Paul Roos celebrate again
A big reason as these two top schools meet in Stellenbosch and the home team break great Grey's run of five victories. It was a day to remember, especially for Paul Roos who won 19-12, three tries to two.
It was a perfect winter's day at the Cape – windless, cloudless and pleasantly warm, the mountains blue, the grass rich green, the sort of day that happens only at the Cape in winter.
The Markötter Stadium was packed with some 15 000 spectators – more participants than spectators in their ardour. There was singing, their were cheerleaders and four Silver Falcons flew over leaving their vapour trail against the blue of the sky.
Grey marched out, handing over their mascot and then racing, badge clutched, out on the field. Paul Roos ran on, preceded by their flag-bearer. They won the maroon-and-white striped jersey of old Victoria College, a jersey that have worn at come in this year of celebration, a jersey to be put away till some other massive milestone is reached.
Facing the sun, Grey kicked off, but Paul Roos were soon on the scoreboard. From a tackle/ruck some 30 metres from the Grey line, Paul Roos scrumhalf Joss van Eeden fed right wing Nico Leonard. He beat one man and then grubbered a short way ahead with great control, easily winning the race to the ball which smiled as it rose to his easy grasp. Leonard scored the right corner, his 50th try for the 1st XV in his second season. 5-0 after 5 minutes.
Grey dominated long periods of play with extended phases which held no promise of a score. When they did score it was from a defensive kick by Paul Roos which started with a counterattack on the half-way line. Fullback Jandré de Beet, eighthman Hardus Nel and left wing Marnus Boshoff set up the counter till Boshoff took a Pass from De Beer and raced clear to scored well in from touch. Mario Vieira converted. 7-5 to Grey after 16 minutes.
It was Boshoff's second good run of the match. Soon afterwards he had a long run from inside his own half to the Paul Roos 22, racing down the middle of the field.,
But then Paul Roos started to break the Grey grip on the game. They drove the bigger forwards back in a line-out maul and their backs were running with greater variety and incisiveness than the Grey backs. Their handling was also much better.
Paul Roos attacked from a line-out and were close to the line when suddenly Van Eeden broke from behind a tackle/ruck, beat a defender and was over at the posts. Fullback Hein Steenkamp, playing instead of injured Josh Vermeulen converted 12-7 after 27 minutes.
Still Grey dominated possession and territory and still the bog boot of flyhalf Damien Willemse drove them back.
The score at half-time was 12-7.
Paul Roos attacked early in the second half when Grey knocked on the kick-off and the home side attacked. A line-out gave them a penalty, which they mauled. That gave them another penalty with a five-metre line-out and another maul. This time they were over the line but held up. That gave them a five-metre scrum. They bashed and then went left to Willemse, who stepped twice of his left foot and danced over for a try, which Steenkamp converted, 18-7 after 46 minutes. Paul Roos did not score again in the next 24 minutes. In that time Grey scored, but only once, which was not enough.
Grey used the power of Francois Agenbach to get them on the attack. They bashed ahead and George Rossouw was held up over the line. Then substitute PR Serfontein lost the ball at the line. (It was a match in which both sides made liberal use of their bench.)
Again the Grey try when it came was not from phases or structures. Paul Roos kicked onto substitute Lourens Schreuder who countered. He gave to nippy Boshoff who raced 23 metres past four defenders to score well in. 19-12 with 11 minutes left.
Grey were determined. They tried [phases. They tried pick-'n-go. They tapped penalties, and all the time Paul Roos did what they had done best throughout – they tackled with immediate effect.
The final whistle went and Paul Roos supporters swarmed onto the field. They cheered, they slapped backs and then formed their concentric circles in celebration.
For Paul Roos it was a famous victory, a great climax to their year of celebration.
Scorers:
For Paul Roos: Tries: Nico Leonard, Damian Willemse, Joss van Eeden
Cons: Hein Steenkamp 2
For Grey College: Marnus Boshoff 2
Con: Mario Vieira
Teams
Paul Roos: 15 Hein Steenkamp, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 Troy Payne, 12 Kristoff Baard, 11 Stefan Burger, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Joss van Eeden, 8 Pierre van der Merwe, 7 Lazlo Pschorn, 6 Malan Basson, 5 Joa Swart (captain), 4 Louis Conradie, 3 Dre Calitz, 2 Abrie Coetzee, 1 Muammir Salie
Replacements: 16 Peter Cordy, 17 Robert Matthee, 18 Stephan Annadale, 19 Dean van Tonder, 20 Roelf Burger, 21 Tiaan Coetzee, 22 Sebastian Uys, 23 Paul Burger
Grey College: 15 Jandré de Beer, 14 Johan van der Walt, 13 Francois Agenbach, 12 Dawid Snyman, 11 Marnus Boshoff, 10 Mario Vieira, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Hardus Nel, 7 Dian Schoonees, 6 Dawid Theron, 5 Janco van Tonder, 4 George Rossouw, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Daniel Rust, 1 Gideo Beukes
Replacements: 16 Pieter van Staden, 17 Stef Brits, 18 Johan Swanepoel, 19 Marius Stander, 20 Johan Dippenaar, 21 Niel Durow, 22 PR Serfontein, 23 Lourens Schreuder, 24 Jaco Wessels, 25 Marius Kruger
Redferee: Cwengilke Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Niel Bosman, Petri Bosch
Results Down the Years
1967: Grey won 22-3
1974: Grey won 24-0
1977: Grey won 20-10
1988: Grey won 16-9
1989: Grey won 28-7
1990: Grey won 17-9
1991: Paul Roos won 20-3
1992: Grey won 20-6
1993: Paul Roos won 27-4
1994: Paul Roos won 31-29
1995: Grey won 21-10
1996: Grey won 18-10
1997: Paul Roos won 12-8
1998: Grey won 23-15
1999: Grey won 29-26
2000: Grey won 42-13
2001: Grey won 15-6
2002: Grey won 19-8
2003: Grey won 18-17
2004: Grey won 24-23 and Paul Roos won 21-18
2005: Grey won 16-11
2006: Paul Roos won 16-11
2007: Grey won 40-14
2008: Grey won 47-15
2009: Paul Roos won 9-3
2010: Grey won 41-29
2011: Grey won 36-35
2012: Grey won 33-23
2013: Grey won 40-8
2014: Grey won 25-20
2015: Paul Roos won 19-12
