Paul Roos outperform Grey
A commanding and clinical first half performance by Paul Roos Gymnasium helped them beat Grey High PE, 14-30, on Saturday (9 April) in the first Supaquick Premier Interschools match of the 2022 season in Gqeberha.
Three first half tries, two conversions, and one penalty kick from the visiting side saw them head into the halftime break with a 22-point lead. Tries came courtesy of a brace from Luke Graham and Keehan Etson, while the boot of fullback Christoff de Bruyn kept the scoreboard ticking over.
It was a flurry of attacks from the visiting side as they kept on setting up phase after phase, testing the Grey High tackling prowess. Paul Roos enjoyed most of the possession and territory with them getting their first try within five minutes of the match getting underway. Graham crashed over in the corner for the first try of his brace, the subsequent conversion missed, 0-5.
The home side managed to stunt the Stellenbosch side’s momentum at key moments in the opening 15 minutes of the match, but players like captain Herman Lourens, Wilbur Loubser, and Reno Hirst meant Paul Roos had the majority of the ball. For Grey High, it was Sive Bwowe, Caleb Kotze, number eight Tristan van Aardt and Kenneth Garrod that held firm on defense, with the boys from Gqeberha being called on to make most of the tackles throughout the first half.
Paul Roos was eventually rewarded for their clinical attacking phases when De Bruyn succeeded with his penalty attempt. A positive period for the visitors with some enterprising attacking skills from Reuben Noble took deep into Grey High territory, a cut-out pass from scrumhalf Liam Stander to Keehan Etson allowed him to crash over for Paul Roos’ second try, De Bruyn able to add the extras off the tee, 0-15.
As the final five minutes of the opening half approached, the home side lost their talisman number eight Van Aardt when he collided with Sampie Joubert. Adding insult to injury a lost lineout resulted in a counter-attack being rounded off with a brilliant display of pace by Graham as he cantered in for his second try, de Bruyn added the extras, 0-22 as the players headed into the sheds with the boys from Stellenbosch comfortably in the lead.
Graham completed his hat-trick when Etson intercepted the ball and ghosted three Grey High defenders, the outside centre had the presence of mind to link up with a speeding Graham on his right, sending the speedster over in the corner for his third and Paul Roos’ fourth try of the encounter. De Bruyn missed the conversion, 0-27.
It must have been something that was said at halftime that finally got through to the home side, but as the final 20 minutes of the match drew closer, Grey High started attacking relentlessly and started playing with confidence as they ran some creative plays deep inside their own half.
This paid off when replacement wing Zukisani Tom crashed over under the sticks for Grey High’s first points of the match, Mihle Matinise added the extras, 7-27. Almost immediately, the home side added their second try via Luvuyo Nkomphela, Matinise converted his attempt from against the touchline, 14-27.
De Bruyn added his second penalty, late in the match, bringing his personal tally in the match to ten points, with the final score on 14-30.
Scorers:
Grey High: 14
Tries: Zukisani Tom, Luvuyo Nkomphela
Cons: Mihle Matinise (2)
Paul Roos Gymnasium: 30
Tries: Luke Graham (3), Keehan Etson
Cons: Christoff de Bruyn (2)
Pens: de Bruyn (2)
