Home team Paarl Boys High scrapped home 21-20 on Brug Street against Paul Roos thanks to a late try, scored with less than 3 minutes left on the clock. In so doing the Blue Army extended their winning streak against the Maroon Machine. The weather conditions were poor but the boys still managed to put on a great entertainment package with five tries thrown in. Also outstanding on the day was the singing by both sets of schoolboy supporters and the settling at Brug Street seemed to amplify their great school spirit.
Paul Roos scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies helped the visitors get off to a promising start. The WP schools scrummy who had paved himself in glory at Craven Week pulls the Boishaai defence wide after scrum. Right wing Joel Heugh read the play very well and cut inside for a scissors with Jantjies, leading to what was an easy run in. Heugh added the conversion and the boys from Stellenbosch went 7-0 up.
Paul Roos’ Carstens was then pinged for a tackler not releasing offense and Stefan Gouws, the Boishaai flyhalf had the home team on the board.
Hooker Jacques van Zyl then went off his feet at a ruck, resulting in another HJS penalty. This time home team captain and SA Schools prop Thomas du Toit opted to set up a lineout just 5-meters out. The lineout catch was not taken and Paul Roos looked to have averted the immediate danger but they make a hash of clearing the ball. From the side of a ruck, Thomas du Toit managed to charge down the kick and then fall on ball over his opponents’ try-line. Flyhalf Reinhardt Fortuin was the culprit. He had used the boot to good effect later in the game but this was not one of his proud moments. Using his left foot and with no blockers in front of him for protection, the failed clearance kick was suicidal. Stefan Gouws miss the conversion so Boishaai had a slender lead of 8-7.
Boishaai no.8 Charl-Francois du Toit made a good start to the match and found space for a couple of very good runs in midfield.
HJS extended their lead with a brilliant try. This time it was Premier Interschools Defender of the Match and WP Schools flank Charlton Jonas that came up with the big play. He made a clean break and turned on the afterburners to gain some serious ground before offloading at the right timeto support runner Curtley Grain on the outside. Another pass followed and left wing Keenan van Wyk crossed the chalk in the corner. After 17-minutes, the score was now 13-7 in favour of the home team.
Paul Roos were easily their own worst enemies by this stage. Numerous errors in their play were just handing the advantage to the team from Paarl.
The ref calls “discipline” in Afrikaans as the reason for a penalty that lead to the next score. This was after an off the ball incident. HJS extended the lead to 16-7. There was niggle off the ball by both teams throughout the in the first half.
Paul Roos were not in the game at this point and things could have been worse if Boishaai’s Curtley Gray had held onto an intercept pass brought by some focus lacking passing at the back. This would almost certainly had been a try if Gray had caught the long pass.
Another ball over the touchline results in a penalty. This time HJS No.8 Du Toit is the transgressor. Heugh had a good day with the boot and brought the score closer at 16-10 to HJS.
Paul Roos Gym showed some good temperament by managing to turn around their form during the half. The Maroon Machine shows a lot more fluency in their play and tactically they are alert to opportunities from kicking the ball upfield after they commit in the home team’s defence to stay flat. It’s powerful prop JP Botha, who ends up having a decent day in the scrum against HJS’s highly rated frontrow. He scores from the 5m scrum awarded after flyhalf Fortuin was held up over the HJS try-line. The try is the end result of Paul Roos being decisive after the scrum. SA Schools centre Daniel Du Plessis and Jantjies feature in the build-up. Heugh converts and suddenly Paul Roos are back in front 17-16 in what has turned out to be a splendid first half given the conditions under foot.
Boishaai are presented with an almost immediate opportunity to strike back after the restart. A turnover leads to an attack and is followed by a side entry penalty being awarded to them. They again set up an attacking lineout. However after winning ball it becomes static in midfield and Paul Roos eventually receives a penalty at the breakdown.
Another kick in behind HJS defence by Jantjies sees Heugh almost run onto the ball on the left wing.
In the last act before halftime the excitement reaches fever pitch when Boishaai almost scores the fifth try of the match. A handling mistake by Paul Roos when they were on attack, sees HJS collecting the loose ball inside their 22. Outside centre Curtley Grain ran it back up the left side and then cleverly executed long diagonal kick to the inside and towards the Paul Roos posts. Boishaai fullback Dante van der Merwe who proved to be a technically sound fullback on defence, won the race to get to the ball first but couldn’t gather it.
Halftime: 17-16.
It seemd to rain harder in the second half. Conditions became that much more difficult to play in and it generally showed it in the quality of play.
Boishaai start the half well. They produced good width which really challenged their opponents defence out wide.
Like in the first half Paul Roos then gain some initiative but there positive contributions don’t bear fruit when they fail to recycle ball which HJS is able to turnover by holding up and making ball from the maul unplayable. This happens twice in a row.
Determining who won the battle in the set-pieces was a debate all on it’s own. Both lineout and scrums seem to produce inconclusive winners in terms of who gained more initiative.
By now handling started to really become an issue in the game.
Then a critical moment in the match. Paul Roos flyhalf Fortuin seems unlucky not to be awarded a try when he kicks and collects to dive in over at the corner. The ref indicates that the ball was knocked on in open play just before Fortuin pounced.
A Heugh penalty made it 20-16. PRG seemed to have the better of the exchanges but continuity was something that the boys on either side were finding hard to come by.
Dante van der Merwe came up with a good chip, chase and toe through to put Paul Roos right back on defence deep within their redzone.
Paul Roos breaks early from a defensive scrum. It’s virtually right in front but by this stage HJS needs a try and so it’s a no-brainer for Du Toit to decide on setting up an attacking lineout. The Blue Army sets a perfect driving maul from the throw in close to the line and his flank Charlton Jonas crashes over with the clock on 67min 30sec. 21-20 to Paarl Boys High. Great stuff by both sides!
HJS Paarl Boys High: 15 Dante van der Merwe, 14 Daylen Daniels, 13 Curtley Grain, 12 Luan Boshoff, 11 Keanan van Wyk, 10 Stephan Gouws, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Charl-Francois du Toit, 7 JJ van der Spuy, 6 Charlton Jonas, 5 Hein Kritzinger, 4 Matthew le Roux, 3 Francois van der Merwe, 2 Ruan Brits, 1 Thomas du Toit (c.) Replacements: 16 Piero Passerini, 17 Wynand Cilliers, 18 Hannes Mostert, 19 Bulla de Villiersd, 20 Damian Stevens, 21 Dewald Naude, 22 Darren Papier.
Paul Roos: 15 Muller Brink, 14 Joel Heugh, 13 Tristan Cramer, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Michael Meyer, 7 Christo van der Merwe (c .), 6 Mitchell Carstens, 5 Lohann Louw, 4 Daniel Buitendag, 3 Christiaan Hamman, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 JP Botha Replacements: 16 Gerrie le Roux, 17 Ian Hauptfleisch, 18 Mitch Lingeveldt, 19 Pieta Smith, 20 Calvin Nell, 21 Matt Gallow, 22 Chris Smit
eerste wedstryd na n lang vakansie, die weer en veld, duppie se afwesigheid ( in n klas van sy eie) en tv kameras was versagtende omstandighede vir beide spanne …
@maroon8: sak Sarel! As daar nou een plek was waar PRG solidly op hulle @$&@ gekry het, was dit in die skrums. Ten spyte van hierdie nuwe “jy mag nie eintlik skrum nie” benadering en reëls.
@BoishaaiPa: Ek het dit ook gemis! Dit het wel in die tweede helfde beter gegaan. Gelukig is Boishaai se slotte nie swaar nie, anders was daar eers perde.
@PaarlBok: Ou grapkas
Ek is so bly ek het die game getape nou kan ek dit weer n 4de keer gaan oorkyk want wragtig..ek dink ek kyk die verkeerde game…Ek kon nog nie die game sien waar HJS se voorrye glo gesukkel het nie…Die vastelos was PRG strate beter, maar skrumtyd en lynstaan tyd het HJS hulle man baie goed gestaan. PRG se skrums was 80% van die tyd onder druk, maar miskien het ek van skoon die verkeerde kant af gekyk. Ek sal maar in slomo gaan kyk want blykbaar het Thomas gesukkel voor…dis seker toe hy te vinnig vorentoe gegaan het.
Het die wedstryd as ‘n neutral baie geniet. Paul Roos kan hulself skop oor hulle die een uit die sakkie laat glip het. Hulle voorspelers het al beter gespeel soos die wedstryd gevorder het (veral na die haker verskuif is stut toe) en het gemeen hul domineer tot die Boishaai drie gekom het. Paul Roos moes eerder daai tyd die bal op die voet gesit het en het duur betaal teen die einde. Geluk aan Boishaai, hul het sommer ‘n lekker pak en sien baie uit na interskole. Boishaai verseker die gunsteling die jaar.
@Ploegskaar: PRG se haker,Jaque het nie sy gelyke in die land wat betref werkstempo….as hy bietjie size bysit gaan dit moelike keuse wees tussen die 2.WP is bevoorreg om 2 goeie manne in die posisie te hê. Klaas het gewys ‘n groot jaar kom 2014 en was vir my die groot uitblinker voorlangs saam met Jonas. Curtley,die klein sentertjie………die groot manne kan maar oppas,ek dink die seun gaan talle groot name gat maak 2014.Die voorry van Blou army het teleurgestel……as daar 2 JP’s was het Boishaai geknak voor.Jp Botha het klas gewys teen beide Boishaai voorrye…….hierdie seun kan beide kante sak en ewe goed klaarspeel met beide Cravenweek stutte……..siesa…..Wp keurders. Goodluck Boishaai met goeie interskole…………dit gaan wragtag ‘n close een wees……..die hop van ‘n bal en bietjie luck die een kant………..makiesakie want skolerugby sal seevier!
@Klofie Pa: Soos ek sê: knippie sout!
@Koos Roos: Bedoel beter.
@Oom Kaspaas: Het ‘n snaakse gevoel oor Gim. Jul lynstane ook nie swak. By die afbreekpunte is aandag nodig. Gim se ysters is selfs beyer as PRG se los 3.
@Oom Kaspaas:HeHe Kaspaas jy klink soos ons Waterkloof ouers!! Het ons maar….
Nee wat vat die wen en geniet hom. Daars n paar manne wat na CW uiteindelik die selfvertoue gekry het om te wys waar hul talent le!
Ruan Brits was kookwater, gaan volgende jaar ‘n monster wees en indien hy beseringsvry bly, kan hy ‘n blink toekoms he. Anders ‘n tipiese derby, met baie foute maar ‘n uitstekende vertoonvenster vir skolerugby.
Kom ons wees eerlik. Die 2 spanne het gemiddeld vertoon. Toegeggee, die nat veld en lang vakansiebreek het nie juis gehelp nie.
PRG kon net sowel gewen het, maar die scoreboard wys anders.
Ek weet nie of ons verdien het om die een te wen nie, maar aan die ander kant, ons het ook nie verdien om hom te verloor nie.
BH se vertoning herinner baie aan wedstryde teen Kwaggas en Glenwood. Net eenvoudig heeltemal te veel foute.
Lynstane ‘n bron van kommer.
Lynskoppe baie swak.
Strafskoppe word nie uitgeskop nie.
Pale toe moet punte wees.
Afbreekpunte swak.
En my pet hate…..tierlanteintjies in jou eie kwartgebied sit die span onder geweldige druk en skep geleenthede vir teenstanders om punte aan te teken.
BH is op sy beste as hy gestruktureerde persentasierugby speel. Dit gebeur te min.
Sou dink dat afrigters en spelers teen die tyd al aandag aan die aspekte gegee het.
Dis maar net my opinie. Het nog nooit self afgerig nie. So vat dit maar met ‘n knippie sout.
Was egter beindruk met manne se veggees en wil om te wen.
Sterkte vir volgende paar weke.
Gim lyk of hulle nie getroef kan word nie.
Geluk Boishaai! Hard probeer PRG, hou die harde werk op. Sukses wag om die draai!