It was a dream start to this classic encounter for Boishaai as they scored their first try of the game from kick-off. A great turnover by blindside flanker Ruben Dames brought about early possession for the Paarl Boys’ High (Boishaai) side who played two quick phases before full-back JC Mars sliced through the Paul Roos defence to open the scoring. Daniel van der Merwe missed the conversion. Paarl Boys’ High lead 5-0 after a minute played.
Paul Roos took their time to settle into this Sportsman’s Warehouse Premier Interschools rugby match after absorbing relentless pressure for the opening 10 minutes. It was a yellow card given to Paarl Boys High open-side flanker Divan Fuller for a dangerous tackle that really let Paul Roos into the game.
From the penalty for the dangerous tackle, Paul Roos opted for touch and set up a driving maul. After a few phases Paul Roos found themselves 2 metres from the Boishaai try line. A smart inside ball from scrum half, Zeke January gave tight-head prop Ryan Jack the chance to dive over for the Maroon Machine’s first try of the game. Leejay Peterson calmly slotted the conversion. 15 minutes played and Paul Roos led 5-7.
The rest of the first half belonged to Paul Roos as they continued their unrelenting pressure on Boishaai. An infringement inside their own 22 m by Boishaai meant Paul Roos could get their rolling maul going again from the line-out. Their maul did its job once more and loose-head prop for Paul Roos, Olivier Ried dived over for his side’s second try of the afternoon. Peterson missed the conversion to the left. Paul Roos led by 7 points going into half-time.
Half-time score: Paarl Boys’ High 5, Paul Roos 12.
Paul Roos gave Boishaai a taste of their own medicine in the opening minute of the second half as they turned the ball over from kick-off. A chance to counter-attack was on for Paul Roos and they made it count. Their outside centre Samuel Badenhorst broke through the Boishaai defence before offloading to Zeke January, who ran a typical scrum-half support line to stride in for his team’s third try. Peterson converted. Paul Roos 19-5 Paarl Boys’ High.
The momentum swung the hosts way a few minutes later when a string of phases gave Boishaai’s number 6 Ruben Dames the chance to rumble over and bring his team back into the contest. Van der Merwe converted his team’s try to take the score line to 19 points to 12 with 41 minutes played.
Paul Roos, however, as they did much of the second half, remained composed and worked their way into Boishaai. A penalty at scrum time against Boishaai meant Peterson had the chance to add three points to his side’s total, which he did with ease. Paul Roos extended their lead once more to 22 points to 12.
Peterson didn’t have to wait too long to get another chance to add to his team’s tally as their ascendency caused Paarl Boys’ High to make another error at ruck time and give a penalty away for not rolling away. Paul Roos pivot Peterson stepped up and added the additional three points to stretch his side’s lead to 13. Paarl Boys’ High 12, Paul Roos 25.
The Maroon Machines pressure continued on Boishaai’s defence. Boishaai’s discipline at ruck time again let them down as they conceded another penalty, in a kickable position. Peterson stepped up once more and added the extras on offer. Paul Roos led 28 points to 12 with 57 minutes played.
Six minutes later Boishaai fly-half Van Willing was caught behind his try line and forced to dot the ball down after sustained pressure by Paul Roos. This led to a 5 m scrum for Paul Roos in prime real estate to launch an attack, which they did. Six phases later after a quick tap penalty, loose-head prop Oliver Ried bagged his brace of tries and dived over for his side. Peterson converted. Paul Roos now out of reach on the scoreboard with 7 minutes to play. Paarl Boys High 12, Paul Roos 35.
There was plenty of pride to play for and the home side weren’t done on home turf. A loss of possession by Paul Roos gave Boishaai fly-half Van Willing a chance to break away, he put his full-back JC Mars into space and he finished the try off in the corner. JC Mars was another man to secure a brace of tries on the day. Van der Merwe missed the touchline conversion.
Paul Roos closed the final two minutes of the match out in style as they secured a famous, dominant win over their Western Cape rivals away from home.
Final Score: Paarl Boys’ High 17, Paul Roos 35.
Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Christian de Villiers from Paul Roos.
Scorers:
For Paul Roos
Tries: Ryan Jack, Olivier Ried X2, Zeke January
Cons: Leejay Petersen – 3/4
Pens: Leejay Petersen – 3/3
For Paarl Boys
Tries: JC Mars X2, Ruben Dames
Cons: Daniel van der Merwe – 1/3
Yellow Card: Divan Fuller
