Paul Roos's World Festival Day 1 Results
The 2019 World Schools Festival started at Paul Roos Gymnasium in the lovely university town of Stellenbosch on Tuesday, 26 Match 2019.
Two of the five matches were played by individual schools; the other three involved schools and combined teams.
In the competition between South African schools and the rest, the South Africans lead 4-1 after Day 1. The Rests’ victors were the World Select XV, chosen from top New Zealand rugby schools.
John McGlashan College is from Dunedin in New Zealand, Hartpury college from Gloucester in England. Both of these strong visiting teams fell to South African teams – Glenwood High of Durban and Monument of Krugersdorp, both strong rugby schools. Glenwood have not lost this year while Monnas have lost to Paarl Gim and Paarl Boys’ High, tough opponents.
On Day 2, the three New Zealand Schools will be in action against tough South African opposition. Hosts Paul Roos will play the main match against Southland Boys’ High of Invercargill right at the end of South Island.
Report from Festival: South African sides dominated matters on the opening day of the second-ever World Schools Festival at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. Under clear blue skies, those present at the beautiful Markötter field witnessed some breath-taking running rugby, with tries the order of the occasion.
The pick of the matches saw Krugersdorp-based Monument face-off against Hartpury College from England. Much was expected from Monument’s captain and eighthman Izan Esterhuizen, but the loose-forward and his team suffered a major blow within the first minute of the match, when he went off with an injured knee.
Monument however bounced back brilliantly from the setback against a side that last year defeated Affies. The boys from Gauteng crossed the chalk five times on their way to a convincing 32-21 victory.
Esterhuizen admitted afterwards that it was an injury that he picked up during training a few days earlier, and was unlikely to be fit for his side’s second game on Friday.
The first match of the festival saw Glenwood from Durban take on debutants John McGlashan College from New Zealand. The Kiwi pack was particularly impressive, and took the fight to the “Green Machine”, but the South Africans proved too strong as they secured a hard-fought 32-17 win, with SA Schools Sevens player Nico Steyn getting a brace of tries, as did substitute Martino van Wyk.
The Rest of the World contingent captured their first win of the tournament when the World Select XV destroyed a Western Province Invitational outfit 76-29. The visitors scored a total of twelve five-pointers as they secured the first two points for the internationals in the Ryder Cup-style event.
SACS were full value for their win over Zimbabwean outfit the Zambezi Steelers in a highly-entertaining encounter. Both teams looked to run the ball, and produced a total of thirteen tries, with the Cape Town school securing a 43-24 win. SACS’ captain and lock Jordan Thomas was named man of the match, having scored two of his side’s tries.
The fifth and final match of the day saw Paarl Gimnasium go up against the Africa Pacific Dragons – a Barbarians-type outfit made up of mostly New Zealand scholars. As expected, the tourists did plenty of running with the ball, but Paarl Gym were fully prepared for their attack-minded opposition, with Stravino Jacobs shining brightest. The winger scored two of his side’s eight tries, as they wrapped up the day with an emphatic 50-24 victory.
With teams awarded two points for a victory, Tuesday’s results means that the South African sides carry an 8-2 lead over their foreign counterparts going into day two, which will see the remaining ten outfits make their first appearance at the 2019 event.
Day 1 Results
Glenwood vs John McGlashan College, 32-17
World Select XV vs WP Invitational, 76-29
SACS vs Zambezi Steelers, 43-24
Monument 32 Hartpury College, 32-21
Paarl Gim vs Africa Pacific Dragons, 50-24
Day 2 Fixtures – Wednesday, 27 March 2019
10.30: Affies vs Italian All-Stars
12.00: Boland Landbou vs Napier Boys’ High
13.30: Hilton vs USA Schools XV
15.00: Grey College vs Christchurch Boys’ High
16.30: Paul Roos vs Southland Boys’ High
Day 3 Fixtures – Thursday, 29 March 2019
10.30: WP Invitation XV vs Zambezi Steelers
12.00: SACS vs World Schools Select XV
13.30: Glenwood vs Africa Pacific Dragons Select XV
15.00: Paarl Gimnasium vs Hartpury College
16.30: Monument vs John McGlashan College
Day 4 Fixtures – Friday, 30 March 2019
10.30: Boland Landbou vs USA Schools XV
12.00: Hilton vs Italian All-Stars
13.30: Grey College vs Southland Boys’ High,
15.00: Affies vs Christchurch Boys’ High,
16.30: Paul Roos vs Napier Boys’ High,
