Paul Roos outplays game Stellenberg under lights
Under Friday night lights, Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) hosted Stellenberg, with the Maroon Machine aiming to continue a strong season, while Stellies were hoping to reverse their fortunes after a 0-27 home loss to Paarl Boys’ High. PRG had beaten SACS 22-3 in their last outing.
Oom Polla‘s Stellenbosch boys struck early, bagging the first points of the game in the fourth minute.
After repeatedly making the gain-line on a series of quick phases, flank Luke Kent received the ball from his scrumhalf Liam de Silva, and offloaded in the tackle to eighthman Gert Kemp, who, from five metres out, charged at and dived over the line for a try. Flyhalf Travis Pheiffer collected the extras off the kicking tee.
In the seventh minute, the home forwards attempted a steal in front of poles, about 35 metres out. The referee penalised Stellies for holding onto the ball on the ground and Pheiffer split the uprights to add another three to the scoreboard.
Then, after a break from the elusive left-wing Keenan Stoffels, Paul Roos entered the Stellenberg 22. They drove the ball up through their forwards and when a gap appeared, lock Reuben Winter sniped through the space and made the dive for five. Pheiffer slotted the conversion kick to make it 17-0, which was the score at the halftime break.
Paul Roos had found themselves in disciplinary trouble near the end of the first half, when they were reduced to only 12 players after three men picked up yellow cards. However, despite the three-man disadvantage when the second half started, the home side scored through centre Tiaan Basson, who read Stellenberg’s play intelligently and snagged an intercept before pinning his ears back and going over under the uprights from 50m out.
Pheiffer improved his kicking record to four from four with the easy conversion in the 39th minute.
Eight minutes later, the highlight of the game was authored by Liam de Silva and Keenan Stoffels. Just inside the Stellenberg half, de Silva chipped the ball over a ruck. Without a single stutter in his step, the electric Stoffels sprinted after it, collected the ball out of the air, and raced through for a try, leaving defenders trailing in his wake. Pheiffer continued his perfect goal kicking by adding two more points to take the Paul Roos tally to 31 points.
Just before the hour-mark, the Jade Brigade found a response. When a ball fell loose in the home side’s 22, Paul Roos hacked it clear, but their forwards overran the kick on the heavy ground. That allowed Stellenberg scrumhalf Daniel Steffen an opportunity to claim possession.
He picked up, spun around, and saw open ground down the left flank. He hit the accelerator and was over in the corner for a try. From a narrow angle, flyhalf Ethan van Biljon was wide with the conversion attempt, but the visitors were on the scoreboard.
PRG flyhalf Travis Pheiffer completed the scoring in the 63rd minute, knocking over a simple penalty kick to finish the game with six from six from his kick attempts.
Full-time score: Paul Roos 34-5 Stellenberg.
Stellenberg played hard and competed well to make it an enjoyable game. However the quality of the Paul Roos side was overwhelming, and they delivered a dominant performance in front of their fervent home supporters.
Next Saturday, Paul Roos will be the visitors at Wynberg, who won 38-33 at Rondebosch Boys’ High, also on Friday. Stellenberg will have a long break, next playing on 26 July when they travel to George to face Outeniqua.
SCORES
Paul Roos 34 (17) – Tries: Gert Kemp, Reuben Winter, Tiaan Basson, Keenan Stoffels. Conversions: Travis Pheiffer (4). Penalties: Pheiffer (2); Stellenberg 5 (0) – Try: Daniel Steffen.
u19 – Paul Roos I 34 Stellenberg I 5; Paul Roos II 43 Stellenberg II 0; Paul Roos III 27 Stellenberg III 15; Paul Roos IV 45 Stellenberg IV 3; Paul Roos V 40 Stellenberg V 0; Paul Roos VI 64 Stellenberg VI 3.
u16 – Paul Roos A 12 Stellenberg A 21; Paul Roos B 10 Stellenberg B 16; Paul Roos C 41 Stellenberg C 3; Paul Roos D 29 Stellenberg D 0.
u15 – Paul Roos A 39 Stellenberg A 14; Paul Roos B 32 Stellenberg B 12; Paul Roos C 41 Stellenberg C 0; Paul Roos D 71 Stellenberg D 0.
u14 – Paul Roos A 36 Stellenberg A o; Paul Roos B 41 Stellenberg B 0; Paul Roos C 31 Stellenberg C 5; Paul Roos D 48 Stellenberg D 8.
