A Border player slips through the tackle to score. Photo: Frans Lombard/Actionpix
Border has always been a Craven Week side which has, excuse the pun, bordered on greatness.
They’ve dominated rural sides and other smaller Craven Week regions. Yet, they have never quite been able to overcome the giants, such as Western Province, Free State and the other top dogs, consistently.
This year, they’ll be aiming to challenge the status quo, with a side that looks strong on paper.
The two squads include players from an astounding 11 schools, making them one of the, if not the, most diverse provinces at the Craven and Academy Weeks. The 24-man Craven Week squad, though, features players from five schools.
Border U18 Craven Week squad: 1 Robert-John Osunkwo (Selborne), 2 Amyoli Ngxongwana (Queen’s), 3 Zeake Mata (Queen’s), 4 Ahlume Gqetywa (Queen’s), 5 Liam Hansen (Selborne), 6 Bulumko Manqina (Queen’s), 7 Hlumelo Gobile (Hudson), 8 Dominic Stegman (Selborne), 9 Travis Enslin (Selborne), 10 Ebenezer Sarpong (Dale), 11 Ethan Schoeman (Port Rex), 12 Luca Liebenberg (Selborne), 13 Jeffery Niland (Queen’s), 14 Acwenga Saul (Queen’s), 15 Kamva Sithole (Dale), 16 Ayola Somhlahlo (Queen’s), 17 Ndimphiwe Songqawaba (Port Rex), 18 Bungqina Nuku (Selborne), 19 Ncutu Kepe (Queen’s), 20 Milani Madida (Dale), 21 Njongo Mbanga (Selborne), 22 Sibabalwe Magwebu (Queen’s), 23 Owam Nqweniso (Port Rex), 24 Oliver Schmidt (Selborne).
9 Queen’s College | 8 Selborne College | 3 Port Rex Technical High | 3 Dale College| 1 Hudson Park
Rondebosch had Bishops’ number, scoring a comfortable 21-point home win. Photo: Bishops Diocesan College on Facebook.
The honours went the way of Rondebosch Boys’ High as they scored a controlled 28-7 win over Bishops on the Tinkie Heyns Field on Saturday in a KingPrice Derby Series match.
The victory was by a similar margin to their 22-5 win over their rivals at home in 2024. Unfortunately for the visitors, that was their fifth loss in a row.
‘Bosch got the scoreboard moving early, thanks to their fullback Daniel Cooke. He fielded a downfield kick from Bishops’ outside centre Eljaron Geduld and ran it back, breaking the visitors’ defensive line before setting left wing Caleb Bell free to score in the corner. Flyhalf Sebastian Boshoff added the extras.
The speedy Cooke was in the thick of the action again in the 24th minute, when the home side extended their lead to 14-0, following another successful conversion kick from Boshoff.
Just two minutes into the second half, Rondebosch, playing in white, crossed for a third try. This time it came from a rolling maul, with hooker Ismaeel Conrad dotting down for five points. Boshoff added the extras with a precise kick from the corner of the 22 to open up a big lead.
Almost inevitably, ‘Bosch skipper, Josh Neill, got onto the score sheet. From a lineout deep in the Diocesan College 22, the home team mauled towards the try line. When their momentum was stopped, Neill shot out and scored. Boshoff made it four from four off the kicking tee when he added the extras.
Bishops showed their fight with a consolation try in the 69th minute of the game. After maintaining possession through numerous phases from a lineout just out the Rondebosch 22, inside centre Boytjie Fyfer picked up and dived over. Geduld tacked on two more points, but the day belonged to the hosts.
Both Rondebosch and Bishops return to action on 22 July against English opposition, with ‘Bosch hosting St Benedict’s and Bishops facing Sedbergh, traditionally one of the top sides in England.
A week after being hammered by Paarl Gimnasium, SACS gave Wynberg Boys’ High a hard fight. Photo: SACS on Facebook.
In a King Price Derby Series clash on Memorial A-Field, the visitors, Wynberg Boys’ High, scored a tough 21-10 win over SACS on Saturday, in Cape Town.
After a tight 9-7 win at home and a 29-30 defeat away in 2024, Wynberg would have been delighted with a more comprehensive result in their favour.
On Saturday, the sides were neck-and-neck in a tight first half, with both scoring only seven points each. Daniel Grant dotted down for the home side, while Yaqeen Ahmed went over for Wynberg. In the second half, their paths diverged.
Wynberg upped the ante by scoring only three minutes after the restart. They made some metres after going blindside from a scrum about 30 metres from the hosts’ goal line. Then, scrumhalf Morné Noble delivered a flat pass to the hard running flank, Tjeripo Karuhumba, who muscled his way through for five. Flyhalf Achmat Behardien added the extras.
SACS responded with a superbly struck penalty from 40 metres by outside centre Mikey Skeeles, after the home team had won a jackal penalty.
Wynberg, however, sealed the deal with a try in the 62nd minute. It began from a lineout 10m from the SACS’ try line and was finished by inside centre Yaqeen Ahmed, who scored his second of the game after sniping from the base of the ruck
Behardien made it three from three off the kicking tee to lift the visitors’ total to 21 points.
SACS next plays at Paarl Boys’ High on 26 July, while Wynberg faces a daunting trip to Paarl Gimnasium on the same day.
Boland Landbou hosted the mighty Paarl Gimnasium on PerdebergA Field on Saturday, but it was the visitors who made themselves at home, powering their way to a big 80-29 victory.
At times, defence might have appeared optional as the teams scored 19 tries between them, with 14 going the way of Gimmies.
The match also showed why Paarl Gim captain MarkusMuller and Boland Landbou scrumhalf Jayden Brits are in the Western Province Craven Week side. Muller scored an astonishing 43 points, crossing for five tries while also adding nine conversions. Brits scored a try, landed two conversions and provided two try assists.
Saturday’s defeat was The Farmers‘ fifth on the trot, but they’ve all been against tough opposition. Their previous four losses came against Paarl Boys’ High, Paul Roos, Affies, and Rondebosch. Meanwhile, Paarl Gim remains unbeaten after 14 games this season.
Gimmies opened the scoring in just the third minute. It was set up by hard running from the forwards onto short, flat passes from scrumhalf Mickyle Booise and, to no one’s surprise, finished by outside centre, Makus Muller, who muscled his way through three defenders to score.
The home team, then, did themselves no favours when they had two players yellow carded in quick succession. Gim didn’t need an invitation and hooker Charles Whitehead went over after a series of phases from the tap and go on the home team’s five-metre line.
Paarl Gim showed they could strike from long distance, too, with a searing counterattack from their own 22. Attacking down the flank, they were brought up just five metres short of the try line. Good, quick hands between Booise and flyhalf Louis Koen put fullback, Dawid Badenhorst, over in the corner.
To their credit, Boland Landbou found a response in the 16th minute when, from a five-metre scrum, flyhalf Pieter Bergh sliced through after selling a dummy for a five-pointer.
An exquisite 50-22 from Starman Brits got the home team back on the attack and, from the lineout, the farmers played a phase before Brits sniped through a gap to score.
Nearing halftime, Muller was over for his second, dotting down in the corner after receiving the ball on a blindside attack.
The visitors added to their tally only moments before the half-time break, with Muller bagging his hattrick after a rolling maul inside the 22 set Boland Landbou on the back foot. After a successful conversion from the corner, the Gim captain already had 23 points to his name and his side led 33-12.
Gimmies continued to stack points after the break, striking again from range after a 40-metre run by fullback Badenhorst, which set up loosehead prop Pieta Cilliers to barge over for five.
It wasn’t long before Badenhorst was over for a try of his own after a blindside move from Booise. Then, from the kickoff, centre Ethan Barker broke the line and fed Badenhorst, who provided the finish to bag a hattrick of tries.
Boland briefly enjoyed some success when flank Stephan Griesel scored from close range, and they followed that with another try from close range through eighthman, Juan Visagie, thanks to Brits effectively manipulating the Gim defence.
Markus Muller was over for his fourth off the back of a Gim rolling maul in the 57th minute and just six minutes later he had a handful of five-pointers. This time, he hit the line at pace, running onto a flat pass that put him through the gap.
The class of Brits was on show in the 66th minute when his clever chip was gathered by Gehano van Bo. The wing side-stepped a couple of players before being brought down on the five-metre line. Visagie was on hand, though, to pick up the ball and he was bundled over the line for his second try of the game.
With time running short, Gimmies’ right wing, Johan Kleynhans profited from a Boland Landbou knock-on in the home team’s 22, claiming possession before running through to score.
Straight from the kick-off, the visitors struck one last time, with Barker breaking the line before offloading for another try. With Divan Pieters adding the conversion, Paarl Gim reached 80 points for a second week in succession.
Boland next plays on 26 July when they host Bishops.
Paarl Gim returns to action on the same day, hosting Wynberg Boys’ High in Paarl.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Durbanville visited Paarl Boys’ High at the Buco Brug Street Stadium.
Boishaai powered their way to a 54-14 win, making a fiery comeback after going down 0-7 in the first two minutes of the match. For Durbanville, despite the big defeat, it was an improvement on their 7-73 loss on the same ground last year.
Thanks to free-flowing passing down the wing, Durbanville flyhalf Valrhinio Olckers found himself with space down the flank, where he ran in for the score, and inside centre Kyle Albertus added the extras from the corner as the visitors snatched a shock lead.
The hosts struck back quickly with two tries before the 10-minute mark through hooker JP Norton and lock Jayden Joubert.
Loosehead prop Jordan Jooste picked up and ploughed over for five in the 18th minute and when Iwan Jordaan added the extras it was 19-7.
After the break, Boishaai hit their stride, running in three early tries. Durbanville found a reply through eighthman Adrian Freemantle, who squeezed his way over for a try after the Cape Town school had laid siege to the home team’s try line. Albertus added the extras.
The home side finished strongly, bagging two more tries in the last five minutes of the game.
Paarl Boys’ High returns to action on 26 July, when they host SACS, while Durbanville faces Brackenfell that same day.
Scorers:
Paarl Gimnasium 80 (33) – Tries: Markus Muller (5), Dawid Badenhorst (3), Charles Whitehead, Johan Kleynhans, Divan Pieters. Conversions: Markus Muller (9), Divan Pieters. Boland Landbou 29 (12) – Tries: Juan Visagie (2), Pieter Bergh, Jayden Brits, Stephan Griesel. Conversions: Jayden Brits (2).
Paarl Boys’ High 54 (19) – Tries: Jordaan Jooste (2), JP Norton, Jayden Joubert, Cruz Davey, Kobus Wilken, Juan van der Merwe, Gavie Kok. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (5), Francois van der Merwe, Steph van der Merwe. Hoërskool Durbanville 14 (7) – Tries: Valrhinio Olckers, Adrian Freemantle. Conversions: Kyle Albertus (2).
Other results
u19 – Boland Landbou I 29 Paarl Gim I 80, Boland Landbou II 17 Paarl Gim II 50, Boland Landbou III 13 Paarl Gim III 40, Boland Landbou IV 7 Paarl Gim IV 38, Boland Landbou V 26 Paarl Gim V 22, Boland Landbou VI 0 Paarl Gim VI 19, Paarl Boys II 64 Durbanville II 3.
u16 – Boland Landbou A 9 Paarl Gim A 10, Boland Landbou B 6 Paarl Gim B 31, Boland Landbou C 7 Paarl Gim 29, Boland Landbou D 29 Paarl Gim D 31, Paarl Boys A 26 Durbanville A 7.
u15 – Boland Landbou A 7 Paarl Gim A 39, Boland Landbou B 19 Paarl Gim B 31, Boland Landbou C 12 Paarl Gim C 10, Boland landbou D 13 Paarl Gim D 5, Paarl Boys A 35 Durbanville A 11.
u14 – Boland Landbou A 0 Paarl Gim A 15, Boland Landbou B 7 Paarl Gim 70, Boland Landbou C 0 Paarl Gim C 36, Boland Landbou D 0 Paarl Gim D 80, Paarl Boys A 17 Durbanville A 0.
SACS fullback Quewinn Lackay is a dangerous weapon on the counterattack.
Wynberg Boys’ High visits SACS on Saturday, favoured to claim a victory in their King Price Derby Series match on Memorial-A Field, which kicks off at 12:30.
In 2024, there was almost nothing to separate the sides, with Wynberg winning 9-7 at home in August, and SACS triumphing 30-29, also at home, in June.
This time out, though, Wynberg looks like a far more solid bet than SACS to win. Last Saturday, they fell to a hard-fought 17-21 loss to Paul Roos Gimnasium. On the same day, Paarl Gimnasium overran SACS 82-7. Will SACS suffer a hangover from that heavy defeat?
The weather forecast for Saturday looks perfect for rugby – a cool 16 degrees Celsius, with little wind and lots of sunshine.
The home team will, unfortunately, be without their captain, Siphesihle Mbungendlu, a member of the Western Province XV Craven Week side, due to injury. It’s a loss they can’t dwell on.
Luvuyo Mbuli will pack down in his stead on the side of the SACS’ scrum.
Wynberg will look to their powerful prop, Luqobo Makwedini, to deliver domination in the set scrums, while their captain and lock, Jaythen Orange, will be a tough challenge for the home side in the lineouts.
Behind their pack, Wynberg possesses many skilful playmakers, including flyhalf Achmat Behardien and centres Kunene Gadu and Yaqeen Ahmed. They’ve consistently shown the ability to unlock the toughest of defences.
SACS will aim to slow down Wynberg’s rapid phase play with strong counter rucks at the breakdown. Much will depend on how well they read the visitors’ inventive attacking play.
Wynberg will head into the contest with confidence. They’ve played some outstanding rugby this season, attacking with speed and creative freedom, which will ask serious questions of the SACS defence.
They’ll be eager to get the ball out wide where their hot-stepping wings can show off their fancy footwork.
Craven Week scrumhalf MornéNoble, besides offering a clean service from the base of the scrum, is also a dangerous man around the fringes of rucks and mauls, and he has a sharp eye for a gap. SACS will need to be on their toes when he has the ball in his hands.
Teams
SACS vs Wynberg, Memorial-A Field, Cape Town, 12:30
SACS: 15 Quewinn Lackay, 14 Josh Gorgens, 13 Mikey Skeeles, 12 Nathan Potgieter, 11 Imtiaz Abrahams, 10 Robert Boyes, 9 Matt Forbes, 8 Daniel Grant, 7 Harrison Bell, 6 Luvuyo Mbuli, 5 Cameron Hirst, 4 Reuben De Klerk, 3 Qiraan Hermans, 2 Sango Zangqa, 1 Qawe Sawuka.
Wynberg: 15 Daniel Ould, 14 Chad Campbell, 13 Kunene Gadu, 12 Yaqeen Ahmed, 11 Albert Lourens, 10 Achmat Behardien, 9 Morné Noble, 8 Alvn Machinja, 7 Tjeripo Karuhumba, 6 Alex Barrett, 5 James Orwin, 4 Jaythen Orange (Captain), 3 Luqobo Makwedini, 2 Noah Gila, 1 Luke Miller.
The Ocks’ twins, Jadon and Jason deliver a sharp edge to the Boland Landbou attack. Photo: Frans Lombard/Actionpix.
On Saturday, Boland Landbou faces a massive challenge. They host the potent Paarl Gimnasium on the Perdeberg AField at 12:45.
The last time they met, in Paarl, in April 2024, Gim ran out convincing 47-13 winners.
The visitors will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak in 2025, which includes an emphatic 82-7 win over SACS last Saturday.
The farmers were thumped 74-14 by Affiesat the Absa Wildeklawer tournament, in Kimberley, while Affies held Gim to a 16-16 draw at the NMI ToyotaNoord/Suid, in Paarl, which suggests the gap between the sides is wide. Boland Landbou is a far different beast on their home ground, however. But there is no doubt that they are the long-shot underdogs.
No injuries have been listed for the game.
Saturday’s weather forecast is for a cloudy but almost windless day, with the temperature topping out at 18 degrees Celsius.
Boland will look to playmaker and scrumhalf, JaydenBrits, to lead their attack against the stonewall that is Paarl Gim.
They possess fantastic firepower in the form of twin brothers, Jadon and Jason Ocks, at fullback and outside centre respectively. They add options to the Boland attack with their strong running and passing games.
The challenge for the Boland forwards will be to win their own set pieces, and retain possession at the breakdown, in order to give their creative backs as many plays as possible.
Paarl Gim will be led by their valiant captain Markus Muller, who scored two tries and nine conversions in challenging conditions for an incredible 28 points against SACS last week. With quality and confidence in every position, Gimmies are a nightmare for defences.
Gimmies break through the King Edward VII defensive line at the NMI Toyota Noord/Suid Tournament. Photo: Frans Lombard/Actionpix
With the quick passing between their half-back pairing, scrumhalf Mickyle Booise and flyhalf Louis Koen, lightning wing ThomasSaunders will look to wrap around and break the line for tries.
Muller will whip torpedo passes out wide when he isn’t breaking the line to score himself.
Paarl Gimnasium’s offload game is the key to their offensive might, and the explosive speed of their forwards, including lock Migael Turner, flank Alain Voges, and the powerful eighthman Quinton Potgieter builds massive momentum that is extremely difficult to contain.
Teams
Boland Landbou vs Paarl Gim, Perdeberg A Field, Paarl, 12:45
Boland Landbou: 15 Jadon Ocks, 14 Aleit Stander, 13 Jason Ocks, 12 Dante Christians, 11 Gehano van Bo, 10 Pieter Bergh, 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Juan Visage, 7 Stephan Griesel, 6 Blake De Kock, 5 Chad Meintjies, 4 Kody Nell, 3 Derico Messina, 2 MJ Harmse, 1 Adrian le Roux.
Paarl Gim: 15 Dawid Badenhorst, 14 Johan Kleynhans, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Barker, 11 Thomas Saunders, 10 Louis Koen, 9 Mickyle Booise, 8 Quinton Potgieter, 7 Alain Voges, 6 Hendre van der Westhuizen, 5 Migael Turner, 4 Bernhardt Schulze, 3 Armand Brand, 2 Charles Whitehead, 1 Pieta Cilliers.
Rondebosch Boys’ High hosts Diocesan College in a King Price Derby Series match on Saturday.
The big Bish/Bosh clash kicks off at 14:10 on the Tinkie Heyns Field.
When the southern suburbs rivals met at Rondebosch last season, the home team scored a 22-5 victory. They also won 31-16 on the Piley Rees in 2024.
‘Bosch, though, enters the clash hurting after a going down 33-38 to Wynberg Boys’ High in their last outing, a couple of weeks back.
Bishops, meanwhile, has lost four on the trot since a 14-14 draw with SACS. They’ve been on a tough run, facing Stellenberg, Wynberg, Paarl Gimnasium, and Paarl Boys’ High since. In fact, one has to go back to 12 April to find the visitors’ last win, a 24-12 defeat of Brackenfell.
Advantage Rondebosch. But they’re missing some influential players for Saturday’s big showdown. Prop Damian Spence, flank Linakho Mehlomakulu, and scrumhalf Caleb Bell are all out.
The Saturday weather forecast for Cape Town promises a cool 16 degrees Celsius, with little wind and lots of sun.
Bishops will look to their hooker, captain and one of their try scorers against Paarl Boys’ High last week, Daniel van den Heever, to lead from the front.
Playing in Paarl, Bishops showed admirable resilience to score two tries late in the second half during their 12-33 defeat to Boishaai. They’ll hope that was a spark that will burst into a flame this weekend. They lean on the rolling maul in the opposition’s 22, but, in typical Bishops’ style, they like to get the ball out wide to the flanks at speed.
Bishops hit the ball up near the Stellenberg try line. Photo: Warwick Richter
Rondebosch boasts strong versatility in their attack. Captain and flank Josh Neill always leads from the front. He reads the game expertly and is as likely to pop up around the rucks and mauls as he is on the wing, which was where he found himself to score a superb try against Wynberg.
Right wing Matthew Galpin is an elusive runner with quick feet, while the centre combination of Harry Soboil and Randall John Davids run sharp lines to draw in and confuse opposition defenders.
Once inside the 22, it’s tough to stop ‘Bosch’s pick and go game. They’re relentless and patient, so defensive discipline and physicality will be key for Bishops.
Teams
Diocesan College vs Rondebosch Boys’ High, Tinkie Heyns Field, Cape Town, 14:10
Bishops: 15 Lulibo Nyawula, 14 Ben Koenig, 13 Eljaron Geduld, 12 Boytjie Fyfer, 11 Ben Myburgh, 10 Rynard Gordon, 9 Max Marr, 8 Ethan Venter, 7 Jack Venter, 6 Yazeed Salaam, 5 Rieko Kidha, 4 Alex Vintcent, 3 Chris du Toit, 2 Daniel van den Heever (Captain), 1 Andrew Levett.
Rondebosch: 15 Daniel Cooke, 14 Matthew Galpin, 13 Randall John Davids, 12 Harry Soboil, 11 David Kadima, 10 Sebastian Boshoff, 9 James Kirsten, 8 Connor Arbuthnot, 7 Joshua Neill (Captain), 6 Alutha Wesi, 5 Bertus Versfeld, 4 Danil-Nicolas Oosthuizen, 3 Matthew van der Merwe, 2 Ismaeel Conrad, 1 Bulela Mbala.
Fresh off a 40-0 win over Hoërskool Belville in their last outing, SACS faced a different beast in Cape Town on Saturday.
Their visitors were Paarl Gimnasium, widely regarded as the best team in South Africa in 2025. The previous weekend they had overrun Bishops 50-0.
Gimmies were the hot favourites and it didn’t take long for them to show why.
They opened the scoring in the third minute of play. After attempting a rolling maul just 10 metres from the SACS goal line, the maul went to ground, but the ball was knocked backwards. Scrumhalf Mickyle Booise snapped it up, saw an opportunity, and sped through space to score. Paarl Gim captain Markus Muller added the extras.
In the 14th minute, Gim again profited after a rolling maul. When the ball was knocked back to Booise, it went through a series of quick phases, which ended when the industrious lock Migael Turner was put through a gap for five. Muller added two points from the kicking tee.
In the 22nd minute, SACS got one back. Deep inside the Gim 22, the home side hit it up before their big tighthead QiraanHermans, ploughed through for five a try. As Mikey Skeeles attempted the conversion, the ball, for a second time, fell over. He picked it up and calmly slotted a drop kick to make it a seven-point play.
Gim was soon back to bossing the contest, however. Two minutes later, when Muller saw space, he went full throttle, running 60 metres to score a try.
Then, off a lineout on the SACS 22m line, Gimmies swiftly moved the ball flat down the line, where eighthman Alain Voges was put through a gap to score under the poles. Muller slotted the conversion.
With halftime imminent, SACS booted the ball downfield after turning over possession on their goal line. That didn’t turn out well.
The ball was collected by the speedy left-wing Thomas Saunders, who ran towards the opposition forwards, then grubbered the ball forward. He collected it and made it all the way to the five-metre line before offloading in the tackle for flank Jean Dreyer to stretch over for a try. With the conversion, Muller added another couple to his tally.
At halftime, Paarl Gim was large and in charge, leading 33-7.
It took Gimmies only 27 seconds of the second half to add to their tally. After SACS fielded the kick-off and booted the ball downfield, the visitors launched another scything counterattack.
Making the ball do the work, they fed it down the line. Muller, their talisman in the midfield, ran diagonally to draw in the defenders before popping a sweet inside ball to wing, Jeraahno Jagers, who stepped his man and ran in behind the poles. Muller made the easy conversion.
The hits kept coming for SACS. After receiving quick ball from a ruck inside the hosts’ 22m area, Saunders used his blistering pace to cut the line and score five. Yet again, Muller converted successfully in the 42nd minute.
Then, with a quick tap-and-go inside the SACS 22, Booise gave a short pass to Dreyer, who burst over the line with defenders wrapped around him. Muller’s good day with the boot continued.
In the 54th minute, from a scrum on the hosts’ five-metre line, Paarl Gim flyhalf Louis Koen ran a scissors move with the Muller, who raced down an inviting alley to score another try, which he followed with a quick drop-kick for the extras.
It was one-way traffic as Paarl Gim kept bolstering their total. From a scrum on the SACS 22, they sent the ball down the line, putting Saunders through a gap for his second. With another accurate kick, Muller made it 9 from 10 off the kicking tee, which rubbed further salt into the home team’s wounds.
A tap-and-go in the 64th minute brought further reward for Gim, who hit it up through a series of phases before again breaching the SACS try line through Christiaan Burger. Reserve fullback Divan Pieters, added the extras.
There was more to come in the last minute of the game, even though Gim had sent on their reserves by then. An attack that was started inside their half finished with the visitors crossing for their twelfth try, scored by reserve scrumhalf Nicolaz Burger. Pieters scored the last two points of the game from the kicking tee.
Full-time score: 82-7 in favour of Paarl Gim.
Gimmies shone with their individual brilliance and team chemistry alike, completely outplaying SACS. Boland Landbou will be weary of the Paarl Gim storm blowing their way next Saturday.
SACS faces another tough opponent next Saturday when they host WynbergBoys’ High.
Scorers
Paarl Gimnasium 82 (33) – Tries: Markus Muller (2), Thomas Saunders (2), Jean Dreyer (2), Jeraahno Jagers, Mickyle Booise, Alain Voges, Migael Turner, Christiaan Burger, Nicolaz Burden. Conversions: Markus Miller (9), Divan Pieters (2). SACS 7 (7) – Tries: Qiraan Hermans. Conversion: Mikey Skeeles.
Results
U19 – SACS I 7 Paarl Gim I 82; SACS II 7 Paarl Gim II 52; SACS III 5 Paarl Gim III 52; SACS IV 0 Paarl Gim IV 90; SACS V 0 Paarl Gim V 58; SACS VI 15 Paarl Gim VI 41.
U16 – SACS A 10 Paarl Gim A 30; SACS B 12 Paarl Gim B 20; SACS C 39 Paarl Gim C 7; SACS D 0 Paarl Gim D 40.
U15 – SACS A 0 Paarl Gim A 59; SACS B 14 Paarl Gim B 14; SACS C 12 Paarl Gim C 19; SACS D 12 Paarl Gim D 17.
U14 – SACS A 3 Paarl Gim A 29; SACS B 0 Paarl Gim B 71; SACS C 0 Paarl Gim C 48; SACS D 0 Paarl Gim D 78; SACS E 0 Paarl Gim E 48.
When their early afternoon game kicked off in Paarl, Boishaai were revving their engines with confidence after handing Boland Landbou a 69-12 trouncing last weekend.
Meanwhile, Bishops were seeking redemption for their 6-73 loss in Paarl last year and also aiming to make amends for a 0-50 setback against a ruthless Paarl Gim side last weekend.
The home side made an early breakthrough when right wing Jeneal Davids put in a short sprint before passing inside to his fullback Mark Grindlay, who then fed scrumhalf Liam de Villiers for the opening score in the sixth minute. Inside centre IwanJordaan added the extras.
De Villiers put his team back on the front foot with an excellent 50-22 in the ninth minute.
From there, after a series of phases, Mark Grindlay ran a hard line into contact and crashed over despite three defenders still hanging onto him. Jordaan narrowly missed the conversion attempt.
After a tough opening 10 minutes, the Cape Town school found some momentum. They had their chances with a few 22m entries, but the Boishaai defence was valiant, at times tackling the ball carrier into touch, and at other times pulling off turnovers at the breakdown.
At halftime, it was 12-0 in favour of the hosts.
From the start of the second half, Paarl Boys’ High exerted pressure on their white-clad opponents.
Just four minutes in, from the five-metre line, Boishaai hooker Tommy Muller took a tap-and-go and charged over the try line for five points. Jordaan made the conversion to extend the home side’s lead to 19-0.
Boys’ High was reduced to 14 players in the 42nd minute when their flyhalf, Francois van der Merwe, was sent to the sin bin for tackling a Bishops’ player off the ball. Four minutes later, Bishops had one of their forwards sin-binned for an off the ball incident.
A minute later, from a lineout, Boishaai performed a textbook rolling maul, carrying captain and eighthman Steph van der Merwe over the whitewash for a try. Jordaan was bang on target with the conversion.
The hosts continued to roll. After playing a series of phases from an overthrow at their lineout on the Bishops’ five-metre line, Boishaai fed the ball wide, where outside centre Tristan Joubert ran in from an overlap and Jordaan added a touchline conversion.
The visitors’ resilience finally reaped reward in the 61st minute.
From a ruck on the Paarl five-metre line, scrumhalf Rynard Gordon ran sideways with the ball in hand, then gave a short inside ball to centre Boytjie Fyfer, who burst through the gap and dived over the line for five. Outside centre Eljaron Geduld added the extras.
Bishops also had the final say with a try in the final minute of the match. After two phases from a lineout on the Boishaai five-metre line, the visitors’ captain Daniel van den Heever, picked up and charged over the line for a try. Geduld missed the tight-angled conversion.
Full-time score: 33-12 in favour of Boishaai.
Despite the defeat, Bishops put up a proud fight. They produced a much-improved result over last year’s fixture, and it was a character-filled response to last week’s thumping by Paarl Gim. They have a big clash awaiting them next week when they visit their rivals Rondebosch.
Paarl Boys will be satisfied with yet another home victory, which brought the curtain down on their second term commitments. They next host SACS on 26 July.
Scores
Paarl Boys’ High 33 () – Tries – Liam de Villiers, Mark Grindlay, Tommy Muller, Steph van der Merwe, Tristan Joubert. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (4). Diocesan College 12 () – Tries: Boytjie Fyfer, Daniel van den Heever. Conversion: Geduld.
Oom Polla’s boys, meanwhile, headed into Saturday’s showdown feeling confident after a sound performance in a 34-5 win over Stellenberg last Friday.
First blood went the way of the home side in the 12th minute. From a tap and go on the Paul Roos five-metre line, scrumhalf Morné Noble released a flat pass to the oncoming tank, tighthead prop Luqobo Makwedini, who powered over the line for five points. Inside centre Yaqeen Ahmed added the extras.
Then, in a fortuitous manner, the boys in black and white doubled their lead in the 18th minute. Flyhalf Achmat Behardien had the ball ripped from his grasp in a tackle. However, the fetching Gimnasium defender knocked the ball forwards, where it was collected by right wing ChadCampbell, who grabbed his chance and raced through to score. Ahmed again split the uprights to make it a seven-point play.
In the 32nd minute, Paul Roos finally got onto the scoreboard. About 25 metres out from the Wynberg try line, PRG scrumhalf Liam de Silva intercepted a pass. The visitors then carried the ball over the gain line for a number of phases until eighthman Gert Kemp barged his way through for a try. Scrumhalf Jan-Jan Nel knocked over the conversion.
At halftime, it was 14-7 in favour of Wynberg.
After the break, Paul Roos came out guns blazing. They levelled the scores in the 39th minute, thanks to a textbook rolling maul, which came from a five-metre lineout.
Kemp put the finishing touch on the attack, dotting down for his second try, and when Nel coolly slotted the conversion from a narrow angle it was 14-14.
In the 52nd minute, Paul Roos right wing Divan Lamprecht, was sent to the sin bin for blocking a Wynberg back from chasing a kick. The home side opted for a shot at poles and Ahmed tacked on three points from the kicking tee.
They trailed 14-17, but the Maroon Machine turned to their power game to take them to victory.
Utilising their maul, they drove deep into the Wynberg 22. When the maul went to ground, the referee reached into his pocket and showed flank Tjeripo Karuhumba a yellow card. He also awarded the visitors a penalty try. Those proved to be the winning points.
Full-time score: 21-17 in favour of Paul Roos Gimnasium.
The biggest winners were, in many ways, the spectators, who were richly rewarded with an even contest that neither side deserved to lose.
SACS will have to watch out, when this wounded Wynberg side visits them next Saturday. Paul Roos, meanwhile, will begin a long break. They next host Rondebosch Boys’ High on 26 July.
Scores
Wynberg Boys’ High: Tries – Luqobo Makwedini, Chad Campbell. Conversions – Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Penalties: Yaqeen Ahmed; Paul Roos (PRG): Tries – Gert Kemp (2), penalty try. Conversions: Jan-Jan Nel (2).
Results
U19 – Wynberg I 17 Paul Roos I 21; Wynberg II 13 Paul Roos II 30; Wynberg III 3 Paul Roos III 17; Wynberg IV 7 Paul Roos IV 47; Wynberg V 0 Paul Roos V 43; Wynberg VI 5 Paul Roos VI 36; Wynberg VII 0 Paul Roos VII 81.
U16 – Wynberg A 7 Paul Roos A 36; Wynberg B 0 Paul Roos B 47; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 59; Wynberg D 0 Paul Roos D 85.
U15 – Wynberg A 18 Paul Roos A 50; Wynberg B 21 Paul Roos B 28; Wynberg C 9 Paul Roos C 48; Wynberg D 18 Paul Roos D 22; Wynberg E 9 Paul Roos F 54.
U14 – Wynberg A 0 Paul Roos A 26; Wynberg B 10 Paul Roos B 42; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 41; Wynberg D 7 Paul Roos D 77; Wynberg E 12 Paul Roos G 36.
Wynberg Boys’ High kicked off at 12:30 against Paul Roos Gimnasium on Hawthornden Field, on Saturday, intent on pulling off a home win.