Interschools!

It is the first week of August. That means that the Interschools will break out in Paarl - not an interschools THE Interschools, the original one, the prototype, the biggest in the world - Galpil vs Bloedwors, Paarl Boys' High vs Paarl Gimnasium at Faure Street.

There is nothing like it. The whole of the lovely Boland town knows it's on and is involved. Nobody in Paarl will be neutral about it. You are either Blue for Boys' High or green for Gimmies. It is a town divided.

Celebrations before and after are divided. The ground is divided - green on the left and blue on the right. On the left your  programme will be green, on the right blue.

The ground will be packed with passionate people. And mercifully it seems that there will not be a repeat of last weekend's ghastly weather.

There are lots of activities which last the whole week, but the climax will be the rugby match which will, again, be broadcast live on television. Win that match and you are the kings of schools rugby, regardless of what happens anywhere else.

Going to interschools is not like going to any other rugby match. This is an experience.

In the Cape there used to be the Intervarsity - Cape Town vs Stellenbosch, Ikeys vs Maties. It still happens but not with the trimmings and enthusiasm  of pre 1970s. The Interschools has taken its place.

Next year Interschools will be a hundred years old. Usually it has been a close affair, but this century Gimmies have had the upper hand. Of the 13 matches this century, they have won nine, drawn won and lost three.

This year may well be the year that Boys' High change that, but for heaven's sake do not bet on it. If you do and get it wrong you will never forget.

Last year there was an outstanding rugby player playing for Paul Roos. His name it seemed was never mentioned without reference to his father, Bradley Worral, who intercepted a pass and raced away to score the winning try in 1982 when Gimmies were favourites to win.

And when the game is over and all go whom to celebrate or mope, that's it. It won't happen for another year. In fact neither school will play rugby the week after it as they recover, try to get some equilibrium.

Season so Far

This year Boys' High have played in many places, including Japan where they were the losers in the final of the Sanix tournament . In South Africa they have played 16 matches, won 13, drawn one and lost two.

Gimmies have played 13 matches, won nine and lost four.

On the FNB Top 20 Boys' High are ranked seventh, Gim 17th.

Results against Common Opponents

Bishops: Boys' High won 36-3; Gim won 34-12

Boland Landbou: Boys' High won 18-14; Gim won 25-23

Drostdy: Boys' High won 26-10; Gim won 13-10

Outeniqua: Boys' High won 18-13; Gim lost 23-16

Paul Roos: Boys' High lost 17-13; Gim lost 16-10

There is not enough there to encourage betting.

Representative Teams

The players of both schools are eligible to play for Western Province.

SA Schools

At the end of the Craven Week 55 players were chosen for trials.

Paarl Boys' High: Ruben de Villiers

Paarl Gim: Jaco Willemse

The 55 was reduced to a squad of 28 to play England, France and Wales. Jaco Willemse of Gim was chosen for SA Schools.

In addition Grant Hermanus of Gim played for SA schools in 2013, ineligible this year because he turns 19.

Craven Week

Paarl Boys' High: Ruben de Villiers, Wikus Groenewald, Charl-Francois du Toit

Paarl Gim: Jaco Willemse, Gavin van der Berg

Academy Week

Paarl Boys' High: Derrick Marais, Rayhann Lombaard

Paarl Gim: Joshua Vermeulen, Taigh Schoor, Zandré de Koker, Johan Visser,

Teams

Paarl Gim: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Paul Human, 13 Taigh Schoor, 12 Willie Smal, 11 Leaviel Gouws, 10 Walter Smit, 9 Grant Williams, 8 HJ Luus, 7 Dieter Leicher, 6 Gustav Marais, 5 Ernst van Rhyn, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Adriaan Geldenhuys, 2 Marco Mostert, 1 Gavin van den Berg

Replacements: 16 Willem Moolman, 17 Johan Grobbelaar, 18 Tiaan Kriel, 19 Hennie Beukes, 20 Johan Visser, 21 Wayno Visagie

Coaches: Christoff Lötter, Hendrik Weber

Paarl Boys' High: 15 Rayhaan Lombaard, 14 Tyreeq Cassiem-February, 13 Curtley Grain, 12 Heinrich Möller, 11 Wian Gouws, 10 Stefan Gouws, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 CF du Toit, 7 Christo Mostert, 6 Andreas van Wyk, 5 Ruben de Villiers, 4 Wian Botes, 3 Derrick Marais, 2 Carel van Zyl, 1 Quintin Vorster

Coaches: Sean Erasmus, Elmo Wolfaardt

Date: Saturday, 2 August 2014

1st kick-off: 15.30

Venue: Faure Street Stadium, Paarl

TV Channel: SSI / SS1HD

Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 17°C, dropping to  8°C

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (Western Province Referees' Society)

Rugby Programme

Thursday, 31 July 2014

B Field

16.10: 7th XV

Friday, 1 August 2014

A Field

14.00: 4th XV

15.10: Under-14A

16.15: 3rd XV

B Field

14.00: Under-16B

15.10: 5th XV

16.20: 6th XV

C Field

16.20: Under-16C

15.10: Under-16D

D Field

14.00: Under-14B

15.00: Under-14C

16.00: Under-14D

E Field

16.00: Under-15B

15.00: Under-15C

Saturday, 2 August 2014

11.35: Under-15A

12.45: Under-16A

14.05: 2nd XV

15.15: Marchpast

15.30: 1st XV

Results Down the Years

1915: Boys' High won 10-0

1916: Gim won 7-5

1917: Gim won 3-0

1918: Gim won 3-0

1919: Gim won 9-0

1920: Gim won 20-0

1921: Draw 6-6

1922: Draw 3-3

1923: Boys' High won 3-0

1924: Boys' High won 13-5

1925: Boys' High won 7-3

1926: Boys' High won 6-5

1927: Gim won 5-3

1928: No match

1929: Draw 3-3

1930: Boys' High won 5-3

1931: Gim won 6-0

1932: Gim won 7-3

1933: Boys' High won 3-0

1934: Boys' High won 5-4

1935: Draw 0-0

1936: Gim won 11-6

1937: Gim won 5-3

1938: Gim won 5-3

1939: Gim won 9-8

1940: Draw 3-3

1941: Gim won 6-0

1942: Draw 0-0

1943: Gim won 9-6

1944: Boys' High won 6-0

1945: Boys' High won 14-6

1946: Draw 3-3

1947: Boys' High won 8-3

1948: Draw 3-3

1949: Gim won 9-3

1950: Boys' High won 6-3

1951: Boys' High won 6-0

1952: Boys' High won 11-0

1953: Boys' High won 6-5

1956: Gim won 6-3

1957: Gim won 5-3

1958: Gim won 11-0

1959: Boys' High won 11-3

1960: Gim won 9-3

1961: Boys' High won 6-0

1962: Boys' High won 6-0

1963: Boys' High won 8-0

1964: Gim won 9-8

1965: Gim won 11-0

1966: Gim won 8-0

1967: Gim won 8-6

1968: Gim won 3-0

1969: Boys' High won 8-5

1970: Gim won 19-8

1971: Boys' High won 11-6

1972: Boys' High won 6-3

1973: Boys' High won 19-6

1974: Gim won 9-3

1975: Boys' High won 3-0

1976: Gim won 8-6

1977: Boys' High won 15-6

1978: Gim won 13-10

1979: Gim won 12-6

1980: Gim won 9-3

1981: Gim won 12-0

1982: Boys' High won 16-15

1983: Gim won 15-6

1984: Gim won 10-4

1985: Boys' High won 16-6

1986: Draw 0-0

1987: Boys' High won 15-7

1988: Draw 6-6

1989: Gim won 15-4

1990: Boys' High won 10-6

1991: Boys' High won 8-4

1992: Gim won 20-15

1993: Boys' High won 19-17

1994: Boys' High won 11-6

1995: Boys' High won 17-3

1996: Gim won 18-16

1997: Gim won 13-10

1998: Boys' High won 16-5

1999: Gim won 13-6

2000: Boys' High won 15-7

2001: Boys' High won 12-3

2002: Gim won 15-0

2003: Boys' High won 25-6

2004: Gim won 13-3

2005: Gim won 22-10

2006: Gim won 23-17

2007: Gim won 10-0

2008: Gim won 35-8

2009: Boys' High won 24-12

2010: Draw 19-19

2011: Gim won 22-19

2012: Gim won 16-9

2013: Gim won 37-26