Maroon Machine marches on in Gqeberha
Six games into a gruelling run of fixtures and the Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) first team is yet to meet its match in 2024.
On Saturday, the Maroon Machine outscored Grey High 21-7 in Gqeberha, further boosting their confidence and momentum before they tackle Monument and Maritzburg College at the Absa Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley next week.
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The hosts did well to put Paul Roos under pressure early on, with brave carries by Likona Sodlaka and Akhanani Zita leading the way.
Last weekend, Grey did well to hold an unbeaten Wynberg Boys’ High to a 10-10 draw in a low-scoring thriller in Cape Town. During the opening stages of the match, with strong gusts of wind influencing the play and the hosts’ tireless barrage against the Paul Roos defensive line keeping them busy, it looked as if they might be able to frustrate another team in good form.
However, after a taxing period on defence, the visitors were rewarded for their disciplined play when the big prop Oliver Reid sent their star flanker Gert Kemp, who has been a standout for the proud Stellenbosch outfit over the last couple of weeks, over for the first five-pointer.
Paul Roos has gone from strength to strength ever since their unbeaten tour of Ireland in December 2023 and the lively young flanker has had a big part to play in their success.
Reid added his name to the scoresheet, too, when he barged over for their second try a short while after Kemp’s effort. With PRG captain Riley Norton helping to drive the big Craven Week prop forward, there was nothing short of a brick wall capable of stopping the Maroon Machine that close to their opponents’ line.
Norton had a massive impact on the game with his work at the lineouts, as well, causing havoc at set pieces for Grey High, which broke their momentum every time they worked their way into promising positions.
After the break, Sodlaka reaped the rewards of his high work-rate throughout the match when he muscled over for his side’s only try.
Paul Roos responded through their speedy winger, Keenan Stoffels, after good hands by Reid and Kemp once again, and the Maroon Machine marched on with their spectacular record for the season still unblemished.
For Grey, Smith and Lavela Pongolo stood out, along with the try-scorer Sodlaka and, although the result didn’t go their way, they will be able to take positives from the game into next week, when they host the prestigious Grey High Rugby Festival.
They face St John’s College on Thursday, 2 May, and go up against Graeme College in their second outing, focussed on reversing an historic loss to their rivals from Makhanda in 2023.
Scorers
Paul Roos Gimnasium 21 (14) – Tries: Gert Kemp, Oliver Reid, Keenan Stoffels. Conversions: Joshua Dampies (3). Grey High 7 (0) – Try: Likona Sodlaka. Conversion: Zephyr Smith.
Results
u19 – Paul Roos II 43, Grey High II 13; Paul Roos III 51, Grey High III 0; Paul Roos IV 27, Grey High 5; Paul Roos V 32, Grey High V 7; Paul Roos VI 59, Grey High VI 0; Paul Roos VII 10; Grey High VII 3.
u16 – Paul Roos A 19, Grey High A 10; Grey High B 17, Paul Roos B 17; Paul Roos C 69, Grey High C 0; Paul Roos D 49, Grey High D 10.
u15 – Grey High A 17, Paul Roos A 12; Paul Roos B 23, Grey High B 5; Paul Roos C 33, Grey High C 0; Paul Roos D 36, Grey High D 15; Paul Roos E 48, Grey High E 0.
u14 – Paul Roos A 43, Grey High A 15; Paul Roos B 43, Grey High B 0; Paul Roos C 36, Grey High C 7; Paul Roos D 73, Grey High D 0; Paul Roos E 79, Grey High E 0.
