Lwazi Mohakali scored a double as KES beat Jeppe 24-0 in their Mutual & Federal interschools match on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
Four unanswered tries, two either side of the break, were enough to hand KES a first derby win over Jeppe since 2011.
In a match where Jeppe dominated all but the scoreboard, KES proved that a strong defensive structure can secure victory.
KES withstood sustained pressure on their own tryline throughout the first half and accumulated their 12-point lead after running in two tries against the run of play. Flyhalf Percy Mtlatle crossed for the opening try, before turnover ball saw outside centre Kalvin Mills slice through the Jeppe defence for a self-converted effort.
Had Jeppe finished and kicked better, the scorecard would have read differently, though.
The same script followed for much of the second stanza, with Jeppe unable to convert their chances.
KES wing Mohakali pounced after another defensive lapse by the visitors to score his team's third try, with Mills successfully negotiating the conversion.
Tighthead prop Matthew Germishuizen was sent to the sin bin for deliberately slowing the ball down close to his own tryline, but the one-man advantage did not help, as KES showed their mettle by running in a try from deep inside their own 22. The ball squirted loose and Mohakali picked up and scampered away to put the result beyond doubt.
'It was just our day,' KES 1st XV coach Carl Sliphaus told SARugbymag.co.za. 'They outplayed us, but we defended like 20 people out there. The boys showed good shape and discipline on defence to secure this victory. I'm extremely proud of the way they handled the pressure.'
Jeppe coach Janse van Rynst lamented his team's poor finishing, while heaping praise on the KES defence and lineout work.
'We conceded soft tries and need to work on our attack before playing Pretoria Boys' in our final game of the season next week. That said, against any other side, we would probably have scored, but they gave nothing away on defence today. We had more territory and possession, but KES controlled the match.'
KES – Tries: Percy Mtlatle, Kalvin Mills, Lwazi Mohakali (2). Conversions: Mills (2).
Jeppe – (0)
Schools rugby results (8 August)
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
