An action-packed opening to the 2024 Wildeklawer Festival in Kimberley saw Affies dismantle Paarl Boys High, while Paul Roos survived an almighty tussle against Monument.
Affies sent a message of intent to Grey College ahead of their clash in Pretoria on 18 May by putting four tries past Paarl Boys’ High to earn a 43-21 victory on the opening night of the Wildeklawer Festival on Wednesday.
Tries from flyhalf Ruben Pienaar, inside centre Janco Purchase and hooker Ethan van Dyk gave Affies a 21-0 lead in the first 12 minutes of the match, as Boishaai struggled to match the power of the Pretoria school’s pack.
Paarl Boys grabbed a try through No 8 Douw Wessel, but Pienaar’s first of four penalties put Affies 24-7 ahead at the break.
Boishaai were better in the second half, as flank Ruben Dames and replacement back Ashwin Swarts each scored sensational tries, but Affies wrapped up the contest through the boot of Pienaar and fullback Ruben Groenewald.
However, Grey College appear to have rebounded from their shock defeat to Jeppe in March, as the Bloemfontein giants ruthlessly demolished a hard-working Maritzburg College 46-o in the final game on Thursday night.
This came after Stellenberg High held on to beat an ill-disciplined Garsfontein 26-22, in one of the surprising results of the festival. It was Stellenberg’s second win of the season, which condemned Garsfontein to a fourth defeat in a row.
Earlier on Thursday, Paul Roos had to fight hard to beat Monument 29-27 and continue their unbeaten run this season.
The action will resume on Saturday, with Stellenberg taking on EG Jansen, while Affies face Oakdale and Grey College close out the day’s action against Garsfontein.
Wideklawer results:
Diamandtveld 57 Marlow 25
Affies 43 Paarl Boys High 21
Noordheuwel 55 Glenwood 13
Waterkloof 51 Outeniqua 32
Durban High 33 Oakdale 14
Paarl Gimnasium 36 EG Jansen 33
Welkom Gim 54 Drostdy 28
Framesby 51 St John’s (New Zealand) 23
Paul Roos 29 Monument 27
Kirkham (England) 45 Nico Malan 22
Stellenberg 26 Garsfontein 22
Grey College 46 Maritzburg College 0
Fixtures (Saturday, 4 May):
Stellenberg vs EG Jansen
Affies vs Oakdale
Kirkham vs Outeniqua
Waterkloof vs Marlow
Boland Landbou vs Monument
Noordheuwel vs Nico Malan
Framesby vs Welkom Gim
Paarl Boys High vs Durban High
Glenwood vs Drostdy
Paul Roos vs Maritzburg College
Diamandtveld vs St John’s (New Zealand)
Paarl Gim vs Helpmekaar
Grey College vs Garsfontein
Photo: Facebook/Affies
The post Wildeklawer: Affies shine, Paul Roos scrape through appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
