Paarl Boys’ High held on to claim an entertaining 41-21 victory over Bishops at the Piley Rees field in Rondebosch on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

While the game was not as tight as last year’s one-point nailbiter in Paarl, it was certainly as entertaining, with both sides trying to impose their differing game-plans on each other.

It was ultimately decided in the opening stages of the second half. Only 10-6 ahead at that stage, Boys’ High scored four tries in quick succession to take the game away from the home side.

However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring when strong No 8 Gideon van Wyk went over from a driving maul.  Van Wyk then turned provider as collected a chip over the top from Wian van der Sandt and popped the ball up to the scrumhalf, who crossed for his side’s second try.

Bishops, looking for their first home win over Boys’ High, started to claw their way back into the match towards the end of the first half, winning plenty of penalties in Boys’ High territory, two of which were converted by fullback Matthew Lennett to make it a four-point game at half-time.

The visitors came out firing in the second half, extending their lead through three quickfire tries from Farmer, Van Wyk’s second and centre Quan Horn. Craven Week hooker Allister Williams scored from a maul to add to Boys’ High’s tally.

Bishops finally made a bit of pressure count when flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu went over from close range. Tighthead prop James Bolton then scored in similar fashion as the home side once again looked to stage a comeback with 12 minutes to go.

However, it was not to be as Horn broke the line and unselfishly passed to fullback Jacques Rosseau who was on his outside to apply the finishing touches.

Bishops had the final say of the game though as scrumhalf Liam Kloosman, another WP Craven week player, scored a brilliant solo try, chipping the ball ahead off the back of a scrum and winning the race to dot it down over the line.

Bishops  –Tries: Sacha Mngomezulu, James Bolton, Liam Kloosman.  Penalties: Matthew Lennett (2)
Paarl Boys’ High – Tries: Gideon van Wyk (2), Wian van der Sandt, Javier Farmer, Quan Horn, Allister Williams, Jacques Rosseau. Conversions: Kian Meadon (3).

Photo: Poppie Terblanche/Paarl Boys’ High