Boishaai seeking redemption in Stellenbosch

Paarl Boys’ High will be more fired up than ever to take on Paul Roos Gimnasium on Saturday in the second Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools clash.
They suffered a shock defeat to Wynberg Boys’ High at home last Saturday, and they still carry the scars from last season, when Paul Roos upset them at the Buco Brug Street Stadium. Those setbacks will be more than enough motivation as they seek to make a statement.
Catch every moment of the action live on SuperSport Schools – Register now – Link to the match – Or tune in to DSTV Channel 216
The Maroon Machine, meanwhile, has quietly put together another stellar season. Building on the success of their end-of-year tour to Ireland, the Paul Roos first team remains unbeaten this year.
Their toughest challenge so far came at the NMI Toyota North-South Tournament where they bested the hosts, Affies, 30-25.
Last weekend, their loose trio, Gert Kemp, Reuben Kruger and dual SA Schools’ representative and captain, Riley Norton, starred as they beat Rondebosch Boys’ High 38-17.
In the only change to their starting 15, Gerrit van Vuuren replaces Luchwayito Mbaliswana at tighthead. The Boishaai team remains unchanged from the side that played against Wynberg.
The Paul Roos victory in Paarl last year was the first time in 20 years that they had beaten Boishaai away, and they will be expecting a fierce response this weekend.
Seven of the Paul Roos players – Kruger, Norton, Samuel Badenhorst, Keenan Stoffels, Jesse Stegehuis, Truspe Schoeman and Oliver Reid – who were part of that winning team, will be in action again on Saturday, while only Rubin Dames and Douw Wessels survive from the Paarl outfit.
Reid starred in that win, powering over for two of his side’s tries as they outplayed Boishaai 35-17.
Despite their shock defeat last weekend, Paarl Boys’ High should not be underestimated.
A riveting performance against Garsfontein saw them emerge victorious by a narrow 38-36 margin, and they’re one of only two teams who have been able to tame the Jeppe first team this season.
Flyhalf Viaan Mentoor has been a standout in their squad, along with Dames and their big hooker, Christiaan Grundling.
Teams
Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys’ High at 14:00
Paul Roos Gimnasium: 15 Matthew Seymore, 14 Hugo Coetzee, 13 Matthew Kleyn, 12 Samuel Badenhorst, 11 Keenan Stoffels, 10 Joshua Dampies, 9 Adeeb Boraine, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Gert Kemp, 5 Jesse Stegehuis, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Gerrit van Vuuren, 2 Altus Rabe, 1 Oliver Reid.
Paarl Boys’ High: 15 Francois van der Merwe, 14 Aiden Jacobs, 13 Tristan Joubert, 12 Tristan Fransman, 11 Ashwin Swarts, 10 Viaan Mentoor, 9 Keagan Smith, 8 Douw Wessels, 7 Rubin Dames, 6 Anroux du Plessis, 5 Jayden Joubert, 4 Dian Smal, 3 Juan van der Merwe, 2 Christiaan Grundling, 1 Bernard du Toit.
Fixtures
Markötter: 08:00 – Paul Roos V vs Paarl Boys’ High V; 09:10 – Paul Roos IV vs Paarl Boys’ High IV; 10:20 – Paul Roos u16 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 A; 11:30 – Paul Roos III vs Paarl Boys’ High III; 12:40 – Paul Roos II vs Paarl Boys’ High II; 14:00 – Paul Roos 1st XV vs Paarl Boys’ High 1st XV.
Meulsloot: 08:00 – Paul Roos X vs Paarl Boys’ High X; 09:10 – Paul Roos IX vs Paarl Boys’ High IX; 10:20 – Paul Roos VIII vs Paarl Boys’ High VIII; 11:30 – Paul Roos VII vs Paarl Boys’ High VII; 12:40 – Paul Roos VI vs Paarl Boys’ High VI.
Doornbosch: 08:00 – Paul Roos u16 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 B; 09:10 – Paul Roos u16 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 E; 10:20 – Paul Roos u16 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 D; 11:30 – Paul Roos u16 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 C; 12:40 – Paul Roos u16 F vs Paarl Boys’ High u16 F.
Riviersveld: 08:00 – Paul Roos u15 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 E; 09:00 – Paul Roos u14 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 A; 10:00 – Paul Roos u15 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 D; 11:00 – Paul Roos u15 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 B; 12:00 – Paul Roos u15 A vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 A; 13:00 – Paul Roos u15 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 C.
Volkskombuis: 08:00 – Paul Roos u14 D vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 D; 09:00 – Paul Roos u14 F vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 F; 10:00 – Paul Roos u15 F vs Paarl Boys’ High u15 F; 11:00 – Paul Roos u14 C vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 C; 12:00 – Paul Roos u14 B vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 B; 13:00 – Paul Roos u14 E vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 E.
Eikestad: 08:00 – Paul Roos u14 G vs Paarl Boys’ High u14 G.