Unbeaten Paul Roos, Wynberg march on
WEEKEND WRAP: Paul Roos have strengthened their claim to the unofficial No.1 ranking in the school game, after securing their sixth-consecutive win.
Wynberg are also yet to suffer a loss.
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Grey College have bounced back since their defeat to Jeppe last month, winning 29-27 at Paarl Gym and 36-7 in the recent clash staged at Selborne College.
Gimmies took some time to find their feet against SACS this past Saturday, but moved through the gears in the second half to win 35-10.
Until recently, most school experts would have placed Grey and Gimmies on the pedestal – and to be fair, both teams are still right up there with the best in the country.
But at this stage, Paul Roos is the only ‘powerhouse’ that has won all of its matches and is – based on their record and performances – the leading team in South Africa.
Corné Uys’s charges were made to fight for a 21-7 win over Grey High in Gqeberha this past Saturday.
They have now won six matches in a row – a special run that includes victories over other top sides such as Affies, Rondebosch, Paarl Boys and Waterkloof (who are one of the better teams this year, as the 61-17 hammering of Nelspruit High confirmed).
There will always be debates about which school is the best, and we may only get some finite answers when Paul Roos battles Gimmies and Grey College later in the season.
In the meantime, Paul Roos will march on – and it remains to be seen when their winning streak will come to an end.
The focus will shift to the festivals in Kimberley and Gqeberha this week. Playing two fixtures in the space of a couple of days is bound to test any team’s resources.
Paul Roos will face Monument – who have blown hot and cold this season – and Maritzburg College – who have been one of the strongest sides in KwaZulu-Natal.
You could forgive a side for losing a game in these circumstances, but Paul Roos could make another big statement by picking up two wins in three days, and bolstering their position at the top of the unofficial rankings.
Wynberg are among the teams that have impressed this season and are – according to some school experts – ranked among the top 10 teams in the country.
Following their 35-8 win over Bishops, their record reads: won six, drawn one.
While they’re on track to finish the season as the strongest team in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, they have reason to aim higher and push more big scalps, having already beaten Boishaai in Paarl.
It’s worth noting that Wynberg will play their next seven matches at home.
On form, you’d expect them to tame Rondebosch, and home advantage may bolster their challenge in the tougher fixtures against Boland Landbou, Paul Roos and Paarl Gym.
Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed scored 15 points against Bishops.
His accurate boot may provide Wynberg with an edge in the big clashes to come.
It’s possible that Wynberg and Paul Roos may continue their unbeaten runs until meeting on 25 May.
Wynberg’s ability to compete with the big dogs is one of the stories of the season, as is the rise of Milnerton.
After losing their first two games, Milnerton has bounced back to win seven in a row.
That run includes landmark wins at Rondebosch and Bishops, and most recently a 29-28 victory over Bellville.
They’ve already climbed the unofficial rankings list – one schools rugby site ranks them as high as 30th in the country – and look well-placed to build on that success in the weeks to come.
A victory at SACS on 18 May would earn them their third big scalp in Cape Town southern suburbs.
Beyond that, they will target a big showdown with Charlie Hofmeyer, another “smaller” school that has earned a place in the top 30 this season on the back of some consistent results.
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