Another Crunch Match in Paarl
Paarl is a beautiful town just off the N1 as you head north out of Cape Town.
It is the capital of the Winelands, the cradle of the acceptance of Afrikaans, the place where Nelson Mandela walked to freedom – and the home to many of South Africa’s best rugby schools.
The rugby rivalry amongst schools is great. There are Klein Nederburg, Paulus Joubert, New Orleans and three at present ranked amongst the Top 20 in South Africa – Paarl Gim, Paarl Boys’ High and Boland Landbou, and two of those teams meet in Paarl on Saturday – Boland Landbou, the hosts, and Paarl Gim, the visitors from close by. Closeness produces enhances rivalry, and this should be a great game.
Season So Far
Paarl Gim have been doing somewhat better than Landbou, and are ranked second in South Africa, Landbou 19th. The difference is not really as great as that, given the number of great rugby schools in South Africa.
Paarl Gim have played 12 matches, winning 10 and losing only to Grey Bloem.
Boland Landbou have played 12 matches winning eight and losing to Helpmekaar, Monument, Rondebosch and Bishops.
The Landbou coach, Oloff Bergh, provided the following, interesting stats:
Boland Landbou played 12 games and scored 78 tries (6.5 per game). Tries conceded: 56 (4.7 per game)
Paarl Gim played 12 games and scored 82 tries (6.8 per game). Tries conceded 33 (2.75 per game)
Boland Landbou had an excellent 51-38 win over the strong Stellenberg side in its last match while Paarl Gim needed a second half recovery to beat SACS.
Results Against Common Opponents
Bishops: Paarl Gim won 31-10; Boland Landbou lost 53-19
Monument: Paarl Gim won 43-29; Boland Landbou lost 42-33
Transvalia: Paarl Gim won 73-7; Boland Landbou won 59-15
One thing is for sure, the Farmers will give of their best. The problem for them may well be containing those fast, creative backs that Gim has from 9 to 15.
Teams
Boland Landbou: 15 Boeta Moolman, 14 Tarique Pietersen, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 CJ Snyman, 11 Hentie Fourie, 10 Keanan Wentzel, 9 Jacques Theron, 8 Corné Smith, 7 Jacques Mostert, 6 Reinardt Spies (K), 5 Marco de Witt, 4 Jaunu Olivier, 3 Henri van der Westhuizen, 2 Tehan du Plessis, 1 Hen-Ko Smuts
Coaches: Oloff Bergh, Deon Carstens
Manager: Prieur du Plessis
Paarl Gim: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Curwin Gertse, 13 Ethan James, 12 Stephan du Toit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jandré Burger, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Juan Wilson, 7 Pierich Siebert, 6 Louw Nel, 5 Marco van Rhyn (K), 4 Reynhardt Crous, 3 Jovan Bekker, 2 Liam Compion, 1 Gerhard van Niekerk
Coaches: Pieter Rossouw, Helmut Lehmann
Manager: Paul Eksteen
Date: Saturday, 1 June 2019
1st XV kick-off: 12.00
Venue: Hoër Landbouskool Boland
Expected weather conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 21°C and a low of 10°C
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (Western Province Referees’ Society)
Rugby Programme – 1 June 2019
Paardeberg
08.20: Under-16A
09.30: 3rd XV
10.40: 2nd XV
12.00: 1st XV
Groenberg
08.20: 4th XV
09.30: 5th XV
10.40: Under-14A
Tafelberg
08.20: Under-15A
09.30: Under-15C
10.40: Under-15B
Paarlberg
08.20: 6th XV
09.30: Under-16B
10.40: Under-16C
Kasteelberg
08.20: Under-14B
08.20: Under-14C
09.30: Under-14D
