Paarl Boys’ High down Grey College for third successive year

May 16 • General News, School • 2793 Views • Comments Off on Paarl Boys’ High down Grey College for third successive year

Paarl Boys’ High made history for the second time in Bloemfontein when they defeated Grey College by 46-31 in their annual Premier Interschools on Saturday. The team of captain, Francke Horn, became only the second first XV of Boishaai to manage to beat Grey in the City of Roses.

The victory was Boishaai’s third successive over their adversaries from Bloemfontein. Last year Boishaai came out on top 28-18 at home, while also beating Grey 21-19 in Bloemfontein two years ago. Saturday’s loss was Grey College’s first since last year’s defeat against Boishaai.

Paarl Boys’ High now boast a run of 46 consecutive victories in South Africa. The team’s last defeat was back in 2014 in the final of Die Burger’s competition against Marlow Landbou (10-11). The team coached by Sean Erasmus did, however, lose against Christchurch Boys’ High (36-38) on tour through New Zealand earlier this year.

The record for the most consecutive games without defeat belongs to Grey College. The team from Bloemfontein experienced a golden era between 1985 and 1991 going to an impressive 87 games without defeat. Grey did, however, draw two matches in this era against Paarl Gimnasium (9-all, 1988) and Grey High School (6-all, 1990).

Paarl Boys’ High implemented the rolling maul to perfection in the first half and it brought them two tries through hooker, Wilhelm Barnard, and flanker Vian Fourie.

Grey College’s scrumhalf, Ross Braude, had an outstanding day at the office as was rewarded with a try after catching Boishaai’s defence asleep. Grey College was in control on the scoreboard at 17-10 although they only had 38 percent of the possession in the first half.

This changed when Grey’s hooker, Ru-Hann Greyling, was sin-binned by the referee, Pieter Janse van Vuuren in the last minute of the half. Boishaai scored a vital try through fullback, Thaakir Abrahams, after some good work by flyhalf, Abner van Reenen. Grey College still went into the lead with a 17-15 lead, but most of their hard work through the first half was undone.

Paarl Boys’ High took the lead for the first time in the match after only 26 seconds of the second half thanks to a try by winger Luka Ferreira. This try started a blitzkrieg of tries as Boishaai scored four tries in the first 13 minutes of the second half. The team from Paarl scored 24 unanswered points in about 14 minutes of play which took the game away from Grey College and lead by 39-24.

Abner van Reenen scored his second through a cheeky chip and regather to the round of a good performance. Van Reenen, however, didn’t experience a good day with the boot as he missed five conversions.

Grey College’s flyhalf, Christopher Schreuder, scored a consolation try to bring the final score down to 46-31 in favour of Boishaai.

Scorers:

Paarl Boys’ High 46 (15) – Tries: Abner van Reenen (2), Wilhelm Barnard, Vian Fourie, Thaakir Abrahams, Luka Ferreira, Francke Horn, Le Roux Malan. Conversions: Van Reenen (3). Grey College 31 (17) – Tries: Wycliff Vlitoor (2), Ross Braude, Christopher Schreuder. Conversions: Schreuder (4). Penalty: Schreuder.