Paarl teams overwhelm opponents
Paarl Gimnasium capped off a successful day for the South, which won six of eight games, on the first day of the NMI Toyota North/South Tournament at Paul Roos Gimnasium, in Stellenbosch, on Friday.
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Four tries from right-wing, Johan Kleynhans, followed by a hat-trick of tries by captain and outside centre, Markus Muller, and doubles from Thomas Saunders and the replacement wing, Jeraahno Jager, helped power Gim to an astonishing 102-0 win over beat King Edward VII School (KES).
Muller, who is already enjoying a season to remember, continued to stake his claim for the SA Schools number 13 jersey by scoring his second hat-trick of tries and his eighth try in only three matches so far this year.
The spotlight, though, belonged to Kleynhans, who didn’t just have to run it in but had to work hard to score his four tries.
Quinton Potgieter, Gim’s eighth-man, led an impressive pack with authority. Although he scored only one try, he deserved more for his high work rate and bullocking runs, which set the KES defenders on the back foot.
In the curtain-raiser, Paarl Boys’ High made Affies, their next opponents, sit up and take notice, by smashing Hoërskool Waterkloof 66-0. That result certainly adds some spice to the clash between two of the giants of South African schoolboy rugby, who meet on Monday evening.
Tommy Muller, Boishaai’s hooker, was exceptional, as always. Apart from scoring two tries, which came off the back of strong driving mauls, Muller kept the Klofies busy with his energetic ball carries in broken play. His example fired up the potent Boishaai pack, including man of the match, lock Gershom Pieters, which dominated the contest from start to finish, and laid on a sound platform for Paarl Boys’ High’s dangerous backline.
Flyhalf Francois van der Merwe did an exceptional job in spreading the ball well with an abundance of possession. His excellent distribution created opportunities for the speedsters on the outside, who made Waterkloof pay, running in tries that looked all too simple.
SCORERS
Paarl Gimnasium 102 (38) – Tries: Johan Kleynhans (4), Markus Muller (3), Thomas Saunders (2), Jeerahno Jagers (2), Quintin Potgieter, JC Dreyer, Dawid Badenhorst, Divan Pieters, Hendré van Zyl. Conversions: Pieters (10), Louis Koen. King Edward VII 0.
Paarl Boys’ High 66 (29) – Tries: Tommie Muller (2), Gavie Kok, Kaleb Holmes, Gershom Pieters, Liam de Villiers, Tristan Joubert, Jeneal Davids, Josh le Roux, Kobus Wilken. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (4), Mark Grindlay (4). Waterkloof 0.
