In a dramatic turnaround at Stellenbosch, Paul Roos dominated the second half to subdue Grey College with a score of 37-29. This victory was sweet revenge for last year's narrow defeat in Bloemfontein. The Maroon Machine’s resurgence post-half-time was pivotal, flipping a 14-13 halftime deficit into a commanding win.
"We just focused on maintaining our structures and the boys delivered spectacularly," noted the coach post-match.
Key player Gerard Bekker proved instrumental by scoring two tries, including a decisive long-range intercept try. Other contributors were Stef de Villiers, Cadynn Samuels, and Jean Hamman, who all crossed the try line, edging the team towards a dominating scoreline. This season, Paul Roos wrapped up with an impressive record of 15 wins against just two losses.
Moving to other parts of the Western Cape, SACS demolished Bishops 55-22, and Rondebosch narrowly defeated Wynberg 33-29, preventing their opponents from achieving a clean sweep in the Cape Town southern suburbs this season. Bellville also claimed a close victory over DF Akademie with a 21-18 scoreline.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Cape, Queen’s College balanced their series against Dale College with a 22-12 win. Graeme College showcased their dominance over Muir with a hefty 54-27 victory, rounding off their season tally at 15 wins, one draw, and one loss. Grey High School triumphed in a high-scoring fest against Selborne, sealing it at 61-47.
In the Free State, close contests saw Welkom Gimnasium edge out Trio 37-34, while Jim Fouche was victorious over Sentraal 35-25. The North Vaal region had its share of action; Centurion narrowly outpaced Potch Gim 27-24, Standerton overcame Hans Strijdom 36-14, and a tight encounter between Heidelberg Volkskool and Marais Viljoen ended in a 27-27 draw.
Looking ahead, the Noordvaal Cup semi-finals are set to add more excitement with Garsfontein facing Waterkloof in Pretoria, and Monument going up against Noordheuwel in Krugersdorp, both scheduled for Tuesday.
School rugby certainly continues to excite and produce top-notch competition, cultivating talent that promises a bright future for the sport.
