Boys' High Far too Good
There was just too much purpose in what the home side did, and by half-time they were already leading 34-0.
In that first half Boys' High scored five tries, four of them when Bishops kicked downfield in a lethal transfer of possession. It was strange. The Paarl field has been widened and the Paarl side played unusually attractive rugby, while Bishops, who ran the ball in their own 22, kicked outside of it, to their detriment.
Bishops kicked and Khanya Ncusane countered. Lots of Paarl players handled and Thaakir Abrahams nipped over in the left corner. 5-0 after the opening minute. Four minutes later, it was 8-0 when Gianni Lombard kicked a long, angled penalty.
Lombard who holds a world junior hurdles record spent much of last year concentrating on his athletics but his return to rugby has been exciting.
Bishops kicked and Thaakir Abrahams countered at speed down the left before passing inside to Gianni Lombard, who scored. 15-0 after 11 minutes.
Bishops kicked and Thaakir Abrahams got the ball inside his own half. He countered and this time did not pass, scoring himself after a long run. 20-0 after 14 minutes.
From a scrum Boys' High went blind and the ball came back to massive Salmaan Moerat who scored. 27-0 after 22 minutes.
Bishops kicked downfield and Francke Horn, the strong, energetic Boys' High flank got the ball and simply ran straight through for a try under the posts.
Early in the second half, Boys' High won a turnover and moved the ball to the left wing where Khanya Ncusane was and the big No.8 scored. 41-0 after 38 minutes.
From the kick-off Bishops tried, as they usually did, to run the ball out of their own 22. Things went awry and the burly Boys' High prop Reece Bezuidenhout scored. 48-0 after 42 minutes.
Then Bishops scored two tries as they ran with more purpose and fullback Brandon van der Westhuizen joined the line, beat two defenders and scored in the left corner. 48-5 after 45 minutes.
There was a sad moment after this. Bishops were penalised and Boys' High, leading 48-5 and in the Bishops 22, kicked the simple penalty. 51-5 after 11 minutes.
Bishops again attacked. Boys' High were penalised and scrumhalf Harry Makin tapped and darted over for a try, which he converted. 51-12 after 53 minutes.
Then again Bishops ran out of their 22, and this time it worked as they swept downfield, but they were held up over the goal-line and Boys' High survived, having the last say when Francke burst over the line.
Scorers:
For Paarl Boys' High:
Tries: Thaakir Abrahams 2, Gianni Lombard, Salmaan Moerat, Francke Horne 2, Khanya Ncusane, Reece Bezuidenhout
Cons: Gianni Lombard 6
Pens: Gianni Lombard 2
For Bishops:
Tries: Brandon van der Westhuizen, Harry Makin
Con: Harry Makin
Teams:
Paarl Boys' High: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Urgene Johannes, 13 Handri van Heerden, 12 Gerdré Ferreira, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Rayhaan Lombard, 9 Michael Visser, 8 Khanya Ncusane, 7 Francke Horn, 6 Charl Serdyn, 5 Ewie Loubser, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Adam Neethling, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Reece Bezuidenhout.
Bishops: 15 Brandon van der Westhuizen, 14 Murray Bruce, 13 Seb Prentice, 12 Lubelo Scott, 11 Ross Goodwin, 10 James Macdonald, 9 Harry Makin, 8 Jean Pienaar (captain), 7 Christian Stehlik, 6 Ghaalieb Kenny, 5 Luke Viljoen, 4 Alasdair Jewson, 3 JP Smith, 2 Jason Hofmeyr, 1 Zico Oaker.
Replacements: Clyde de Beer, Mukisa Mujulizi, Ross Doyle, Daniel van der Valk, Matt Norton, Reece Meyer, Tristan Hermans