Paarl Gim scores thrilling win over Grey College
Paarl Gimnasium boys’ head coach Jacques Grobler has urged his charges to stay humble and grounded after their impressive 4-2 win over Grey College in Bloemfontein on Friday night.
The boys from the Western Cape made the trip to Bloem, eyeing a confidence-boosting victory against Grey just a couple of days before the Hibbert Shield kicks off in Gqeberha, at Grey High School.
It was a clinical performance by coach Grobler’s troops, who dominated ball possession for the majority of the match, used their opportunities, and clamped down on the hosts when it mattered.
They scored early in the first half through Philip du Preez, who positioned himself in the right place to tap in after the ball was slapped inside the circle.
Grey responded through the dangerous Matthias Visser. However, the visitors took the lead once more through skipper Juan Swanepoel, who converted a penalty stroke.
Swanepoel wasn’t done and added a field goal before Visser pulled one back for Grey, courtesy of another penalty stroke.
Gim closed out the game in the final chukka with a super-charged drag flick from Stefan Wiehahn, which sealed the win.
“It was a fantastic game. I’m proud of the boys for the character they showed,” Grobler told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“They showed great character in tough circumstances, and I truly believe this team can be one of the great Gim teams if they can stay humble and keep growing and developing as a group.”
Among the positives Paarl Gim will take out of the game is the manner in which they bossed the midfield, and how well their midfielders linked well with their wings and forwards.
Grobler credited his players for executing well: “I believe we strangled their midfield, and we had excellent movement off the ball to create space from our midfield and forwards.
“If we were slightly more clinical, the game could have been slightly more in our favour earlier on.”
Paarl Gim will celebrate the massive win for a couple of hours before shifting their attention to the Hibbert Shield, which kicks off on 30 April, in Gqeberha, at Grey High School.
They have been drawn in Pool C and will face St Stithians Boys’ College, Westville Boys’ High, and the hosts. It’s a challenging pool.
“This is a fantastic confidence booster going into Hibbert, as we have a tough pool and will need to be at our best to make the quarterfinals,” Grobler reckoned.
“With that said, we always thoroughly enjoy that tournament, and no matter what, we will give it our best and enjoy the competitive environment.”
Paarl Gim opens their Hibbert Shield campaign with a matchup against Grey High at 10:15 on the opening day.
Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools.
