Paul Roos win - just

For the first time since June 2012 Paul Roos won on the Markötter Field, their own field, and they did so by just two points, a conversion.

Some were not playing but Paul Roos have 15 players in the Western Province trials to pick the Craven Week side, Wynberg two. Of the Paul Roos 15 trialists, 12 were in the starting XV against Wynberg.

The match started off with a bout of Super Rugby kicking but soon settled into a rugby match worthy of two fine school sides.

In the match each side kicked a penalty goal. They were for each side the opening score – a penalty goal off the left foot of lanky Aidynn Cupido after 6 minutes for a tackle infringement and a penalty goal off the right foot of the Wynberg fullback Karl Martin for a scrum infringement after 11 minutes.

The two sides played the game differently – Paul Roos mainly with its strong forwards, Wynberg with its more creative backs, but both sides mixed up their way of playing. Centre Jihaad Smith of Wynberg had a strong run down the right and centre Matt Gallow of Paul Roos got close and set up a series of bashes by Paul Roos which Wynberg repelled with strong defence.

the first try when it came started with what looked like an innocuous kick down the right but scrumhalf Ryan Southern got into trouble and was caught by chasing Matt Gallow. A quick pass sent Matt Gallow over for the try which Aidynn Cupido converted from far out. 10-3 after 29 minutes.

Wynberg attacked from a line-out following a penalty and Ryan Southern was close but a knock-on ended the promising incident and half-time came at 10-3 to the home side.

Wynberg started the second half with greater zest and a long run by Ryan Southern down the left put his side on the attack. A penalty gave Wynberg a line-out which they mauled and then went wide right. Alex Goldstein and Brandon Wood were close but again hands failed.

Wynberg tapped a penalty and mauled again and this time sturdy, energetic Hishaam Davids burst over for a try. The conversion was unsuccessful which would be the difference at the end. 10-8 after 43 minutes.

Immediately Wynberg came back on the attack and again mauled from a line-out. Ryan Southern was held up over the line. Again they tapped a penalty and mauled. Paul Roos pulled the maul down on their line and the referee awarded a penalty try. 15-10 to Wynberg after 50 minutes.

Jihaad Smith raced down the right to score but a sliver of boot had touched a sliver of touchline, much to his side's disappointment.

Paul Roos brought on Herschel Jantjies, their star scrumhalf and Reinhardt Fortuin at flyhalf. From a line-out inside centre gave a clever pass to Matt Gallow who beat his man on the inside and raced some 40 metres to score near the posts. 17-15 to Paul Roos after 54 minutes.

Paul Roos turned a penalty into a line-out, threw deep and mauled. Replacement hooker Carl Prinsloo was credited with the try. 24-15 with 8 minutes to play.

Then with four minutes to play Wynberg scored a brilliant individual try. Inside centre Evan Frylinck jinked to his right and raced 49 metres to beat the scrambling Paul Roos defence for a try at the posts. Karl Martin converted. 24-22 with three minutes to play.

Wynberg made progress through several phases of pick-'n-drive from their own held to deep in the Paul Roos half  but lost the ball and lost ground till Paul Roos got possession and kicked out after play had gone on for three and a half minutes beyond the 70 minutes.

It was a fine match.

Scorers:

For Paul Roos:

Tries: Matt Gallow 2, Carl Prinsloo

Cons: Aidynn Cupido 3

Pen: Aidynn Cupido

For Wynberg:

Tries: Hishaam Davids, Evan Frylinck, penalty try

Cons: Karl Martin 2

Pen: Karl Martin

Teams

Paul Roos: 15. Joshua Vermeulen, 14. Nico Leonard, 13. Matt Gallow, 12. Edrich Venter, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Aidynn Cupido, 9. Calvin Nell, 8. Michael Meyer (captain), 7. Mitchell Carstens, 6. Jacques Oosthuizen, 5. Emile Cloete, 4. Joa Swart, 3. Christiaan Hamman, 2. Jacques van Zyl, 1.  Muammir Salie

Wynberg: 15. Karl Martin, 14. Ibie Adams, 13. Jihaad Smith, 12. Evan Frylinck, 11. Grant Turner, 10. Nichilas Scott, 9. Ryan Southern, 8. Keagen Timm (captain), 7. Josh Helmbold, 6. Hishaam Davids, 5. Michael Pollecut, 4. Brandon Wood, 3. Alex Goldstein, 2. Bevan Barnard, 1 Sam Henriques

Referee: Quinton Immelman (Western Province Referees' Society)