Paarl Gim triumphs over rivals Paarl Boys’ High
The 2024 hockey season is done and dusted for most schools, and all too quickly for some which shone, including Paarl Gimnasium.
On Saturday, Gim ended their campaign with a commanding 2-0 win over their rivals, Paarl Boys’ High in their annual interschools clash in Paarl.
First half goals, scored by skipper LD Nel and Juan Swanepoel, secured a meaningful victory for coach Jacques Grobler‘s side, which brought the curtain down on a season filled with outstanding highlights.
“I’m very happy that the boys could end the season like this,” Grobler told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match in Paarl.
“It’s been a very successful season for us. We’ve achieved most of the goals that we set.
Turning to the big Paarl derby, he added: “In an interschools match, you’re never going to get a free-flowing game because there’s a lot at stake. I think we did well to score a very good goal from LD. We had some nice PC variations and one of them worked for us.”
Gim’s campaign in 2024 was characterised by grit, consistently strong performances week in and out, a never-say-die attitude, and a belief that they could take on any team in the country.
It started in the best way possible when they claimed gold at the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament in March, sending out a strong message to their opponents in the stacked Western Cape region.
The following month they recorded an impressive 5-1 win over Outeniqua, and then won 3-0 at Affies. In a tight contest, they played to a 1-1 draw against Grey College, before narrowly going down 3-4 against a powerhouse South African College High School (SACS) team.
In May, coach Grobler took his charges on a hunt for more silverware when they travelled to Gqeberha for the Hibbert Shield.
There, after starting brightly in the pool stages, they missed out on the semi-finals after a 2-5 loss to the eventual champions, Paul Roos, in the quarterfinals. In the end, in the most talent-laden tournament of the season, they finished joint seventh with Westville Boys’ High.
Following their Hibbert Shield exploits, Gim was held to a 2-2 draw by Rondebosch Boys’ High. They were then beaten 1-0 by Paul Roos . To close off term two, Gim defeated Parel Vallei 4-2 and Fairmont High 3-0 to head into the mid-year break with a spring in their step.
In July, coach Grobler’s side returned to action at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament.
There, they played with intensity, executed exceptionally, and that brought them the gold medal after defeating SACS 2-1 in the final.
A week later, they were brought back to earth on another trip to Cape Town, which ended in a 2-4 loss to Wynberg Boys’ High.
Before their interschools clash, Gim picked up a 3-1 win over Somerset College. Then, on Saturday, they capped off an impressive season with a win over their old foes
“We had four major goals for the year, and we achieved three of them,” Grobler said.
“We planned to win the two tournaments, win the interschools, and play in the semi-finals of the Hibbert Shield, and that’s where we really fell short.”
Goals, though, are aspirational and the bar is deliberately set high, so to achieve three out of four was rewarding, Grobler added: “We’re happy with what we’ve achieved. There’s only so much you can do, and I think the boys have achieved their personal goals as well, and I’m quite happy to see that.”
Fortunately for Grobler and his remaining players, the 1st XI won’t need a complete overhaul next year, as the squad loses only six grade 12 boys.
Skipper Nel and vice-captain Willem Matthee are part of that group, so Grobler emphasised a need for players to carry on with the good work they have done.
“Yes, without a doubt, we will need leaders to step up next year,” he said.
“I think, in terms of the brand of hockey and the way we play, there won’t be too much change.
“We’ll have to tweak a few things here and there, improve certain aspects of our game, but we won’t reinvent the wheel,” he ended.
