28 July 2026
On Saturday, Durban High School (DHS) extended their unbeaten run on Van Heerden’s Field, a streak dating back to May 2022, but only just.
In a thrilling finish, Jeppe High School for Boys fought back from 15 points down to snatch what looked like an unlikely victory, only for DHS to salvage a dramatic 21-21 draw with the final kick of the game.
The Horseflies dominated the opening half and appeared firmly in control after racing into a 15-0 lead.
Tanwill Onkers opened the scoring with a penalty in the 11th minute before hooker Okuhle Mbanjwa was driven over from a powerful rolling maul four minutes later. Onkers missed the conversion, a rare blemish that would prove significant in the closing stages.
DHS then struck with a devastating counterattack. Jeppe had launched an ambitious assault from deep through fullback Dalitso Milanzi and were well placed inside the home side’s half. Instead, School turned the ball over and shifted it quickly to the left wing, where Richard Gyamfi burned away from the cover defence to race 75 metres for a superb try beneath the posts. Onkers converted, giving DHS a commanding advantage.
Yet Jeppe refused to buckle. The Johannesburg visitors finished the half camped inside DHS territory, laying the foundations for a remarkable second-half revival.
Seven minutes after the restart, they finally broke through. An overthrown lineout on the DHS 22 kindly bounced into the hands of centre Ndimphiwe Mjiji, who surged through the defence before linking with flyhalf Luthando Marangxa. After a series of close-range drives, tighthead prop Kwazi Nyoka crashed over, with Marangxa converting to reduce the deficit to 15-7.
Jeppe dominated possession thereafter, forcing DHS into a relentless defensive effort. The hosts absorbed wave after wave of pressure and looked to have done enough when substitute Dewaldo Bok slotted a penalty five minutes from time after strong work from midfielders Nathan Aneke and Sterling Padi earned the opportunity.
The contest, however, still had one extraordinary twist after another.
Straight from the restart, DHS failed to gather the high kick, allowing Jeppe to attack immediately. The ball was moved swiftly to Mjiji, who sprinted down the left touchline to score in the corner. Marangxa landed an excellent touchline conversion to cut the deficit to just four points.
Moments later, Jeppe struck again. A loose DHS pass was snared by Phano Letsie, who forced an error and launched a counterattack from inside his own half. The visitors worked the ball left before Marangxa delivered a perfectly weighted cross-kick to Prosper Mbandlwa on the opposite flank. The wing gathered cleanly, stepped inside the cover, and crossed for a sensational try.
Marangxa’s conversion edged Jeppe into a 21-18 lead. But there was time for one final act.
Jeppe secured the restart and looked set to close out the match, but when eighthman Mihle Dyakala was brought down, DHS won a crucial penalty at the breakdown. Bok, a reliable goal-kicker, calmly stepped up and drilled the 37-metre effort through the uprights.
As the ball sailed over, the referee blew for full-time, bringing a pulsating contest to an end. For a few moments, players from both sides stood motionless, absorbing the drama before acknowledging one another after a contest worthy of the occasion.
While the DHS 1st XV almost lost their long unbeaten record on Van Heerden’s, it was, nonetheless, a special day for the Horseflies’ rugby teams, who won the other 17 matches. Their u14 teams, especially, dominated.
Results
1st: DHS 21-21 Jeppe
2nd: DHS 33-22 Jeppe
3rd: DHS 52-19 Jeppe
4th: DHS 59-0 Jeppe
5th: DHS 22-12 Jeppe
6th: DHS 17-12 Jeppe
16A: DHS 24-20 Jeppe
16B: DHS 26-12 Jeppe
16C: DHS 20-12 Jeppe
16D: DHS 21-12 Jeppe
15A: DHS 21-10 Jeppe
15B: DHS 36-0 Jeppe
15C: DHS 47-14 Jeppe
15D: DHS 39-28 Jeppe
14A: DHS 38-3 Jeppe
14B: DHS 54-0 Jeppe
14C: DHS 50-7 Jeppe
14D: DHS 50-14 Jeppe
HOCKEY
On the Blue and Gold Astro, DHS rose to the occasion to edge out Jeppe 3-2, with two-goal hero Jesse van Wyk netting the winner just before the final whistle sounded.
Chris Abrahams produced an influential performance, playing a key role in the build-up to Van Wyk’s goals, while Elshaan Lubbe set up Sandi Mazibuko for School’s second.
It was 1-0 to DHS, heading into the final chukka, but then the contest ignited.
Kgotso Lehloenya levelled for Jeppe, only for Mazibuko to swiftly restore the Horseflies’ one-goal advantage.
With eight minutes left to play, Jarryd Gordon-Watt evened the scores, but DHS found a late winner in a cracking contest.
It was also the latest impressive victory for DHS coach Keegan Hezlett, who guided the KZN Coastal u16 side to SASHOC National Week glory during the holiday.
Overall, Jeppe recorded six wins, DHS won five matches, and two were drawn. The visitors excelled in the u16 age group, where their u16A team stole the show with a 4-0 win over a strong DHS side.
The u14A sides drew, but DHS won the other three u14 matches, all of which were tightly contested.
Results
1st: DHS 3-2 Jeppe
2nd: DHS 1-1 Jeppe
3rd: DHS 3-5 Jeppe
4th: DHS 2-4 Jeppe
16A: DHS 0-4 Jeppe
16B: DHS 0-1 Jeppe
16C: DHS 1-5 Jeppe
16D: DHS 0-4 Jeppe
16E: DHS 2-0 Jeppe
14A: DHS 1-1 Jeppe
14B: DHS 2-0 Jeppe
14C: DHS 1-0 Jeppe
14D: DHS 1-0 Jeppe
Other results
The Jeppe 1st football team, fresh off winning five out of five at the Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa Football Festival at Pretoria Boys High during the holiday, added the scalp of DHS to their list of victories, winning 3-1.
The visitors also won on the squash court, achieving a 5-1 victory
The cross-country honours were shared. The DHS Seniors won 23-22, while Jeppe’s juniors won 67-38.