Paul Roos thump Affies to deliver early season statement
WRAP: Paul Roos hammered Affies in Stellenbosch while Drostdy, Michaelhouse and Nico Malan scored upsets in other games staged around the country.
Affies travelled to Paul Roos this past Saturday – their first visit to Stellenbosch in over a decade.
While the Wit Bulle were competitive for much of the first half, Paul Roos accelerated in the period before and after half-time, and eventually finished with a 45-28 victory.
The game was still in balance towards the end of the first stanza, when flyhalf Travis Pheiffer intercepted a wayward Affies pass and raced some 70 metres to score.
Pheiffer finished the contest with 25 points – a haul that included two tries – and was named the Player of the Match.
At this stage, Paul Roos remains in the running for the unofficial No.1 ranking, along with Grey College and several others.
After hammering Oakdale in Riversdale, Grey College claimed a 31-15 win against Monument in Bloemfontein this past Saturday.
While Grey won the fixture to extend their unbeaten run for the season, much was said about the Monument flyhalf Jaydon Viljoen, who kicked an audacious drop goal from well inside his own half.
It’s since been confirmed that the Viljoen is currently working with Vlok Cilliers, the France kicking coach, who recently contributed to Les Bleus’ successful Six Nations campaign.
Gimmies bounced back from their shock loss to Stellenberg to beat Durbanville 45-12, while Boishaai were made to fight for a 26-22 win over Outeniqua – who are looking particularly strong
this season after scoring 144 points over the course of their first two fixtures against Nico Malan and Worcester Gym.
Incidentally, Nico Malan have hit back in the wake of that 0-45 loss to the Kwaggas, beating Queens College – one of the leading teams in the Eastern Cape last season – 24-19 at the
Graeme College Festival in Makhanda.
Dale College made a bright start to their campaign when they edged Brandwag 27-24, while hosts Graeme beat Marlow 42-28.
In the lead-up to a clash against Drostdy a few weeks ago, Paul Roos coach Corné Uys marked the Worcester side as a team to watch in 2026.
While the Maroon Machine came through that match with a victory, Drostdy made a clear impression.
This past Saturday, Drostdy beat Wynberg 35-14 away – and it’s worth noting that Wynberg were the best team in the Cape Town southern suburbs last season.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the highly anticipated clash between Hilton and DHS was cancelled due to a “viral outbreak” at the Midlands school.
The region didn’t want for exciting match-ups, however, as Westville overcame the torrential conditions to beat Maritzburg College 26-10.
Michaelhouse claimed something of an upset when they downed Northwood – one of the better teams in the province – 28-14, while Kearsney edged Glenwood 18-10.
The North-South festival at Affies kicks off later this week (March 27), while the respective Easter festivals at KES, Kearsney, St Johns and St Stithians are just around the corner.
SELECTED RESULTS MARCH 20/21
NOORDVAAL
Piet Retief 14-90 Waterkloof
Ben Vorster 47-22 Eldoraigne
Kempton Park 15-25 Nelspruit
Jeppe 62-14 St Davids
KES 36-12 St Johns
St Stithians 24-31 Pretoria Boys
St Albans 20-55 Menlopark
Noordheuwel 3-41Garsfontein
CENTRAL
Bethlehem Voortrekker 20-59 Diamantveld
Fichardtpark 22-19 Trio
Jim Fouche 24-19 Witteberg
Grey College 31-15 Monument
Welkom Gym 29-10 Potch Gym
KWAZULU-NATAL
Hilton v DHS (cancelled)
Glenwood 10-18 Kearsney
Westville 26-10 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 28-14 Northwood
WESTERN CAPE
Paul Roos 45-28 Affies
Stellenberg 78-0 Worcester Gym
Paarl Boys 26-22 Outeniqua
Brackenfell 12-41 SACS
Durbanville 12-45 Paarl Gym
Oakdale 50-0 Upington
Wynberg 14-35 Drostdy
EASTERN CAPE
Port Rex 11-39 Union
Daniel Pienaar 24-24 Stirling
Grey High 33-12 Hudson Park
Queens 19-24 Nico Malan
Dale 27-24 Brandwag
Selborne 15-24 Framesby
St Andrews 17-22 Pearson
Graeme 42-28 Marlow
Image credits: Paul Roos Gimnasium
