Stellenberg stun Paarl Gim on weekend of upsets
WRAP: Stellenberg claimed a shock win against Paarl Gim while Hilton and Jeppe scored upsets on a memorable weekend of schoolboy rugby.
In a recent interview with Rugby365, Paarl Gim coach Pieter Rossouw spoke about the strength of South African schoolboy rugby and how the pool of competitive First XVs is bigger than ever.
Rossouw said that Gimmies, who were the second-best team in the country last season, after Paarl Boys, would have to be at their best if they were going to beat Stellenberg, one of the nation’s most-improved teams.
As it happened, Stellenberg produced a performance for the ages when they beat Gimmies 20-19 on Saturday.
The visitors went down fighting, launching wave after wave of attack in the dying moments.
The Jade Brigade hung on, however, and the performance, as well as the result, will serve as a statement to all of their future opponents.
There were several other unexpected results around the country.
Garsfontein dominated most of their northern fixtures last season and went on to claim their third consecutive Noordvaal Cup title.
On Saturday, however, Jeppe managed to edge Garsies 29-26 in Pretoria.
*Also read Paarl Gim’s Pieter Rossouw: SA’s pool of top schools has grown
Over in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, Hilton beat Westville 39-35 – a surprise result, given Westville finished the 2025 season unbeaten – while Trio stunned Diamantveld 41-40.
Durbanville beat Boland Landbou, who were the only team to take down a strong Oakdale side in Riversdale last season – 24-13 at Oesfees.
DHS didn’t have everything their own way in a 26-20 win over Michaelhouse, while SACS were made to work for a 26-17 victory over Milnerton. Helpmekaar, another much-improved side, banked a 31-19 win at Maritzburg College.
Paul Roos got their season off to a positive start when they beat Drotsdy 24-7, and Affies proved too strong for local rivals Waterkloof when they claimed a 34-20 victory.
While it was billed as one of the clashes of the weekend, the showdown between Oakdale and Grey College in Riversdale proved to be largely one-sided, with the boys from Bloem scoring six tries in a 38-7 win.
Bishops beat Worcester Gym 31-26 at the Wynberg festival in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, while Eastern Cape leaders Queens College and Graeme scored more than 40 points in their respective fixtures at the Border School Day.
SELECTED RESULTS MARCH 13/14
Paul Roos 24-7 Drostdy
Milnerton 17-26 SACS
EG Jansen 24-20 Kempton Park
Eldoraigne 6-55 Menlopark
Boland Landbou 13-24 Durbanville
Bishops 31-26 Worcester Gym
Wynberg 24-3 Strand
Stellenberg 20-19 Paarl Gym
Oakdale 7-38 Grey College
Outeniqua 45-0 Nico Malan
Maritzburg College 19-31 Helpmekaar
DHS 26-20 Michaelhouse
Hilton 39-35 Westville
Northwood 40-7 Glenwood
St Charles 19-60 Kearsney
Dale 15-3 Hudson Park
Selborne 19-19 Stirling
Queens 41-15 Cambridge
Daniel Pienaar 22-48 Graeme
Marlow 52-19 Duineveld
Framesby 24-17 St Andrews
Otto du Plessis 5-31 Brandwag
Trio 41-40 Diamantveld
Nelspruit 20-16 EG Jansen
Waterkloof 20-34 Affies
Garsfontein 26-29 Jeppe
Monument 87-22 Welkom Gym
Noordheuwel 34-24 Rustenburg
Photo credit Hoërskool Stellenberg High School Rugby Facebook
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