Paarl Gimnasium scored a last-minute try to beat Monument 34-31, while there were also wins for Paarl Boys', Outeniqua, Glenwood, Welkom Gim and Paul Roos on day two of the Wildeklawer Schools Festival. DYLAN JACK reports.
In an end-to-end match played at a frenetic pace, Monument came back from a 22-19 half-time deficit to lead 31-29 heading into the final minutes, but Paarl Gim lock Mark Etzebeth reached over in the corner to snatch the win.
The Cape side started strongly, scoring the opening try through hooker Delaray Nel, but Monument fullback Dean Lategan scored in the corner to draw the scores level.
No 8 Hendri Slabbert dotted down for Paarl's second, before centre Stephan du Toit finished off some good work from flyhalf Charl Janson, who slotted the conversion to give Paarl Gim a 19-5 lead.
However, Monument drew level again through tries from hooker and captain Morné Brandon and flank Tristan Dullisear, but Janson kicked a penalty to put Paarl Gim ahead at half-time.
Monnas went in front early in the second half when Henco van Wyk got on the end of a pass on the inside to slip through and score. But their joy was short-lived as Gim struck right back with centre Dawid Kellerman crossing over.
Heading into the closing stages, Monument prop Ruben Westraad crashed over to give the Johannesburg team hope, but Etzebeth was able to reach over and steal a win for Gim.
WRAP: Grey High Festival (Day 1)
In the day's other results, Boishaai flank Louwan Horn was one of five players to score a hat-trick on the day to help his side to a 53-10 win against Waterkloof.
A penalty from centre Darren Fortuin proved to be the difference as Outeniqua edged EG Jansen 34-31, while Glenwood centre Conan le Fleur grabbed a hat-trick as Glenwood powered past Stellenberg 52-13.
Welkom Gim were helped by No 8 Keke Morabe's hat-trick to beat a Saru Invitational side 31-10. Paul Roos continued their brilliant start to the season with a 10-try, 68-25 demolition of Menlopark, while Oakdale romped to a 56-24 win against Noord-Kaap.
Day 2 results:
Paarl Boys' (53) – Tries: Louwan Horn (3), Kian Meadon (2), Carlu Uys, Quan Horn, Adrian Alberts. Conversions: Meadon (5). Penalty: Meadon.
Waterkloof (10) – Tries: Boipelo Kgatlhanye, Eckhardt Boshoff.
EG Jansen (31) – Tries: Kyle Potgieter, Wesley Noeth, Tylon Kotze. Conversions: Aurelio Philander (3), Potgieter. Penalty: Philander.
Outeniqua (34) – Tries: Herschelle Otto, Matthew Thorne, Ruan Barnard, Eldon Lotz, Jaco Gerber. Conversions: Darren Fortuin (3). Penalty: Fortuin.
Glenwood (52) – Tries: Conan le Fleur (3), Aaron Le Rue (2), Jaden Hendrikse, Ruan Olivier, Rynhardt Jonker Conversions: Hendrikse (6).
Stellenberg (13) – Tries: Dylan de Leeuw, Tyrone Rose. Penalty: Nivan Petersen.
Welkom Gimnasium (31) – Tries: Keke Morabe (3), Ryan Davids, Keith van Aswegen. Conversions: Davids (3).
SARU Invitational (10) – Try: Storm Hanekom. Conversion: Lionel April. Penalty: April.
Paul Roos Gimnasium (68) – Tries: Remy Engelbrecht (3), Regan van der Westhuizen, Mink Scharink, Tiaan Pretorius, Kade Wolhuter, Cade Croy, Robbie Rodgers, JJ Kotze. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (8), Juan Mostert.
Menlopark (25) – Tries: Jaco Britz (2), Bernard van der Linde. Conversions: Van der Linde (2). Penalty: Van der Linde.
Paarl Gimnasium (34) – Tries: Delarey Nel, Hendri Siebert, Stephan du Toit, Mark Etzebeth, Dawid Kellerman. Conversions: Charl Janson (3). Penalty: Janson.
Monument (31) – Tries: Dean Lategan, Morne Brandon, Tristan Dullisear, Henco van Wyk, Ruben Westraad. Conversions: Byron-Lee Wentink (3).)
Oakdale Landbou (56) – Tries: Janco Klinck (3), Henco Beukes (2), Trevino Gordon (2), Hendrik Victor. Conversions: Jan-Daniël Strydom (8).
Noord-Kaap (24) – Tries: Edwill Speelman, Godwill Romain, Nolan Coetzee, Tiaan Swanepoel. Conversions: Elzandro Fredericks (2).
