The town of Paarl remains draped in Maroon, Green and Yellow as Paarl Gimansium reign supreme 30 points to 8 over cross town rivals Paarl Boys High in a historic Premier Interschools Derby at the Faure Street Stadium.
In the heart of Paarl, where the mountains cast their long shadows over the fields, two titans of schoolboy rugby met once again to renew their storied rivalry. The atmosphere was electric, the stands filled to the brim with ardent supporters donning the colors of their beloved schools: Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys High. This was more than just a game; it was tradition, a showdown that transcended generations.
From the moment the referee’s whistle pierced the air, it was clear that this encounter would be one to remember. The opening exchanges were fierce, with both teams testing each other’s defenses with relentless fervor. The first 20 minutes saw Paarl Gimnasium winning the territory and possession game early, setting the tone for what was to come.
At 7 minutes in, Paarl Gim’s sharpshooter, De Kock, knocked over his first penalty, putting them on the board with a 0-3 lead. Although he missed a sitter from out front at the 13-minute mark, he redeemed himself with another successful penalty at 20 minutes, extending the lead to 0-6.
The game took a dramatic turn at 23 minutes when a yellow card was issued to Paarl Boys High’s number 13 for a dangerous clean-out. This penalty led to a lineout and a rolling maul, with Gim captain Kobus Blankenburg crashing over for the first try. Although the touchline conversion was missed, the score moved to 0-11.
Just eight minutes later, Paarl Gim began to run riot. A turnover at the breakdown allowed them to work the ball wide, and Markus Moolman capitalized, scoring his side’s second try of the afternoon. De Kock missed the conversion again, but the score was now 0-16 as halftime approached.
The halftime whistle blew with Paarl Boys High trailing 0-16, but they started the second half with renewed vigor. An early penalty at the breakdown saw Viaan Mentoor knock over his first, getting Boishaai on the board. Boishaai 3-16 Gimmies.
Controversy struck 39 minutes in when Freek De Kock went over for a try, despite an incorrect call from the touch judge claiming the ball was in touch but it was not. Chandler Green, stepping up as the new kicker, converted, making it 3-23 and leaving Boishaai unlucky to have conceded.
By 53 minutes, it was clear the game was slipping away from Boishaai. Nicolas Nel’s barnstorming run beat multiple defenders, crashing over to add another try to his sides tally. Green converted once again, bringing the score to a commanding 30 points to 3.
Paarl Boys High fought valiantly, and at 66 minutes, lock forward Jayden Joubert finally broke through the Paarl Gim defense to score their first and only try of the afternoon. Mentoor pushed his conversion wide. As the final whistle blew, Paarl Gimnasium emerged victorious in the world’s biggest schoolboy rugby derby, 30 points to 8.
In the end, it was a match that showcased the very best of schoolboy rugby: tradition, passion, skill, and the indomitable spirit of youthful competition. The Sportmans Warehouse Man of the Match was deservedly awarded to Quintin Potgieter of Paarl Gimnasium.
As the sun set over Paarl, it left behind memories that would be cherished long after the final score had faded from the scoreboard. Paarl Boys High will look to rectify the result in next year’s Premier Interschools fixture, whilst Paarl Gimnasium will enjoy the bragging rights over the town of Paarl for another year.
Sportsmans Warehouse Man of the Match: Paarl Gimnasium – Quintin Potgieter
Scorers:
For Paarl Boys High:
Tries: Jayden Joubert
Cons: Viaan Mentoor 0/1
Pens: Viaan Mentoor 1/1
For Paarl Gim:
Tries: Kobus Blankenburg
Cons: Freek De Kock 1/1, Chandler Green 2/2
Pens: Freek De Kock 2/4, Chandler Green 1/1
Photo Credit: Ashley Vlotman (Gallo Images)
MEDIA RESOURCE:
Issued by Terras Communications on behalf of the Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools.
Lauren Terras
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