Rondebosch shocks Paul Roos, SACS remains unbeaten

It was a jovial atmosphere, with the stands jam-packed with maroon and navy-blue blazers, for a Friday night hockey showdown between Rondebosch Boys’ High and Paul Roos Gymnasium on the Bosch Astroturf in the southern suburbs. And when the dust settled after a tight tussle, it was the hosts who had scraped a 1-0 win.
The victory means ‘Bosch have kept their unbeaten start to the Western Cape season intact, following a 2-2 draw against Stellenberg High School last week.
It was Paul Roos’s first defeat of the year. They had begun it in dominant form at the Cape Co-Ed and Founders Festival.
The match’s first chukka was predictably tight, as both sides pushed and probed for openings, although Paul Roos owned the lion’s share of possesion.
Coach Michael Baker’s side had an opportunity to break the deadlock when they received a short corner with a minute left in the chukka. Their penalty corner kingpin, captain Reuben Sendzul, dragged his flick wide, however, and the scoreboard operators remained untroubled.
The game opened up in the second and third chukkas, with coach Waseem Domingo’s Rondebosch boys forging a foothold in the contest, which frustrated the visitors.
Bosch attacked more but remained solid at the back with captain Hilton Lima, Joshua Beattie, and Thomas Gordon clamping down on the visitors’ attacking efforts.
Rondebosch’s hard work was eventually rewarded seven minutes before the end of the third chukka. It came from a set piece after a period of sustained attacks.
From a smartly executed penalty corner, Noah Heath deflected the ball in from just outside of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post to stake the hosts to a 1-0 lead.
In the final chukka, Paul Roos took the game to Rondebosch, piling on the pressure in a desperate bid to find an equaliser.
A measure of their domination was the five penalty corners they were awarded. Usually, that would be a recipe for disaster for any opposition, with Sendzul a serious dangerman with his wicked drag flicks, but Bosch fronted up and scrambled to keep the Stellenbosch side at bay.
Paul Roos had few issues entering the Rondebosch circle, but finding a scoring shot once they were inside it was a big challenge.
Their last hope came with just a minute and 24 seconds left on the clock, via another short corner. The ball was played to Sendzul again, and just as it looked as if his effort was going in, ‘Bosch shot-stopper Marley Musasa pulled off a terrific save to keep his team ahead.
When the final whistle sounded, it was 1-0 in favour of ‘Bosch, much to the delight of coach Domingo, who praised his side’s defensive efforts, and the grit they showed to keep their opponents out.
“Playing Paul Roos is never easy. They are physical, fast, and a well-managed team,” Domingo told SuperSport Schools on the Bosch Astroturf after the match.

“We fought hard. We got one opportunity, and we made it count.
“I think the boys were phenomenal today on defence, by far the best I’ve ever seen them play, and I think they need credit for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing night for Baker, who watched on as his side struggled to turn chances into goals.
“It’s frustrating. We had about seven short corners, and a couple of circle entries, but couldn’t score one goal,” he said.
“Credit to ‘Bosch, I think they’ve got a good record against us at home, and it showed tonight that they’re a tough team to beat at home.”
Next week, ‘Bosch returns to action against an in-form SACS, while Paul Roos plays their first match at home against Paarl Boys’ High.
In other matches around the Province, SACS, after thumping Fairmont High School 6-0 on the opening weekend, continued their fine form by roaring to an emphatic 7-0 win over Parel Vallei.
They were inspired to the win by a Reece Theunis hattrick, made up of two drag flicks, and a field goal. Litha Kraai, who also featured on the scoring sheet last weekend, netted a brace, while solitary goals from Cohen Williams and Cole Allam made it seven in total.
Wynberg Boys’ High impressed with a 5-1 win over Paarl Boys’ High. Wynberg, under the direction of Ben Wiley, picked up from where they left off last weekend, when they thumped Curro Durbanville by exactly the same score. Their goals were scored by Ethan Lee (x2), Jordan Paulsen, Beni Hansen, and Ethan Daniels.
Fairmont, after copping one from SACS last weekend, returned to winning ways with a resounding 4-0 win over Westerford, while Belville High edged The Settlers 1-0.
Goals from Michael du Toit, Matthew Sutherland, and Tyrone Rieth helped Somerset College to a 3-1 win over Pinelands, and Worcester Gymnasium made it two on the trot, handing Hoërskool Punt a 5-2 defeat.
There was nothing to separate Curro Durbanville and the Langa Hockey Club, with their contest ending 2-2.
In Saturday’s action, HTS Drostdy defeated Framesby 4-1 at home, while Durbanville got the better of Edgemead, claiming a 3-0 win. Brackenfell completed the weekend’s schedule with a 2-0 victory over Cannons Creek.
RESULTS
Fairmont High School 4-0 Westerford
Belville High 1-0 The Settlers
Pinelands 1-3 Somerset College
Curro Durbanville 2-2 Langa Hockey Club
SACS 7-0 Parel Vallei
Rondebosch Boys’ High 1-0 Paul Roos Gymnasium
Bishops 8-0 DF Malan
Wynberg Boys’ High 5-1 Paarl Boys High
HTS Drostdy 4-1 Framesby
Durbanville 3-0 Edgemead
Worcester Gymnasium 5-2 Punt
Brackenfell 2-0 Cannons Creek
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