Gim win in exciting finish
Just when Gim seemed to have the game sewn up at 23-7, Paul Roos came surging back with two tries in the last 9 minutes, leaving Gimmies hanging on for a two-point victory at 23-21. The last 10 minutes were gripping.
Most of the rest of the match was not gripping because of the poor handling, passing worse than catching.
There were also numerous turnovers to break the continuity of the game for when the sides did go through many phases they came to nothing. Paul Roos once went through eight phases and lost the ball. Gim went through 10 phases and then eight phases and on both occasions they were penalised. Phases were a failure, as they mostly are.
In the first half Gimmies seemed in control of the match, even though they led only 11-7 at the break. They dominated the scrums and the penalty count was 7-1 in their favour. But after some substitutions Paul Roos got on top in the scrums and the penalty count changed to 10-6 in the favour of Paul Roos who also won line-outs off Gim.
The start of the game, with first Gimmies and then Paul Roos attacking, promised an exciting match of much running, but handling spoilt the prospect. Though the field was damp with light rain overnight, the sides wanted to run. Later in the match there were patches of meaningless kicking which suggested that the teams had abandoned their avowed intent.
When Paul Roos attacked that got within five metres of the goal-line when Jason Myburgh was tackled into touch by Max Thalwitzer.
Instead it was Gimmies who scored first when fullback Naudé Wessels goaled from 45 metres out and at an angle. 3-0 to Gimmies after 10 minutes.
From an attacking line-out Paul Roos mauled and Damien Willemse got close to the line till big centre Kristoff Baard forced his way past three defenders to score close in. He converted his own try. 7-3 to Paarl Gim after 12 minutes.
There was a dull bout of kicking at this stage, relieved by a run by Jason Myburgh.
Paul Roos were running with the ball just inside the Gimmies half when their passing went awry and Johan Visser gathered, darted and gave to fullback Naudé Wessels sold a dummy and then accelerated down field. As Jason Myburgh started to haul him in the fullback passed to Max Thalwitzer on his right and the big wing had an unencumbered 12 metres to run to the line. The easy conversion went astray but Gim led 8-7 after 20 minutes.
On the stroke of half-time Naudé Wessels goaled his second penalty.
In the second half big eighthman Muller Uys had a strong run. Then from a scrum Keenan Abrahams sped down the right. Joss van Eeden broke from a counterattack and Paul Roos promised good things till their handling came apart.
Paul Roos were penalised for a high tackle and then marched on 10 metres for kicking the ball away which took them to five metres from the home side's line where they kicked out for a line-out. Gimmies mauled and then Wian van Zyl dived over for a try. 16-7 after 41 minutes.
Muller Uys had a second strong run and Gimmies opted to turn the kickable penalty into a five-metre line-out. They mauled and were held up over the line. That gave them a five-metre scrum. Going left Wian van Zyl delayed his pass before giving to centre Charl du Toit who was too strong for the defenders and scored near the posts. Naudé Wessels converted. 23-7 with 17 minutes to play.
From a five-metre line-out Paul Roos went wide left where Jason Myburgh was pulled down millimetres from the line. But the referee went back to a penalty. Paul Roos tapped and bashed and Malan Basson managed to score. 13-14 with nine minutes to play. With 2 minutes to play, a penalty gave Paul Roos another five-metre line-out but they knocked on. A penalty at the ensuing scrum gave Paul Roos another chance. They tapped and bashed. Roelf Burger's scored, Baard converted and it was 23-21 with just time for the kick-off. Paul Roos threatened but Gimmies won a turnover and Zack Burger kicked out for the victory.
Gimmies did much hugging and their spectators flooded the field with glee. In the midst of all this celebration there was the Gim flank Johan Visser, calmly thanking his opponents. He had had an oustanding game and ended with oustanding good manners.
Scorers:
For Paul Roos:
Tries: Kristoff Baard, Malan Basson, Roelf Burger
Cons: Kristoff Baard 3
For Paarl Gim:
Tries: Max Thalwitzer, Wian van Zyl, Charl du Toit
Con: Naudé Wessels
Pens: Naudé Wessels 2
Teams
Paul Roos: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 Troy Payne, 12 Kristoff Baard, 11 Jason Myburgh, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Joss van Eeden, 8 Malan Basson, 7 Roelf Burger, 6 Dean van Tonder, 5 Joa Swart (kaptein), 4 Lazlo Pscorn, 3 Stephan Annandale, 2 Abrie Coetzee, Muammir Salie.
Replacements: 16 Christiaan van Deventer, 17 Robert Matthee, 18 Dre Calitz, 19 Matthys Niewoudt, 20 De Wet Castelyn, 21 Tiaan Coetzee, 22 Hein Steenkamp, 23 Sebastian Uys
Paarl Gimnasium: 15 Naudé Wessels, 14 Max Thalwitzer, 13 Charl du Toit, 12 George Lourens, 11 Keenan Abrahams, 10 Wian van Zyl, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Gustav Marais, 6 Johan Visser, 5 Ernst van Rhyn (kaptein), 4 MJ Hayes, 3 O'Neil Thiart, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Rohan Hamman.
Replacements: 16 Emile Booysen, 17 André Booysen, 18 Jan Neveling, 19 Nicolaas Uys, 20 Johan van As, 21 Andries Viljoen, 22 Theo Boshoff, 23 Taig Schoor
Referee: Divan Smit (Western Province Referees' Society)
Assistant referees: Niel Bosman (Western Province Referees' Society), Pieter le Roux (Western Province Referees' Society)