The weekend’s schools rugby results confirmed that Bloemfontein’s Grey College and Paul Roos Gimnasium of Stellenbosch are the season’s powerhouses as both racked up big scores against highly rated opposition, writes THEO GARRUN.
Grey College put the Eastern Cape contenders, Selborne College, firmly in their place with a 62-22 win in Bloemfontein, while Paul Roos scored six tries in downing Bishops 44-21 in Stellenbosch. The match-up between the two schools on 18 August is looking more and more like the game of the season.
The other Eastern Cape contender, Grey High School, also came unstuck when they were beaten 36-33 by Wynberg Boys’ High, at home, in a ding-dong battle. It was Wynberg’s eighth win out of nine games so far – they have only lost to Paarl Boys’ High – and they are having one of their best seasons for years.
In other games involving Western Cape schools, Paarl Gimnasium were way too strong for Rondebosch, winning 69-28, while Boland Landbou travelled to Port Elizabeth and were surprisingly beaten 34-20 by Framesby.
The shock result of the weekend was in Krugersdorp where high-flying Monument were beaten 28-26 by Waterkloof. Monnas had lost just twice before the game – close defeats at the hands of Paarl Gim and Grey College – and were generally expected to win quite easily.
REPORT: Klofies stun Monnas in Krugersdorp
There was almost another upset in Pretoria where unbeaten Hilton College scraped home 27-23 against Pretoria Boys’ High. The home side outscored the visitors 13-6 in the second half of a thriller.
REPORT: Hilton hold off Pretoria Boys’
The big KZN Midlands games were called off because of lightning, so the only other significant result involving a school from the province was Durban High School’s 60-10 demolition of neighbours Westville Boys’ High. It’s been a good season for Durban’s oldest school, but they have two big games coming up: Martizburg College away this coming weekend and then their local derby, away to Glenwood on 26 May.
Speaking of derbies, the honours in the first leg of the Border showdown went to Dale College, who beat Queens 29-10 in King William’s Town. The two schools meet again in Queenstown on 18 August.
REPORT: Dale power past Queen’s
The first shots in the North Vaal’s Virseker Trophy competition were fired at the weekend and the most significant result was the 23-22 victory by rising stars Transvalia over fancied Helpmekaar Kollege.
The big game this coming weekend is Paul Roos Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys’ High. Boishaai lost to Grey College a fortnight ago – their first loss to a local side in three years – and a win against the season’s front-runners would be exactly what they need to set that straight. The game will be televised and it’s going to be a cracker.
In other clashes involving the big guns, Affies host Grey College, Monument are at home to Glenwood and Waterkloof go to King Edward.
Photo: Paul Roos Gymnasium/Facebook
