Paarl Boys' withstood a second-half surge by Monument to claim a thrilling 25-20 victory on day two of the St John's Easter Festival.
Boishaai raced out to a 25-3 lead courtesy of tries from locks Salmaam Moerat and Ruben de Villiers and wing Elester Becker. Fullback Jean Luc Cilliers was successful with two of his three conversion attempts before slotting two late penalties in the half. Flyhalf Xander Kruger's 11th-minute penalty goal accounted for Monnas' three points at the break.
Monument came out firing in the second stanza and crossed for three unanswered tries, including a double from No 8 Len Massyn. But Kruger only kicked one of the three conversions, as Monnas fell five points short.
In the day's other big match, scrumhalf Wessel Mulller's 13-point haul guided Nelspruit to a 28-16 win over Garsfontein.
Nelspruit prop Marnus van der Merwe barged over for the first try, but Garsfontein responded immediately when fullback Ruan Henning went over. Flyhalf Juan-Pierre Wegner added the conversion, before kicking a penalty goal, which put Garsies into the lead. But Muller had the final say in the first half, slotting two further penalties to put his side 13-10 ahead.
Indiscipline cost Nelspruit early in the second half when Wegner popped over two penalties, but that would be Garsfontein's last points of the match.
Replacement utility back Eduan Engelbrecht grabbed a brace in the space of five minutes. Muller was successful with one of the two conversions, before sealing the result with a well-struck third penalty goal.
Meanwhile, St Benedict's defeated St Charles 24-14, Hilton thumped hosts St John's 27-5, Italian club side Viadana edged the Lions Invitational XV 27-19 and Paul Roos battled to a 14-5 win over Jeppe.
Day 2 results:
St Benedict’s 24 St Charles 14
Viadana 27 Lions Invitational XV 19
Nelspruit 28 Garsfontein 16
Hilton 27 St John's 5
Paarl Boys’ 25 Monument 20
Paul Roos 14 Jeppe 5
Day 1 results:
Jeppe 27 St Charles 24
Garsfontein 61 Lions Invitational 0
Paul Roos 94 Viadana 0
Hilton 22 Nelspruit 9
Monument 38 St Benedict’s 15
Paarl Boys’ 52 St John’s 0
Day 3 fixtures (6 April):
St Charles vs Viadana (09:00)
St John’s vs Lions Invitational XV (10:45)
Paul Roos vs Monument (11:30)
St Benedict’s vs Hilton (13:30)
Nelspruit vs Jeppe (14:45)
Paarl Boys’ vs Garsfontein (16:00)
Photo: Hoërskool Nelspruit
