Wynberg takes Buco Brug Street Stadium by storm in historic upset
Wynberg Boys’ High kept their perfect record for the season alive by beating Paarl Boys’ High for the first time since 1991 on Saturday.
What made the feat even more impressive was that they downed the Paarl giants on their home turf, handing the Boishaai first team their first taste of defeat for the year.
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Wynberg’s SA A flyhalf, Yaqeen Ahmed, was phenomenal for his side again, slotting three conversions and three penalties to cancel out the extra try scored by the hosts.
In the most crucial moment of the game, long after regulation time had elapsed, Ahmed split the uprights for a final time to secure a historic win for his side, who won against Boishaai for the first time in 33 years.
To underscore what a generational performance it was, Joe da Costa, the father of Wynberg captain Aden da Costa, ran out for Wynberg in 1988, the last time they got one over Paarl Boys’ High before the win in ’91.
It was an intense battle throughout, with the lead changing hands no fewer than five times in the first half. At every opportunity, Ahmed punished the hosts and kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Boishaai wing Ashwin Swarts opened the scoring for the home side, but Ahmed struck back with another successful penalty goal.
Using the width of the field, Boishaai then managed to send their other wing, Aiden Jacobs, over to regain the lead, but the visitors handed them some of their own medicine when Levi Brown scored Wynberg’s first try.
When Kunene Gadu went over for a second, Wynberg took a 20-10 advantage into the break.
As one would expect from a team of their stature, Paarl Boys’ High came out swinging in the second half.
Wynberg defended bravely, with players like Luqobo Makwedini and Brandon Asburner putting their bodies on the line to withstand the Boishaai onslaught. However, after 15 minutes of frantic defending, the home side created an opening for Anroux du Plessis to score after a well-rehearsed lineout movement.
With Paarl’s tails up, Jacobs crossed for his second try to level the scores, with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining. The action was far from over.
When Wynberg scrumhalf Tyrone Gombe sent a bullet to his captain, Da Costa, he barrelled into the Paarl defence but was stopped only centimetres from the try line. However, Ezra Antonio, up in support, picked up and dived over to give his side the lead once more.
To their credit, Paarl Boys’ High never let up and they continued to throw everything at the Wynberg defence until Swarts found a gap to go over for his second five-pointer of the day in the final moments of regulation time.
Neither team was ready to settle for a draw and they kept going hard at it well into added time. Boishaai had a couple of moments where they came within reach of securing the win, but Wynberg was given a chance to win it when the assistant referee alerted the referee to an error on the hosts’ side. They had 15 players on the field while another was in the sin bin.
Ahmed was the man for the occasion. He nailed the clutch kick to the roar and delight of the Wynberg supporters.
SCORERS
Wynberg Boys’ High 30 (20) – Tries: Levi Brown, Kunene Kadu, Ezra Antonio. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (3). Penalties: Ahmed (3). Paarl Boys’ High 27 (10) – Tries: Ashwin Swarts (2), Aiden Jacobs (2), Anroux du Plessis. Conversion: Viaan Mentoor.
Other results:
u19 – Paarl Boys’ High II 57, Wynberg Boys’ High II 0; Paarl Boys’ High III 50, Wynberg Boys’ High III 7; Paarl Boys’ High IV 53, Wynberg Boys’ High IV 6; Paarl Boys’ High V 75, Wynberg Boys’ High V 3; Paarl Boys’ High VI 73, Wynberg Boys’ High VI 3; Paarl Boys’ High VIII 17, HTS Drostdy VI 0; Paarl Boys’ High VIII 17, HTS Drostdy V 0; Paarl Boys High IX 17, HTS Drostdy VII 7.
u16 – Paarl Boys’ High 43, Wynberg Boys’ High 17; Paarl Boys’ High B 22, Wynberg Boys’ High B 14; Paarl Boys’ High C 57, Wynberg Boys’ High 12; Paarl Boys’ High D 69, Wynberg Boys’ High D 5.
u15 – Paarl Boys’ High 31, Wynberg Boys’ High 16; Paarl Boys’ High B 40, Wynberg Boys’ High B 10; Paarl Boys’ High C 59, Wynberg Boys’ High C 0; Paarl Boys’ High D 55, Wynberg Boys’ High D 0.
u14 – Paarl Boys’ High 27, Wynberg Boys’ High 0; Paarl Boys’ High B 35, Wynberg Boys’ High B 0; Paarl Boys’ High C 54, Wynberg Boys’ High C 12; Paarl Boys’ High D 50, Wynberg Boys’ High D 8; Paarl Boys’ High E 64, Kraaifontein A 0.
