Paarl Gimnasium stormed to a 57-0 victory against Outeniqua in Paarl on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

Derbies between these two schools are usually competitive, but Paarl Gim started the second half of their season in style to avenge last year’s loss to Outeniqua.

Despite missing star centre Dawid Kellerman due to sevens commitments, regular flyhalf Charl Jason did an excellent job at No 12, while Jurie Mathie was equally impressive as he took the ball to the gainline from the No 10 position.

Captain Dean Nieuwoudt was a menace at the breakdown and seemed to make a turnover whenever Outeniqua built any momentum, and fullback Tiaan Swanepoel was at his opportunistic best to score a hat-trick.

It was a nightmare start for the boys from George, who fell 19-0 behind in the opening quarter and lost lock Pieter Ferreira to a yellow card for giving away a penalty try.

The Gimmies forward pack has been a strength for the team all season, and this game showed it again as they used the maul to devastating effect. The maul sucked in enough Outeniqua defenders to allow SA Schools wing Stravino Jacobs to dive in the corner, which enabled hooker Van Eeden Hanekom to score.

Outeniqua did well to see out the yellow-card period without conceding, but Swanepoel showed good feet to score minutes after Ferreira’s return and give his side a 26-0 half-time lead.

The Kwaggas tried to come back in the second half, after Swanepoel scored his second, but were held out by some strong defending before Jacobs raced through to score his second. Mathie then threw a dummy to go through a gap and grab a try for himself.

Some excellent counter-attacking, featuring great passing from the Gim forwards, saw Nieuwoudt power his way over in the corner to bring up the half-century. Swanepoel then ran 80m to score his third try after Gim won a turnover in their 22 to round off a massive win.

Paarl Gim – Try: Stravino Jacobs (2), Van Eeden Hanekom, penalty try, Tiaan Swanepoel (3), Jurich Mathie, Dean Nieuwoudt. Conversions: Charl Janson (5).

Schools results (21 July)

Photo: Peter Heeger/Gallo Images