hype, and the pressures of expectations often produce unexpected results. It would be foolish to bet on either team at The Reds‘ field on Saturday.
TEAMS
King Edward VII vs Jeppe High School for Boys, Reds Field, Johannesburg, at 14:00
King Edward VII – 15 Connor Fourie, 14 Joshua Wilkinson, 13 Luyanda Mbadmana, 12 Sam Smith, 11 Keegan Jackson, 10 Daniel Soekoe, 9 Taig David, 8 Josh Eykenlhoff, 7 Naledi Phiri, 6 Daniel Matheson, 5 Kristian Sheaven, 4 Adrian Barproduce nard, 3 Tswaledi Phasha, 2 Andries Van der Merwe, 1 Siyabonga Nkomo (captain).
Jeppe High School for Boys – 15 Dalitso Milanzi, 14 Delo Milanzi, 13 Phano Letsie (captain), 12 Ndimphiwe Mijiji, 11 Letabo Mashao, 10 Luthando Matzngxa, 9 Luxon Zwane, 8 Mihle Dyakala, 7 Ross Schuurman, 6 Hayden Venter, 5 Glodi Tshipamba, 4 Blake Esbend, 3 Kwazi Nyoka, 2 Mehlatse Mememza, 1 Joshua Hamman.
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