Paarl Gim makes a bold statement in emphatic victory over Affies
Paarl Gimnasium’s first rugby team is gathering steam in 2026.
The Gimmies secured an emphatic 51–24 victory over the Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies) of Pretoria in their King Price Derby Series clash on Saturday.
Watch the game again on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.co.za).
The visitors’ fullback, Thomas Saunders, scored a hat-trick of tries in the victory. His first try, in the 17th minute, which opened Gimmies’ account, was also named the Suzuki Game Changer Moment of the match.
The team from Paarl led 22–12 at the break. It was a tightly contested match until the 25th minute, when Affies’ inside centre, Juan Ferreira, received a yellow card after attempting to intercept a pass near the tryline.
Referee Ansius Vermeulen also awarded a penalty try, which put Gimmies into a 14–7 lead. The Wit Bulle responded immediately from the kick-off, with a try by wing Dandré Brink.
Paarl Gimnasium’s scrumhalf, Mickyle Booise, was on top of his game once again, and his try from a blindside break off a scrum gave his side a 22–12 lead at the break.
Booise represented the SA Schools A-side last year and will be aiming to upgrade that cap to a full SA Schools selection later this year.
In the first 15 minutes of the second half, a blitzkrieg of four tries lifted Gimmies into a commanding 44–12 lead by the 50th minute.
Saunders only needed four minutes in the second half to complete his hat-trick, while Ethan Barker (inside centre) and Dirk Hugo (flank) also crossed the whitewash.
Gim captain Ethan Barker was named King of the Match for his performance. He will, however, agree that the foundation for his side’s victory was laid up front, with an exceptional performance by flank Corné Niemand, who was well supported by Hugo, eighthman Hendré van Zyl, and the locks, Bernhardt Schulze and Jean Dreyer.
Affies fought back late in the game, with outside centre Estian Marx scoring a brace of tries.
Although it was a large victory, it was not Paarl Gimnasium’s biggest win over Affies. Their 35-point margin of victory in a 38-3 win in 1973 was larger, as was a 40-7 win in 2024.
It was only the fifth time in their history that the Wit Bulle had conceded 50 points.
Scorers:
Paarl Gimnasium 51 (22) – Tries: Thomas Saunders (3), Mickyle Booise, Ethan Barker, Dirk Hugo, Malan Mostert, Penalty Try. Conversions: Louis Koen (3). Penalty: Koen. Affies 24 (12) – Tries: Estian Marx (2), Fourie Roberts, Dandré Brink. Conversions: Reuben Venter (2).
Other Results:
Played: 24 | Affies won: 16 | Paarl Gimnasium won: 7 | Drawn: 1
u19
Paarl Gimnasium II 24, Affies 22
Affies III 10, Paarl Gimnasium 10
Affies IV 34, Paarl Gimnasium IV 22
Affies V 32, Paarl Gimnasium V 25
Affies VI 39, Paarl Gimnasium VI 7
Affies VII 32, Paarl Gimnasium VII 15
Affies VII 40, Paarl Gimnasium VII 5
u16
A: Affies 44, Paarl Gimnasium 33.
B: Paarl Gimnasium 28, Affies 21.
C: Affies 38, Paarl Gimnasium 7.
D: Affies 22, Paarl Gimnasium 14.
u15
A: Affies 15, Paarl Gimnasium 12.
B: Affies 26, Paarl Gimnasium 19.
C: Paarl Gimnasium 19, Affies 5.
D: Affies 31, Paarl Gimnasium 13.
E: Affies 24, Paarl Gimnasium 12.
F: Paarl Gimnasium 22, Affies 14.
u14
A: Paarl Gimnasium 14, Affies 13.
B: Affies 10, Paarl Gimnasium 3.
C: Paarl Gimnasium 17, Affies 7.
D: Affies 28, Paarl Gimnasium 3.
E: Affies 33, Paarl Gimnasium 10.
F: Affies 36, Paarl Gimnasium 8.
