Paul Roos pulls off extraordinary comeback against Wynberg
Wynberg Boys’ High kicked off at 12:30 against Paul Roos Gimnasium on Hawthornden Field, on Saturday, intent on pulling off a home win.
The hosts were fresh off a memorable 38-33 victory over Rondebosch Boys’ High. They were also eager to avenge last season’s 25-50 defeat against the Maroon Machine in Stellenbosch.
Oom Polla’s boys, meanwhile, headed into Saturday’s showdown feeling confident after a sound performance in a 34-5 win over Stellenberg last Friday.
First blood went the way of the home side in the 12th minute. From a tap and go on the Paul Roos five-metre line, scrumhalf Morné Noble released a flat pass to the oncoming tank, tighthead prop Luqobo Makwedini, who powered over the line for five points. Inside centre Yaqeen Ahmed added the extras.
Then, in a fortuitous manner, the boys in black and white doubled their lead in the 18th minute. Flyhalf Achmat Behardien had the ball ripped from his grasp in a tackle. However, the fetching Gimnasium defender knocked the ball forwards, where it was collected by right wing Chad Campbell, who grabbed his chance and raced through to score. Ahmed again split the uprights to make it a seven-point play.
In the 32nd minute, Paul Roos finally got onto the scoreboard. About 25 metres out from the Wynberg try line, PRG scrumhalf Liam de Silva intercepted a pass. The visitors then carried the ball over the gain line for a number of phases until eighthman Gert Kemp barged his way through for a try. Scrumhalf Jan-Jan Nel knocked over the conversion.
At halftime, it was 14-7 in favour of Wynberg.
After the break, Paul Roos came out guns blazing. They levelled the scores in the 39th minute, thanks to a textbook rolling maul, which came from a five-metre lineout.
Kemp put the finishing touch on the attack, dotting down for his second try, and when Nel coolly slotted the conversion from a narrow angle it was 14-14.
In the 52nd minute, Paul Roos right wing Divan Lamprecht, was sent to the sin bin for blocking a Wynberg back from chasing a kick. The home side opted for a shot at poles and Ahmed tacked on three points from the kicking tee.
They trailed 14-17, but the Maroon Machine turned to their power game to take them to victory.
Utilising their maul, they drove deep into the Wynberg 22. When the maul went to ground, the referee reached into his pocket and showed flank Tjeripo Karuhumba a yellow card. He also awarded the visitors a penalty try. Those proved to be the winning points.
Full-time score: 21-17 in favour of Paul Roos Gimnasium.
The biggest winners were, in many ways, the spectators, who were richly rewarded with an even contest that neither side deserved to lose.
SACS will have to watch out, when this wounded Wynberg side visits them next Saturday. Paul Roos, meanwhile, will begin a long break. They next host Rondebosch Boys’ High on 26 July.
Scores
Wynberg Boys’ High: Tries – Luqobo Makwedini, Chad Campbell. Conversions – Yaqeen Ahmed (2). Penalties: Yaqeen Ahmed; Paul Roos (PRG): Tries – Gert Kemp (2), penalty try. Conversions: Jan-Jan Nel (2).
Results
U19 – Wynberg I 17 Paul Roos I 21; Wynberg II 13 Paul Roos II 30; Wynberg III 3 Paul Roos III 17; Wynberg IV 7 Paul Roos IV 47; Wynberg V 0 Paul Roos V 43; Wynberg VI 5 Paul Roos VI 36; Wynberg VII 0 Paul Roos VII 81.
U16 – Wynberg A 7 Paul Roos A 36; Wynberg B 0 Paul Roos B 47; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 59; Wynberg D 0 Paul Roos D 85.
U15 – Wynberg A 18 Paul Roos A 50; Wynberg B 21 Paul Roos B 28; Wynberg C 9 Paul Roos C 48; Wynberg D 18 Paul Roos D 22; Wynberg E 9 Paul Roos F 54.
U14 – Wynberg A 0 Paul Roos A 26; Wynberg B 10 Paul Roos B 42; Wynberg C 5 Paul Roos C 41; Wynberg D 7 Paul Roos D 77; Wynberg E 12 Paul Roos G 36.
