Paul Roos beat Gimmies

Victory was not obtained without intense effort. Defeat was no conceded without intense effort.

It was a magnificent match, this Premier Interschools match, which combined intensity with the romantic sense of adventure that rugby offers, and in the stands were their school-mates urging them on with shouts, cheers and songs.

It was a great occasion on the slopes of Paarl Rock.

Paarl Gim attacked and scored first with the only try of the half and led 10-6 at the break. 

The Gim attack was an all-out affair, involving backs and forwards. Paul Roos were penalised, and Gim kicked out for a five-metre line-out. They mauled and drove to and over the Paul Roos line. The try was credited to hooker Delarey Nel.  Flyhalf Charl Janson converted. 7-0 after 5 minutes.

Now it was Paul Roos's turn to attack. Their method was different – pick-'n-go up the field with lock Mink Scharink prominent, a player who looks and plays like the great Jan-Boland Coetzee of old.

The next three scores were penalties – Kade Wolhuter for Paul Roos, Charl Jason for Gim and again Wolhuter. 10-6.

The second half started much as the first had done, except that this time it was Paul Roos who attacked and had the five-metre line-out and scored a try. Big flank Jarod Cairns scored the try and Wolhuter converted. to give the Stellenboschers a 13-10 lead.

That did not last long as Janson goaled from a tackle infringement, and the scores were level at 13-all.

From now on Paul Roos dominated and scored three tries.

The first came when Scharink broke and, isolated, kicked down towards the Gim line. Gim took the ball into touch, conceding a five-metre line-out. Paul Roos mauled, and Scharink scored. Wolhuter converted. 20-13 after 56 minutes.

Paul Roos, showing increased aggression, nearly scored again when their Honiball-esque flyhalf Juan Mostert raced down the right touchline. But his inside pass was knocked on with an open line beckoning.

From a turnover, Brendan Venter set the next try in motion with a long pass to Remy Engelbrecht on the right touchline. The wing had no momentum but he burst into life, beat two would tacklers next to the touchline and raced 55 metres for a try in the right corner. Again Wolhuter converted. 27-13.

There was time for Paul Roos to ice the cake. Paarl Gim put the ball into a scrum but, for the third time in the match, conceded a tighthead. The ball went to Tiaan Pretorius who handed off, and sped 50 metres down the left touchline for a try.

The final whistle went and schoolboys and Old Boys charged onto the field to form their victory circles.

The final score may give a slewed idea of the match which was harder and closer than 19 points, but Paul Roos were wonderful in that second half.

Scorers

For Paul Roos:

Tries: Jarod Cairns, Mink Scharink, Remy Engelbrecht, Tiaan Pretorius

Cons: Kade Wolhuter 3

Pens: Kade Wolhuter 2

For Paarl Gim:

Try: Delarey Nel

Con: Charl Janson

Pens: Charl Janson 2

Teams

Paarl Gim: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Francois Marais, 13 Stephan du Toit, 12 Dawid Kellerman (captain), 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Charl Janson, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Hendri Siebert, 7 Mark Etzebeth, 6 Dean Nieuwoudt, 5 Juan Beukes, 4 Jean-Jacques Rossouw, 3 Jovan Bekker, 2 Delarey Nel, 1 Preben Verleden

Replacements: 16 Liam Compion, 17 Wian van Zyl, 18 Gerhard van Niekerk, 19 Pierich Siebert, 20 Juan Wilson, 21 Willem van Niekerk, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Jacques Marais

Paul Roos: 15 Kade Wolhuter, 14 Remy Engelbrecht, 13 Regan van der Westhuizen, 12 Brendan Venter, 11 Tiaan Pretorius, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Xander Botha, 8 Matthew Cordy, 7 Herman Heins, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Micardo du Preez, 4 Mink Scharink, 3 Hanru Jacobs, 2 JJ Kotze (captain), 1 Robbie Rogers

Replacements: 16 Mering Ebersohn, 17 Jan Corrick van der Walt, 18 Daniel Swart, 19 Johan Bouwer, 20 André Smit, 21 Gerhard Cloete, 22 Ruben Labuschagne, 23 Cade Croy

Referee: Nathan Swartz (Western Province Referees' Society)

Assistant referee: Ashiley Jacobs (Western Province Referees' Society), Waleed Moerat (Western Province Referees' Society)

Results this Century

2001: Paarl Gim won 11-0

2002: Paarl Gim won 28-12 

2003: Draw 16-16

2004: Paarl Gim won 15-10

2005: Paul Roos won 23-13

2006: Paarl Gim won 26-19

2007: Paarl Gim won 37-12

2008: Paarl Gim won 17-14

2009: Paarl Gim won 36-47

2010: Paarl Gim won 30-27

2011: Paul Roos won 30-34

2012: Draw 5-5 and Paarl Gim won 28-8

2013: Paarl Gim won 24-15

2014: Paul Roos won 10-16

2015: Paarl Gim won 23-21

2016: Paarl Gim won 28-24

2017: Paarl Gim won 20-19

2018: Paul Roos won 32-13