SACS shows class to get one over Paul Roos in epic Cape derby
“There’s no sweeter feeling than beating Paul Roos in Stellenbosch.”
Those were the words uttered by South African College High School (SACS) forward Reece Theunis after he helped his side record a 3-1 victory over Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) on Friday night.
Theunis scored a brace, while Daniel Graser netted a jaw-dropping goal that sealed the win for SACS and ensured they maintained their unbeaten run in 2025.
The highly anticipated clash headlined the week’s Hyundai Friday Nite Lights action and was also broadcast on the SuperSport Schools App, SABC Plus, and DSTV Channel 216.
The Maties AstroTurf was filled to the rafters as spectators from Cape Town, Somerset, Paarl and other parts of the province flocked in to witness a battle between two of South Africa’s top sides, maybe even number one and two.
The teams had already met once this season. That match was in the Hibbert Shield semifinal in Gqeberha, where SACS recorded a nervy 6-5 win on penalties after the match ended 3-3.
In the context of Friday’s game, that result meant very little, and it showed early on when the hosts opened the scoring with six minutes played through Reuben Gouws.
After absorbing some early pressure, PRG found themselves inside SACS’s circle, and a sloppy clearance by captain Jo le Roux landed comfortably for Gouws, who fired past Lorenzo Virisimo for the game’s opener.
Conceding early brought SACS to life, and they bossed proceedings for the remainder of the chukka in search of a response.
Aiden Hughes had a golden opportunity to pull one back for his side, but Jeandre Cilliers, in the PRG goalbox, acrobatically kept out his shot.
The visitors kept taking it to Paul Roos and their persistent pressure paid off early in the second quarter when Theunis scored his first.
Litha Kraai played a free hit just outside the D to Hughes, who found the striker inside the circle where Theunis created space for himself. He quickly turned and fired off a powerful shot past Cilliers for the equaliser.
The game opened up after that, and both sides had their fair share of chances. PRG was rewarded with two short corners, but Virisimo, in goal, stood firm for SACS in what was panning out to be the game of his life.
With five minutes remaining in the second chukka, coach Sam Holmes‘s team took the game by the scruff of its neck.
Litha Kraai made a blistering, powerful, and unstoppable run from his half, beating four defenders in the process and entered PRG’s circle. He, then, found Graser unmarked on the far right and Graser applied the finishing touch for the game’s second goal.
PRG appeared unphased by conceding that goal and they had another golden opportunity through a short corner to draw level, but Virisimo wasn’t having it and made another save.
While the action intensified, both sides remained disciplined, with Kraai (green) and Cameron Groves (yellow) the only players who were carded all game long.
SACS sealed the win in the third chukka when Theunis completed his brace after an unbelievable assist by Josh Goulding.
There were no further goals in the final chukka, but coach Michael Baker‘s Stellenbosch boys kept piling on the pressure. Virismo, though, was up to everything Paul Roos threw at him, executing out-of-this-world stops. Cilliers, too, was also called into action late in the game. but the score stayed 3-1 in favour of SACS.
Reacting after the match, Theunis said SACS was keenly aware of the threats posed by PRG but had to stick to their game plan after conceding first.
“It was a bit of a slow start for us after we went a goal down,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“We knew Paul Roos was going to come hard at us and come with everything. We picked it up as a team and just stuck to our processes and trusted that what we did as preparation would work.
“We had to dig deep a little bit at the end when defending our D. I’m proud of all the boys because we have team goals, and that has been crucial in our culture as we aim to play for each other always.”
While SACS is a star-laden team, some of their unsung heroes, like Zach Redfern, Aiden Hughes and skipper Jo le Roux, are coming to life this season.
Theunis, while he may be well-known, was once under the radar but has taken the schoolboy hockey scene by storm this season and is up there among the best forwards in the game.
“I came into this season with clear goals and high standards for myself, which has been pushing me to perform as best as I can every game,” he shared.
“The coaching staff has been so crucial in my performance this year. Coach Sam Holmes, Jody Erasmus, and my manager Looch Adriaanse give me the freedom to play my game and trust me to do my job as a forward.
“I’ve matured a lot mentally and worked on staying composed in key moments, trying to stay as calm as possible and trust my instincts,” he ended.
SACS will next shift its attention to the last three games of the term against Reddam House Constantia, Paarl Gimnasium, and Wynberg Boys’ High.
PRG, meanwhile, will close the first half of the season with fixtures against Stellenberg High and Wynberg.
SCORERS
SACS (2) 3: Reece Theunis (2), Daniel Graser. Paul Roos (1) 1: Reuben Gouws.
WESTERN CAPE BOYS’ RESULTS
SACS 3-1 Paul Roos
Stellenberg High 3-3 Wynberg Boys’ High
Bishops 5-4 Reddam House Constantia
Rondebosch Boys’ High 2-1 DF Malan
Paarl Gimnasium 5-0 HTS Drostdy
Outeniqua 1-1 Woodridge College
