View photos of WBHS 1st XV 30 – 27 win vs Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday 13 April 2024
Monday 15 April 24: The report on WBHS 1st XV vs Paarl Boys’ High, as published in the Cape Argus – re-published, with permission of and credit to, Mogamat Goosain Abrahams.
Wynberg scored a huge upset in Schools Rugby with an historical 30 – 27 win over Paarl Boys’ High. The last time WBHS Rugby achieved success over Boishaai was in 1991. It was the trusted boot of Yaqeen Ahmed that goaled an angled 40 metre against the wind, after the siren had already gone that clinched victory for the visitors.
The game fluctuated throughout with the lead changing hands several times but both sides refused to throw in the towel. The hosts outscored the visitors by five tries to three, but flyhalf Viaan Mentoor could only convert once while his opposite number Ahmed goaled all three tries and also kicked three penalties for a personal tally of 15 points.
Both sides were guilty of undisciplined play with Wynberg incurring two yellow cards, one in each half, and Boishaai one. Wynberg was made to pay for their indiscretions as they conceded two tries on each occasion. The home side led 10 – 6 early in the game with tries by wings Ashwin Swarts and Aiden Jacobs to two penalties by Ahmed. Wynberg regained the lead when wing Levi Brown charged down a kick to score and soon afterwards the other winger Kunene Gadu crossed the line. Ahmed goaled both conversions to extend their lead to 20 – 10 going into halftime.
Playing with the wind in the second half, Mentoor’s big boot kept Wynberg pinned in their territory. It was only resolute defence that kept Boishaai at bay. Disaster struck for Wynberg when midway through the half they copped another yellow card and were yet again punished. First lock Dian Smal crossed from a rolling maul then Jacobs completed his brace. At 20 – 20 and eight minutes left, the game was on a knife edge. More drama followed when it was Boishaai’s turn to get yellow and from the resultant penalty Ahmed bravely opted for the touch line. From the ensuing lineout it was Wynberg’s turn to maul and replacement wing Ezra Antonio was on hand to dot down, with Ahmed again on song with the conversion Wynberg was back in the lead at 27 – 20.
With time running out Boishaai with their seven-man scrum produced a huge effort enabling Ashwin Swarts, arguably the best back on the field, to force his way over. For once Mentoor converted and the scores were level at 27 -27. With only one play remaining, Boishaai transgressed, and not even the strong wind could prevent Ahmed from nailing the winning penalty.
In other school rugby news:
At Rondebosch Paul Roos continued their winning ways with a comfortable 38 – 17 win over the home side after training 10 – 7 at the interval. Bosch made a promising start and were 10 – 0 up after 20 minutes. Captain and lock Tom Barnard was prominent in a rolling maul to get the touchdown. Flyhalf Simon David converted and also kicked a penalty.
The powerhouse maroon machine gained the ascendancy up front and was soon rewarded with a penalty try after their rolling maul was illegally brought down. At 10 – 7 at halftime the game was equally poised.
In the second half visiting captain Riley Norton and his fellow loose forwards Gert Kemp and Reuben Kruger upped the intensity to stamp their authority on the game. With Flyhalf Josh Dampies making judicious use of the boot with the wind behind him Paul Roos had territorial advantage. Two early tries by Kemp and centre Mattew Seymore both converted by Dampies stretched their lead to 21 – 10. But a fine run by fullback Dylan Miller breached the defence to bring Bosch within striking distance after Simon converted 21 – 17.
The visitors reverted to keeping things tight and from a ruck replacement prop Gerrit van Vuuren forced his way over for a converted try.
Bosch’s woes continued when with eight minutes remaining they earned a “red” and allowed Paul Roos to run in two unconverted tries via Kemp and Kruger to stretch the final score to 38 – 17.
Meanwhile, Bishops were on the receiving end of a 52-10 pasting when they hosted Boland Landbou. Flyhalf Retagan van Rooi was the star performer for the visitors with a personal contribution of 22 points including two tries and six conversions. Landbou outscored the hosts by eight tries to one, indicative of their superiority.
