Comments on: SA schoolboy results (5 May)

By: drew(drew)

drew(drew) — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:40:18 +0000

@ wooden spoon

Actually, KES has always been mightier than the supposedly “once mighty ” Maritzburg College

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:14:36 +0000

@brains_trust(brains_trust)-8: It's not the Bulls only. At the recent Wildeklawer tournament, the Sharks have signed some Paarl Gym players as well. I suppose some other talented players will leave the Cape as well - unfortunately the Western Province can't keep everybody but surely they need to prioritise and try and keep the best ones !!

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:23:50 +0000

@renoog(silent_shadow)-9: He might not have signed on the dotted line (yet), because he still wants to take part in the Craven Week ! Wait until the week is over

By: renoog(silent_shadow)

renoog(silent_shadow) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:57:54 +0000

@Gambit25(Gambit25)-7: @CharlesM(CharlesM)-6: Where did you hear this? The Bulls have been chasing Pollard heavily since his u16 days yes. But I'm fairly certain he hasn't signed for them. It's up in the air where he chooses, although no doubt WP will or possibly already have offered him a contract. Funny how easily people forget if a player chooses to leave it's HIS choice. WP can't hold a gun to his head.

By: brains_trust(brains_trust)

brains_trust(brains_trust) — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:29:48 +0000

Can’t the Bulls develop some of their own talent instead of raiding the Cape?

By: Gambit25(Gambit25)

Gambit25(Gambit25) — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:55:31 +0000

@CharlesM(CharlesM)-6: Are you f*cking serious? Trust WP to let talent slip right through their fingers, and to the Bulls of all teams? Really? F*CK!!!

Yesterday I was reminded of how pissed off I was with WP having let Mat Turner go. He has now gone on to bite SA 7s in the ***. Anyway, hope Bulls allow Pollard to get better than he already seems to be

By: CharlesM(CharlesM)

CharlesM(CharlesM) — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:19:07 +0000

@keo(keo)-4: Pollard is an excellent prospect. Pity that the Bulls have already signed for next year. They have been after him since his under 16 days. The offer must be so huge that Western Province can't match it. I read today that the Stormers' players and their rugby bosses are involved in a dispute about match fees. They are supposed to get R3000 per match with the same bonus if they win on the day. Apparently they are getting R2000. The players have asked SARPA to step in on their behalf. Is this 1999 again ? Or is it (still) the bureacrats treating the players like moveable assets in stead of paying them what they are worth ?

By: brains_trust(brains_trust)

brains_trust(brains_trust) — Sun, 06 May 2012 06:00:40 +0000

The Paarl Boys’ (Boishaai) vs Paarl Gim interschools clash is going to be EPIC this year !

By: keo(keo)

keo(keo) — Sat, 05 May 2012 20:24:52 +0000

when your team takes 50 all you can do is give credit to those who pumped you and be thankful next year’s match is in your own back yard. Paarl Gym have a very special team this year. They did Tygerberg 75 zip who today beat Paul Roos 22-20. Pollard at 10 wonderful player. And then they have 14 others who aren’t too shabby.

Paarl def the dominant force this year. And Grey College will be back to their best next year. Under 16′s are mowing down every1.

By: wooden spoon(wooden spoon)

wooden spoon(wooden spoon) — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:33:11 +0000

Jeez how far has the once mighty Maritzburg College fallen to be trounced by KES?

By: brains_trust(brains_trust)

brains_trust(brains_trust) — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:15:46 +0000

Mike, get a life and look at the U19A scoreline.

By: yank(yank)

yank(yank) — Sat, 05 May 2012 18:49:49 +0000

“In the land of Paarl, the one-eyed referee is King”
Let me preface what I am about to write by saying that I am undoubtedly biased and probably one-eyed myself at times (Hell, I’m the grandfather of one of the Bishops’ players AND a Shark’s supporter …… that must tell you something !!)
Anyway, earlier today I attended a schools rugby match, played at Paarl Gymnasium, between the Under 14A teams of Paarl Gym and Bishops. There were large crowds spread throughout the Paarl Gym campus watching the many rugby matches taking place simultaneously between different teams from these two rugby-rich schools. The atmosphere was electric and wonderful to experience. So far, so good.
And the Under 14A match was a particular highlight…… Regrettably (and here I admit to potential bias), in my considered opinion, the match was ruined by the performance of the referee. Let’s examine the “facts”. The ref openly wore the exact colours (different design) of the Paarl team; the penalty count at the end of the match was 19 – 6 in favour of the Paarl team; at one stage in this frustrating match where only Bishops (a well-coached and knowledgeable rugby team) seemed not to know the rules of the sport, the ref stopped the game , came to side of the field and ordered a Bishops father to stop coaching/commenting so loudly from the sidelines and to step back 10 metres from the touchline; and finally towards the end of the match (4/5 minutes to play), with Bishops leading 20 – 17, the ref awarded two successive penalties against the Bishops’ team well inside the Bishops 22….the first came to nought; the second, quickly taken was spread to the Paarl wing who dropped the ball, the Bishops’ wing and centre recovered it and two passes later, the wing dotted down under the Paarl posts ! Game. Set and Match to Bishops !!. But, no….well after the ball had been dropped by the Paarl backline, 30/40 metres across the field after the quick tap, the ref ran back, blew his whistle and awarded another penalty to Paarl Gym waving his arms and indicating that the Bishops team had not retreated 10 metres…….Funny that, considering how far the ball had been allowed to spread. After this 3rd close-in penalty, Paarl scored and converted, 2 minutes later were awarded another penalty straight out in front, converted it, and the final whistle went, 27 – 20 to Paarl Gym. The boys shook hands and left the field, Bishops feeling no doubt that they had been robbed and wondering if the ref was any relation to one Bryce Lawrence…..

Oh, and by the way, that father who was so vocal and told he didn’t know what he was talking about…….a gentleman by the name of Francois Pienaar who’s son happened to be playing for the Bishops team. Obviously out of touch with the rules of rugby since his heyday in 1995….or so the ref determined.

Mike Millard
Cape Town
5th May 2012