Match Report: Paarl Boys’ High vs Grey College

Grey High can add 2023 to their list of victories over Paarl Boys’ High School after another convincing win in Paarl on Saturday, taking this one by 39-30.

It was the monster pack of Grey that overpowered the home side, setting up the groundwork for the win, especially in the first half when the strong wind made matters difficult.

Ian van der Merwe, the general of Grey, controlled the game with precision kicking, not only at posts, but also out of hand, turning Boishaai to fall back and setting up camp in the home side’s half.

Van der Merwe got Grey on the scoreboard with a penalty kick in the 19th second of the match but Boishaai answered back with their own minutes later. That was the only time scores were level as Grey systematically took control of the first half.

The first try came five minutes later when their captain JJ Theron muscled his way over from a line-out, controlling the maul from the back. Theron had a captain’s innings, leading from the front throughout the game.

Then it was the turn of hooker Liam van Wyk to again score from a driving maul and it was evident this was the Grey game plan to overpower Boishaai.

With little more than 15 minutes left, Grey struck again which saw big forward Jean Erasmus go on a solo run all of 50 metres, but he got dragged down a few metres from the whitewash. The ball went to Keegan Scholtz who managed to dot down.

It was clear Boishaai was rattled as they struggled to get their exciting backs into the game. However, as the clock struck 30 minutes, Jameel de Jongh caught the Grey defence off-guard after a double dummy in midfield to get their only try of the first half.

The second half started with a bit of an aerial battle as it seemed that the wind subsided somewhat.

And again it was that man Erasmus who came around the corner from a scrum in front of the Boishaai posts as the Grey forwards set a solid base to attack from.

Boishaai immediately hit back through JC Mars with a brilliant solo try as he sliced through the defence and showed clean heels to the try-line. Was this the fightback the home side needed to get back into the game?

Two more tries for Grey would follow, by Benito Goeda and a second by Theron, and the visitors might have thought they were cruising comfortably to the final whistle, leading 41-18.

But Paarl Boys’ High is the type of team that never gives up and full credit as they came together as a team to launch their last attack.

This saw Divan Fuller go over after a relentless onslaught by the home side, edging closer on the scoreboard.

They gave a last gasp effort during the last five minutes, even with 14 players as Ian Venter was sent to the sin bin for slapping the ball down, attacking from all angles and the dam wall finally gave in to send De Jongh over for his second try of the day.

But it was too little too late and Grey College, spurred on by their impressive forward pack, would yet again come out victorious over the highly rated Paarl Boys’ High.

Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Jean Erasmus (Grey College)

Scorers:

For Grey College:
Tries: JJ Theron 2, Liam van Wyk, Keegan Scholtz,Jean Erasmus, Benito Goeda
Conversion: Ian van der Merwe 4
Penalty: Ian van der Merwe

For Paarl Boys’ High:
Tries: Jameel de Jongh 2, JC Mars, Divan Fuller
Conversions: Daniel van der Merwe 2
Penalties: Daniel van der Merwe 2

Yellow: Ian Venter (PBH, 65’ for foul play)

Teams:

Paarl Boys’ High: 15 JC Marc, 14 Scott Nel, 13 Bryan Burger, 12 Daniel van der Merwe, 11 Jameel de Jongh, 10 Ruan van Willing, 9 Juan Loots, 8 Douw Wessels, 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Rubin Dames, 5 Van Heerden Pretorius, 4 Neil Hansen, 3 Evan Kotze, 2 HB Odendaal, 1 Christie Visser

Grey College: 15 Vincent Wolhuter, 14 Hayden Tolmay, 13 Benito Goeda, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Martin Botha, 10 Ian van der Merwe, 9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Ruan Lippold, 6 Keegan Scholtz, 5 Schalk du Plessis, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Ranon Fouche