Candies head to Parktown as familiar faces return to bolster side

Two 1st XVs which have struggled to find their feet in 2024 come face to face on Saturday when Pretoria Boys High School (PBHS) chases a much-needed victory against Parktown Boys’ High.

Kick-off takes place at 13:45 on the Parktown A-Field.

Parktown heads into the clash fresh off a 38-15 win over Springs Boys’ High School last weekend. That came as a welcome confidence-booster after they were the victims of an 80-0 shellacking at the hands of King Edward VII the weekend before.

Parktown’s Siya Masinga will be one of their key players. He has shown promise in the number 8 jersey and has played a pivotal role in directing mauls and helping to drive the pack forward.

Behind the scrum, Parktown will look to scrumhalf Tshepiso Tladi, who got onto the scoresheet against Springs, to direct their backline’s attack.

Candies‘ assistant coach Wian Geldenhuys said Boys High is looking forward to playing against Parktown, from whom he is expecting a robust challenge. “It’s always tough up front, especially at the breakdown against them,” he commented.

Fullback Itu Baloyi is back in the PBHS lineup and makes his first start since suffering a concussion against Selborne at the King Edward VII Easter Festival. Last weekend, he managed to get some game time for the 2nd XV and came on as a substitute for the 1st XV in their loss to KES.

Another player returns to the 1st XV for Boys High, with Stephen Adams running out for the first time since their game against Paarl Boys’ High on 1 April. He’s been sidelined with a knee injury since then.

PBHS won’t be at full strength, however. They’ll be missing their tenacious inside centre Rickus Wessels, who is dealing with a hip flexor niggle. He has been replaced by Londie Nemudzivhadi, who will be keen to make his mark as a starter.

Boys High has played an extremely tough schedule and they’ll be keen to score another win to add their victories over Selborne College and St Alban’s College. They’ve demonstrated good fighting spirit and made matters tough on KES in the second half of a 14-24 defeat last weekend.

The addition of those familiar faces who are returning from injury might be just the boost Pretoria Boys High needs to help them hit their straps.

Teams

Parktown Boys High School: 15 Calestin Felkers, 14 Owami Phambuka, 13 Promise Kanda, 12 Lisasa Mnukiso, 11 Kabelo Jwili, 10 Kgotso Tumahole, 9 Thepiso Tladi, 8 Siya Masinga, 7 Keith Mncube, 6 Mfundo Nkosi, 5 Kingsley Okonkwo, 4 Disema Mofokeng, 3 Azola Peter, 2 Lethoko Mallane, 1 Manuel Motsi.

Pretoria Boys High School:  15 Itu Baloyi, 14 Ntsako Ndlovu, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Londie Nemudzivhadi, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Seth Venter, 9 Cole Williams, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Akin Akingbola 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Matthew Parrott, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Jeffery Singo.

Fixtures

Saturday, 27 April  

u14A: 09:40 – Parktown Boys High School vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (C Field)
u15A: 10:30 – Parktown Boys High School vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (B Field)
u16A:  11:20 – Parktown Boys High School vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (A Field)
u19B: 12:35 – Parktown Boys High School vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (A Field)
u19A: 13:45 – Parktown Boys High School vs Pretoria Boys’ High School (A Field)