When Paarl Gim trekked up to Bloemfontein to face Grey College many knew that this would be a match of gigantic proportions. We all hoped that it would live up to the hype, and that it did it bucket loads as the two teams put on the show that might well have been the best match we have seen in 2025.
On a sun-drenched afternoon in Bloemfontein, two of South African school rugby’s true giants, Grey College and Paarl Gimnasium, produced a match for the ages — a brutal, beautiful spectacle that had the home fans roaring and gasping in equal measure. In the end, it was Paarl Gim who weathered the storm and surged clear in the second half to secure a famous 43-31 victory on Grey’s own turf.
Grey College drew first blood through their sharp-thinking flyhalf, Darius Erwee, who off the back of Adams attacking run sliced through Paarl’s defensive line with a clever show-and-go to dive under the posts. It was the perfect start for the home side, setting the tone for a frantic opening quarter.
But Paarl Gim, oozing class and composure, responded immediately. Their dominant pack bulldozed their way over from a rolling maul, levelling the scores and reminding everyone why they are considered one of the most complete sides in schoolboy rugby. Minutes later, it was the brilliance of Marcus Muller, Paarl’s electric outside centre, that turned the game on its head. Gathering the ball in midfield, Muller unleashed a dazzling solo run, beating multiple defenders and scoring a try that brought the Paarl supporters to their feet.
The remainder of the first half was a furious exchange of blows. Grey College, backed by a passionate home crowd, threw everything at Paarl, using their forwards to punch holes and their backs to stretch the game wide. Paarl responded with their own brand of ruthless efficiency, punishing any loose kicks and capitalizing on broken play. The scoreboard ticked over rapidly, but just before the break, Darius Erwee once again stood tall, calmly slotting a penalty to bring Grey level at 24-24 as the halftime whistle blew.
The second half began with a noticeable dip in tempo as both teams tightened up, knowing a single mistake could swing the momentum. Grey College edged possession early, but Paarl’s defensive structures remained watertight, snuffing out attack after attack with fierce tackling and clinical work at the breakdown. And early second half lead was gained by Paarl but Grey stood tall and still looked dangerous without getting over the line.
Then the dam wall broke at the 60-minute mark. Paarl struck twice in devastating succession — first through their right-wing Johan Kleynhans, who finished off a slick move with a brilliant dive under the posts, and then through Marcus Muller, who grabbed his second try of the day.
Suddenly, Grey College found themselves chasing shadows. Paarl’s forwards controlled the gain line, their backs danced through tired defenders, and their tactical kicking pinned Grey deep in their half. Grey fought with typical spirit but could find no way back into the contest.
When the final whistle sounded, Paarl Gimnasium had not just won — they had conquered. A masterclass of patience, power, and precision saw them leave Bloemfontein victorious, claiming one of the most impressive wins in a season full of highlights.
This was schoolboy rugby at its very best — and on this day, Paarl Gim stood tallest…just.
