Boishaai win in Stellenbosch
Paarl Boys' High went over to Stellenbosch for a Premier Interschools match and beat Paul Roos 22-17 on Saturday, reversing the trend of home victories in matches between the two schools.
It was a wonderfully lively match before a big and enthusiastic crowd on a sunny Stellenbosch afternoon.
It was a great occasion, a credit to both great schools. Songs were sung, balloons were released and the teams each ran out through a tunnel of school-mates. There was lots of energy on the Markötter Field.
Paarl Boys' High scored first and looked like scoring more often but the resilient home side was still in touch at the end. Boishaai certainly deserved their victory.
Two great passes by flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis created the first two Boishaai tries. The first, a brilliant long pass, to speedy Darian Hock gave the fullback room to beat his man on the outside. He passed to wing Dante van deer Merwe who raced down the left touchline until, confronted by Jason Worrall, he passed back inside to Hock who scored. Du Plessis converted. 7-0 after 9 minutes.
Paul Roos then had a good passage of play when Luhann de Kock broke and sent Pieter Rossouw racing up the field. Burly Ramone Samuels charged on, and eventually a penalty gave Worrall, such a star player, a chance to reduce the score to 7-3 after 15 minutes.
A long run by Rossouw from the kick-off had the home side attacking again till some clever footwork and a swerve by Worrall beat three defenders and he scored at the posts. Paul Roos led 10-7 after 17 minutes.
Scrumhalf Pieter Schoonraad was often the spark of Boishaai's best attacks. He started an attack down the left and then Boishaai went right. Du Plessis sent out a long pass to right wing Tiaan Mouton who gathered the bouncing ball and scored with ease. 14-10.
Inside centre Henri Nimb won a turnover and off Schoonraad went giving Dewald Naudé a short pass on the right and the centre went on the 50-metre run to score. 19-10 after 34 minutes.
That was the half-time score and Boishaai looked to be sitting pretty.
They 'scored a try' at the start of the half when Paul Roos flung the ball back wildly from touch but the referee's assistant explained that the Paul Roos player had actually pout a foot on the line before flinging wildly infield.
But Du Plessis goaled a penalty. 22-10 after 49 minutes.
Paul Roos then attacked with vigour. De Kock was close. Boishaai were penalised and Paul Roos tapped and bashed, but the defence held. Another penalty and Paul Roos had a five-metre line-out. They mauled and got closer and close till scrumhalf SP Ferreira scored an unlikely try. He got the ball close to the line and managed somehow to squirm, swivel, stretch and score despite being held by no fewer than five defenders. 22-17 with six minutes to go.
Paul Roos attacked again when Rossouw intercepted but with time up Boishaai stole their line out and then did a silly thing. They threw the ball into touch, hoping to end the game but instead were - rightly - penalised.
Boishaai have a lot to thank their swarming defence, their superior line-out and turnovers won for this victory. They are a good side.
The scorers:
For Paul Roos:
Tries: Jason Worrall, SP Ferreira
Cons: Worrall 2
Pen: Worrall
For Paarl Boys' High:
Tries: Darian Hock, Tiaan Mouton, Dewald Naudé
Cons: Jean-Luc du Plessis 2
Pen: Du Plessis
The teams:
Paul Roos: 15 Jason Worrall, 14 Luhann de Kock, 13 Michal Hazner, 12 Marcus Geldenhuys, 11 Dalen Goliath, 10 Chris Smit, 9 SP Ferreira, 8 Ruan Rossouw, 7 Pieta Smith, 6 Ramone Samuels, 5 Jan Uys, 4 Leonard Duvenage, 3 Corné Stemmet, 2 Gerrie le Roux, 1 Petrus Senekal.
Replacements: 16 JP Botha, 17 Chad Solomon, 18 Albie Louw, 19 Ridge Armstrong, 20 Clint Strydom, 21 Pieter Rossouw, 22 Muller Brink.
Coaches: Thys Stoltz, Hanno Coetzee, Coenraad de Villiers
Paarl Boys' High: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Tiaan Mouton, 13 Dewald Naudé, 12 Henri Nimb, 11 Dante van der Merwe, 10 Jean Luc du Plessis (vice-captain), 9 Pieter Schoonraad, 8 Jeandré Brink, 7 Ryno van der Merwe, 6 Derek Taylor, 5 Sebastian Ferreira, 4 Burger van Niekerk, 3 Liam Hendricks, 2 Craig Corbett (captain), 1 Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Daniel du Plessis, 17 Brandon Beukman, 18 Lombard van Jaarsveld, 19 Ruan Nimb, 20 Hanno Kotze, 21 Fernando Kermis, 22 JP Versfeld.
Coaches: Elmo Wolfaardt, Pierre Ribbens, Gerrie Visser
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (Western Province Referees' Society)