Paarl Gim scored five tries to claim a 42-15 victory over Paul Roos in the Winelands derby in Stellenbosch on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Winelands derby has always been a standout of the schools’ rugby calendar, and this year was no different.
There were impressive performances from both sides, particularly from Gim wing Gertse, who scored a brace, and physical flank Pierich Siebert. Meanwhile, Paul Roos flyhalf Kade Wolhuter once again showed why he is one of the finest playmakers on the schoolboy rugby circuit, scoring a try to go with a conversion and penalty.
The win allowed Gim to avenge their 2018 loss in the derby and bounce back from their defeat to Grey College at the Wildeklawer.
The defining moment of the match came just before half-time when, after a tense opening period, there was a flurry of tries.
First, Gim centre Stephan du Toit scored a well-worked try off a lineout, breaking through a couple of tackles and showing good pace to sprint clear. Then, Curwin Gertse went on a wonderful individual run after receiving the ball out wide, beating four defenders on his way to the corner to add to his third-minute opener.
Paul Roos hit back through a try from wing Luke Burger, which was excellently set up by Ronin Daniels, but Gim flyhalf Juandre Burger kicked three penalties either side of half-time to negate that effort.
Despite losing Tiaan Pretorius to a yellow card for a cynical foul in the second half, Gimmies hung on, with Stravino Jacobs and Tiaan Swanepoel adding tries in the final 10 minutes to seal the win.
Paul Roos – Tries: Kade Wolhuter, Luke Burger. Conversion: Wolhuter. Penalty: Wolhuter.
Paarl Gimnasium – Tries: Curwin Gertse (2), Stephan du Toit, Stravino Jacobs, Tiaan Swanepoel. Conversions: Jandre Burger (3). Penalties: Burger (3).
Paul Roos – 15 Cade Croy, 14 Andrew Pegg, 13 Tiaan Pretorius, 12 Ronin Daniels, 11 Luke Burger, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Xander Botha, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Arno Heenop, 6 Andre Smit, 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Daniel Swart, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Meiring Ebersohn, 1 Robert Rodgers.
Subs: 16 Jesse Linders, 17 Damian Swartz, 18 Joubert Grobelaar, 19 Andreas Wild, 20 Calvyn Louis, 21 Gerhard Cloete, 22 Christiaan van Blommenstein, 23 Matthew Luddit.
Paarl Gimnasium – 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Curwin Gertse, 13 Ethan James, 12 Stephan du Toit, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jandre Burger, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Juan Wilson, 7 Pierich Siebert, 6 Louw Nel, 5 Marco van Rhyn (c), 4 Reynhardt Crous, 3 Jovan Bekker, 2 Liam Compion, 1 Gerhard van Niekerk.
Subs: 16 Delarey Nel, 17 Louwtjie Marais, 18 Dante Booyens, 19 Johan van Rhyn, 20 Eric Basson, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Johan Smal, 23 John du Toit.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
