All roads lead to Faure Street as Paarl Gim and Boishaai both win penultimate fixtures
Paarl Boys’ High and Paarl Gimnasium both looked strong in the penultimate games of the season.
Boishaai bounced back after last week’s 26-22 defeat against Boland Landbou to beat Diocesan College 22-12.
Paarl Gimnasium also returned to winning ways after only managing a 10-all draw in George against Outeniqua the previous weekend to put Rondebosch Boys’ High away with 41-7.
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Boishaai looked dominant in their encounter against Diocesan College.
Their stalwart hooker, HB Odendaal, ran the show and scored twice before halftime to help his side to a healthy 15-0 lead at the break.
Bryan Burger (centre) was in phenomenal shape and was involved everywhere on the pitch.
Their grade 11 flanker, Rubin Dames, also stood out and was rewarded for his efforts with Boishaai’s only try in the second half, despite their continued dominance.
The SA Schools winger, Jameel de Jongh, scored a brace last year when Boishaai beat Bishops by 29-7. He crossed the try line again today as he continues to add to his incredible tally.
Though Bishops have experienced a strong season leading up to this game, they struggled to maintain possession and Boys’ High had the upper hand throughout most of the match. They came alive in the final 15 minutes when a try by Kashief Joseph, who came on as a replacement in the backline, seemed to provide the spark that they needed.
Their lightning-quick winger, Ayanda Bonoyi, scored another before the end of the match to reduce the deficit to 10 points, but it was too little, too late, and a win against Boishaai continues to evade the Bishops boys for a ninth consecutive year.
After last week’s defeat, this game was vitally important for the hosts to gain some momentum before they take on their biggest rivals in the Paarl derby next Saturday at Faure Street Stadium.
Paarl Gimnasium also flexed their muscles, beating Rondebosch Boys’ High comprehensively by 41-7.
Enzo Labuschagne (fullback) and Kobus Blanckenberg (centre) each crossed the line twice for the Paarl Juggernauts and the big forward pack also looked to be firing on all cylinders as Liam van der Merwe (prop), Xander Mynhardt (prop) and Nicus van Coller (eighth man) also got their names written on the score cards.
In the absence of their SA Schools flyhalf, Kyle Smith, their fullback, Tazreeq Moerat, who has been central to their success this year, stepped up to take over the kicking duties for his team.
The stage is perfectly set for the biggest inter-schools game in the world to produce another South African schoolboy rugby classic next weekend when Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High meet again.
Boland Landbou continued with their impressive end-of-season form, defeating SACS by 32-22 to back up their big victory against Boishaai last weekend.
Retagen van Rooi, their influential flyhalf, starred again. Van Rooi scored a try, three conversions and two penalties to contribute 17 of his team’s points.
To their credit, SACS put up a fight. Their trusted flyhalf, Rayaan Solomons, played well, and he and his team made the visitors sweat for a bit at the end of the game.
That said, Boland Landbou has become a strong, mature side over the season and they were able to secure the victory.
They host Paul Roos next Saturday for what promises to be another extremely exciting matchup in the Paarl that weekend.
Scorers:
Paarl Boys’ High 22 (15) – Tries: HB Odendaal (2), Jameel de Jongh, Rubin Dames. Conversion: Daniel van der Merwe. Diocesan College 12 (0) – Tries: Kashief Joseph, Ayanda Bonoyi. Conversion: Shaywan Blanckenberg.
Paarl Gimnasium 41 (20) – Tries: Enzo Labuschagne (2), Kobus Blanckenberg (2), Nicus van Coller, Xander Mynhardt, Liam van der Merwe. Conversions: Tazreeq Moerat (3). Rondebosch Boys’ High 7 (0) – Try: Tom van Wyk. Conversion: Dylan Miller.
Boland Landbou 32 (22) – Tries: Christof Etzebeth, Hans Verster, Retagen van Rooi, Enslin Claasen. Conversions: Van Rooi (3). Penalties: Van Rooi (2). SACS 22 (17) – Tries: Ikhona Maxegwana, Aya Machuli, Richard Skeeles. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (2). Penalty: Solomons.
Other scores:
U19 B – Paarl Boys’ High II 50, Diocesan College 0; Paarl Gimnasium II 60, Rondebosch Boys’ High 7; Boland Landbou II 24, SACS II 5.
U16 – Paarl Boys’ High 60, Diocesan College 3; Paarl Gimnasium 17, Rondebosch Boys’ High 10; Boland Landbou 20, SACS 14.
U15 – Paarl Boys’ High 29, Diocesan College 7; Paarl Gimnasium 23, Rondebosch Boys’ High 15; Boland Lanbou 10, SACS 3.
U14 – Paarl Boys’ High 36, Diocesan College 12; Paarl Gimnasium 15, Rondebosch Boys’ High 12; Boland Landbou 18, SACS 3.
