Paul Roos are the bosses of Brug Straat as they defeat Paarl Boys’ High, 35-17 in an epic Sportsmans Warehouse Premier Interschools encounter on Saturday. 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 fullback 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 the game after absorbing relentless pressure for the opening ten minutes. It wasn’t until a yellow card was given to Paarl Boys High openside flanker Divan Fuller for a dangerous tackle that 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 meters from the Boishaai tryline. A smart inside ball from scrum half, Zeke January gave tighthead 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.

Ruben Kruger (Paul Roos)

The rest of the first half belonged to Paul Roos as they continued their unrelenting pressure on Boishaai. An infringement inside their own 22m by Boishaai meant that Paul Roos could get their rolling maul going again from the lineout. The Maroon Machine’s maul did its job once more and loosehead prop for Paul Roos, Olivier Ried dived over for his sides second try of the afternoon. Peterson missed the conversion to the left. Paul Roos led by 7 points going into halftime. Halftime 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, like they did through much of the second half, remained composed and worked their way into the Boishaai half. A penalty at scrum time against Boishaai meant that 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 much longer to get another chance to add to his teams tally as his teams 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 sides lead to 13 points. 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.

Bryan Burger (Paarl Boys High)

Six minutes later Boishaai flyhalf Van Willing was caught behind his tryline and forced to dot the ball down after sustained pressure by Paul Roos. This led to a 5m scrum for Paul Roos in prime real estate to launch an attack, which they did. 6 phases later after a quick tap penalty, loosehead 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 flyhalf Van Willing a chance to break away, he put his fullback 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

Teams:

Paul Roos: 15 Declan Croy, 14 Keehan Etson, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Phillip Groenewald, 11 Keenan Soffels, 10 Leejay Petersen, 9 Zeke January, 8 Ruben Kruger, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Andries Oosthuizen, 5 Jesse Stegehuis, 4 Truspe Schoeman, 3 Ryan Jack, 2 Christian de Villiers, 1 Oliver Reid

Paarl Boys: 1. Michael Pretorius 2. HB Odendaal 3. Alfie Holm 4. Neil Hansen 5. Van Heerden Pretorius 6. Rubin Dames 7. Divan Fuller 8. Douw Wessels 9. Juan Loots 10. Ruan van Willing 11. Jameel de Jongh 12. Daniel vd Merwe 13. Bryan Burger 14. Scott Nel 15. JC Mars

Photo Credit: Petri Oeschger (Gallo Images)