Boland powerhouses lock horns as WP Premier League takes shape
With the first half of the season coming to an end soon, several teams in the Western Cape will be looking to conclude term two on a high before the mid-year break.
This coming weekend will see some of the province’s top guns return to action in derby clashes, while others compete for points in the Western Province Premier League.
Paul Roos Gimnasium will take on its Boland rival, Paarl Gimnasium (PRG), in Paarl on Friday night in one of the weekend’s highly anticipated matches.
Both sides will have all to play for in their final match of the term.
The hosts will back themselves against PRG after picking up some convincing victories in recent weeks.
Last Friday, coach Jacques Grobler’s side defeated Somerset College 6-1 to add to their 1-0 win over Wynberg Boys’ High a fortnight ago.
Paul Roos will also be confident heading into the match after managing to stay unbeaten post the Hibbert Shield.
Coach Michael Baker’s side drew 3-3 with South African College High School (SACS) and Paarl Boys’ High but recently claimed the scalp of Bishops 4-2.
They’ve also downed Somerset College, Durbanville, and Rondebosch, so they won’t be short of any motivation.
It’s the visitors who have dominated past fixtures between the schools. In 2024, PRG won 1-0 before thumping Paarl Gim 6-2 last season.
Elsewhere in the province, SACS will be in league action away at Reddam House Constantia.
SACS are unbeaten in the league, and their 3-3 draw with Rondebosch Boys’ High last month didn’t affect their position at the top of the log.
Last week, coach Sam Holmes’s charges were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Paarl Boys’ High after captain Litha Kraai scored in the dying seconds to seal them a win.
Reddam, meanwhile, will be out to cause an upset, having drawn 2-2 with Langa Hockey Club after leading for most parts of the match.
Other league fixtures will see Bishops take on Stellenberg, while Wynberg Boys’ High will be eager to pick up another victory against Durbanville.
Bishops will feel undone by their performance last week, as they went down to Paul Roos after leading 2-0 for most of the match. For Durbanville, it’s about bouncing back from their 0-7 loss to Rondebosch, but Wynberg will also pose several threats.
Another clash to keep an eye out for in Paarl will be that of Boishaai taking on Rondebosch in what promises to be another pulsating derby.
Fixtures
Friday, 5 June
18:30 – Stellenberg vs Diocesan College
18:45 – Wynberg Boys’ High vs Hoërskool Durbanville
19:15 – Reddam House Constantia vs SACS
19:15 – Paarl Boys’ High vs Rondebosch Boys’ High
19:30 – Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Paarl Gimnasium
