Watch: KES comes out on top in 89th rugby derby

Beautiful weather greeted players and spectators alike as yet another titanic clash in the annual Jeppe Boys vs King Edward VII School (KES) rugby derby went the way of KES on May 4.

Determined for a turn-around after losing twice to Jeppe in last year’s repeat home and away fixtures, the KES first team ran out as 49-31 winners.

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Jeppe were backed by a loyal support cast of war criers, teachers and parents at their ground, and took the fight to the red and white machine throughout the entire match.

It was only five minutes in when the scorers were called into action as KES took an early run in the proceedings. Their two unanswered tries from flanks Connor van Buuren and Josh Nkomo, the second coming from the run of play, effectively put daylight between themselves and the home team.

The 10 000 or so expectant onlookers would be treated to more as at that time, full back Tsoane Tiro blitzed through a napping KES defence for his team’s first five-pointer in the 12th minute.

He was unable to convert the resulting conversion or the one that followed.

The encounter ebbed and flowed as seen by how often the scorers were called upon – several more times before the half-time whistle as both teams made further inroads in the tie.

Coming back from the break at 27-17 to KES, the sides kicked the second period off in relatively the same way – quick, fiery and determined.

KES’ dominance and control were so unreceding they were able to mount more attacking runs, earning themselves several more tries and conversion kicks before an end to the match could be called.

With credit falling to an ill-disciplined and sometimes unsure Jeppe backline, the 49-17 scoreline 12 minutes to time had morphed into just the statement KES were out to put out.

They were given momentary pause at claiming the day’s bragging rights, but two quick converted tries towards the back end were served up by Jeppe. This lent huge respectability to the final score as they sealed off the game as 49-31 losers on the day.

The team will now have to look to the return fixture in July to once again have a crack at a beastly KES.

“They played better than us, were hungrier than us and were in better physical shape than us,” is all a battered Jeppe head coach Carl Spilhaus could say after the game.

“They thoroughly deserved the victory. They learnt from last year and they’ve came back way better. Unfortunately, we haven’t learnt.”