Muller and Co. land the knock-out punch in City of Roses
It always takes a special team to beat Grey College at home in Bloemfontein. And this year’s team from Paarl Gimnasium is a special bunch of players.
Gimmies handed Grey College its first defeat at home since 2017 with an emphatic 43-31 victory in the City of Roses.
Watch this King Price Derby Series clash again on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
Their captain and outside centre, Markus Muller, is an exceptional rugby player. Muller scored a brace in the victory but also helped create a couple more scoring opportunities for his side.
Muller also won the first round of the battle for the SA Schools No. 13 jumper against Ethan Adams. The national selectors might still decide to combine these two in the midfield later this year.
Probably the most impressive part of Paarl Gimnasium’s victory is the fact that they outplayed and outscored Grey in the final 20 minutes of the clash. The visitors scored twice in the 60th and 62nd minutes via Johan Kleynhans and Muller to land the knock-out punch.
The two teams rested with the score at 24-all after Grey’s flyhalf, Darius Erwee, drew scores level with a penalty just before half-time. Erwee was one of his side’s standout performers.
Kleynhans also completed a brace of tries with this score, with a move that started with a turnover about 100 metres back. This had Grey on the back foot and staggering. Muller’s visit behind Grey’s posts two minutes later from the kick-off after an excellent run by lock Mighael Turner put the result beyond doubt.
This ended Grey College’s unbeaten run of 2,905 days on their home field. Their previous defeat at home was on 13 May 2017 against Paarl Boys’ High (31-46). That team of Boishaai was led by Francke Horn (Lions captain), with flyhalf, Abner van Reenen, playing the leading role.
Grey College’s lock AJ Meyer also deserves a mention for a solid performance. He will, without a doubt, be a SA Schools contender yet again later this year. He already represented the side last year. Alexi Tyropolis (flanker) and Xander Smit (captain and hooker) also tried their best.
Gimmies’ Turner received the Man of the Match, or rather King of the Match award for his mammoth effort.
Scorers:
Paarl Gimnasium 43 (24) – Tries: Markus Muller (2), Johan Kleynhans (2), Adriaan van der Lingen, Thomas Saunders, Dawid Badenhorst. Conversions: Divan Pieters (2), Louis Koen (2). Grey College 31 (24) – Tries: AJ Meyer (2) Darius Erwee, Alexi Tyropolis. Conversions: Erwee (4). Penalty: Erwee.
Other Results:
u19: Cherries 26, Paarl Gimnasium II 23.
u16: Paarl Gimnasium 29, Grey College 24.
u15: Paarl Gimnasium 20, Grey College 17.
u14: Grey College 17, Paarl Gimnasium 17.
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