The Remarkable Draw
It was a remarkable match. The high-scoring draw was unusual, surpassing even the 25-all draw of two years ago. The performance of the Mpeku twins was certainly remarkable - brilliant in fact. And then, when victory was at hand, a pretty easy conversion went astray.
It was a thrilling match.
Maritzburg College attacked first, getting to the line till the hectic attack was scuppered by a turnover. They came close again, but again the KES defence held.
Then there was a line-out just outside the KES 22, on their left. They went right but with a scruffy bounced pass which Calvin Johnson picked up. He gave to Kennedy Mpeku who ran and near the half-way line gave to his twin Leon Mpeku. Leon Raced downfield but Maritzburg College stopped him near their line. Back the ball came to KES and Kennedy, who was at Grant Khomo Week last year while at Parktown Boys' High, scored a try which flyhalf Marc Morrison converted. 7-0 after 14 minutes.
Kennedy Mpeku kicked a 48-metre penalty to make it 10-0 after 23 minutes. From the kick-off Maritzburg College got the ball and flank Matthew Diedricks scored. 10-5 after 24 minutes.
A penalty to Maritzburg College and flyhalf Ruben van Blerk kicked a long, brilliant touch-finder with his left boot to the left touchline. Maritzburg College won the line-out and mauled. Suddenly flank Andile Khanyile broke away, sidestepped and scored. Van Blerk of the excellent boot converted. 12-10 to Maritzburg College, which became 15-10 when Van Blerk kicked a penalty goal. That was the half-time score with Maritzburg College looking the stronger side.
Two minutes into the second half a penalty goal by Van Blerk increased the lead to 18-10 but a penalty set KES attacking with bursts of pick-'n-drive till prop Keagan Glade scored. 18-15 after 41 minutes.
Anything a KES tighthead can do, an Maritzburg College loosehead can equal.
KES kicked down to the left where Xolisa Guma got the ball near the half-way line. Maritzburg College moved the ball left out to substitute Njabulo Mjara who raced many metres on a diagonal run before giving to Matthew King who scored. Van Blerk converted. 25-15 after 43 minutes.
About 12 metres inside the KES half, KES took a quick throw in from touch to Kennedy Mpeku. The centre immediately started running and the defence was keen to see what he could do and watched while he ran 52 fast metres with jink and swerve to score. 25-20 after 43 minutes.
Maritzburg College won a KES line-out throw and went right where short, stocky centre Ayanda Duma took a long pass, cut inside one defender and swerved outside another, and scored a try at the posts. 32-20 after 48 minutes.
From a scrum KES went left and Kennedy Mpeku stepped twice, swerved once and scored a try, which he converted. 32-27 after 56 minutes.
Time was running out when KES, egged on by their supporters, marched a maul some 30 metres downfield. They were over the line but held up for a five-metre scrum. Time was up but the scrum went ahead and substitute scrumhalf James Gerber picked up and forced his way over as three defenders tried to stop him. The try was not far to the left of the posts but the conversion attempt flew far right, and the final whistle sounded on the exciting draw.
Scorers:
For KES:
Tries: Kennedy Mpeku 3, Keagan Glade, James Gerber
Cons: Marc Morrison, Kennedy Mpeku
Pen: Kennedy Mpeku
For Maritzburg College:
Tries: Matthew Diedricks, Andile Khanyile, Matthew King, Ayanda Duma
Cons: Ruben van Blerk 3
Pens: Ruben van Blerk 2
Teams
KES: 15 Temba Mpemvu, 14 Leon Mpeku, 13 Kennedy Mpeku, 12 Yanga Hlalu, 11 Mpho Khambule, 10 Marc Morrison, 9 Ricci Marussi, 8 Echardt Cloete, 7 Calvin Johnson, 6 Thomas Berman, 5 Louis Pienaar, 4 Keegan Munro, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Tyran Dickson, 1 Mpilo Mabuza
Replacements: 16 Dylan Whitcombe, 17 Luke Woolway, 18 Tyron Taplin, 19 Ziyanda Msipha, 20 James Gerber, 21 Ryan Clark, 22 Tebogo Rampou, 23 Chris Shuttleworth
Maritzburg College: 15 Jaco Truter, 14 Xolisa Guma, 13 Ayanda Duma, 12 Kevin Walsh, 11 Matthew Squires, 10 Ruben van Blerk, 9 Lodewyk Muller, 8 Craig Glover (captain), 7 Matthew Diedricks, 6 Andile Khanyile, 5 Myles Hancock, 4 Liam Cameron-Macintosh, 3 Andrew Reintges, 2 Austin Landman, 1 Matthew King
Replacements: 16 Fezo Mbatha, 17 Thuba Nzimande, 18 Nicholas Odendaal, 19 Luke Johnson, 20 Ross Williamson, 21 Chris Reed, 22 Njabulo Mjara
Referee: Stanley du Toit (Golden Lions Referees' Society)
Assistant referees: Pieter van Rooyen (Golden Lions Referees' Society), Grant McKenzie (Golden Lions Referees' Society)
Results Down the Years
1959: College won 22-3
1983: College won 21-9
1985: College won 25-9
1992: College won 31-12
1996: KES won 13-10
2001: College won 14-12
2009: KES won 52-14
2010: College won 26-13
2011: KES won 28-20
2012: KES won 42-25
2013: College won 30-8
2014: Draw 25-25
2015: College won 34-33
2016: Draw 32-32