• Paul Roos lead Western Cape charge in stunning North/South Schools festival

    Paul Roos lead Western Cape charge in stunning North/South Schools festival
    Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

    Paul Roos Gimnasium made a rugby statement at the famed Markotter Fields in the NMI Toyota Noord-Suid Schools Rugby Festival. Winners on the field, the school was even big victors off it for the magnificent hosting, writes Mark Keohane.

    Schools rugby in South Africa is strong, but in the Western Cape it is particularly potent and the local teams, led by the hosts, were powerful over the four-day event, in which each team played two 1st XV and 2nd XV matches respectively.

    Paul Roos, unbeaten in 2024, edged last Saturday night and they put the finishing touches to a brilliant Schools extravaganza in beating Noordheuwel 26-19 in the final match on Tuesday evening. A massive crowd ensured festivities would end on a high, while SuperSport Schools provided non-stop live coverage of every 1st XV match. Paul Roos, earlier in the festival, edged Garsfontein 34-32.

    On Tuesday night, left wing Jordan Steenkamp scored three tries, while Zander Smit also got a hat trick for Grey College against Jeppe.

    Traditional South African schools powerhouses Grey College, two from two, exacted revenge on Jeppe for a 2024 defeat, triumphing 64-31 and Paarl Gimnasium were imposing over the Festival, with a 102-0 demolition of KES and a 66-16 whipping of Monument . Paarl Gim also fielded their second team and a Paarl Gim XV in a testament to their depth.

    Paarl Gim 1st XV centre and captain Markus Muller was the standout back on display, getting hat tricks in both wins, and taking his season tally to 11 tries in four matches.

    Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

     

    Paarl Boys High were also two from two in defeating northern foes Waterkloof 66-0 and Affies 25-17 in Monday’s marquee match, while Western Province’s southern suburbs duo of Rondebosch Boys High and SACS were also unbeaten in their two matches.

    Durbanville High, with two impressive wins, continued to reward the investment in their rugby programme and Boland Landbou and Outeniqua were predictably good.

    Oakdale, not surprisingly, were good.

    The organisation of the event was world class, the rugby facilities are among the finest on the planet and the backdrop sits comfortably with most scenic mountain ranges.

    The rugby talent on display, in the 1st and 2nd team matches, showcased South Africa’s natural breeding ground for producing outstanding rugby player, in every position, in so many schools, north or south.

    CHECK OUT THYS LOMBAARD’S VISUALS FROM THE FESTIVAL

    I enjoyed Monday’s afternoon/early evening matches and future Springboks will come from this festival and a host of players will make the transition into professional rugby. Don’t be surprised to see some even play international rugby for other countries if history is the barometer.

    Everything you need to know about the Noord/Suid Schools Festival

    North-South/Noord-Suid Festival results/fixtures

    Friday/Saturday
    SACS 31-12 Welkom Gim
    Outeniqua 24-24 Menlopark
    Boland Landbou 71-10 Dr EG Jansen
    Durbanville 27-21 Monnas
    HTS Drostdy 17-61 Affies
    Paarl Boys’ High 66-0 Waterkloof
    Paarl Gim 102-0 KES
    Nico Malan 17-33 Helpmekaar
    Stellenberg 52-7 Bethlehem Voortrekker
    Oakdale 45-12 Nelspruit
    Rondebosch 38-15 Jeppe
    Grey College 24-22 Noordheuwel
    Paul Roos 34-32 Garsfontein

    Monday
    Melkbosstrand 25-24 Mzwandile Mali XV
    Outeniqua 50-24 Welkom Gim
    HTS Drostdy 29-43 Menlopark
    Durbanville 34-16 EG Jansen
    Boland Landbou 46-37 Waterkloof
    SACS 27-5 KES
    Paarl Gim 66-16 Monument
    Paarl Boys’ High 25-17 Affies

    Tuesday
    Brackenfell 38-12 Marais Viljoen
    Nico Malan 15-15 Rustenburg
    Worcester Gim 1st XV 26 – Paarl Gim XV 43
    Duineveld 19-53 Voortrekker
    Framesby 29-59  Diamantveld
    Rondebosch 47-12 Nelspruit
    Stellenberg 18-25 Garsfontein
    Oakdale 40-21  Helpmekaar
    Grey College 64-31 Jeppe
    Paul Roos 26-19 Noordheuwel

    *Grey High also enjoyed a successful hosting.

    Grey High Festival results

    Queen’s 13-13 St Stithians
    Dale 0-24 Northwood
    Pretoria Boys’ High 26-28 Kearsney
    Graeme 17-27 Hilton
    Kingswood 20-41 DHS
    Selborne 12-46 Westville
    Grey High 28-28 Michaelhouse

    Westville 28-13 Dale
    Selborne 5-35 DHS
    Hudson Park 31-41 Kearsney
    Pretoria Boys’ High 14-17 Queen’s
    Kingswood 14-33 Northwood
    Port Rex 17-19 St Stithians
    Bishops 26-17 Michaelhouse
    St Charles 26-13 Daniel Pienaar
    Muir 26-12 Ithembelihle
    Grey 20-17 Hilton

    Noord/Suid PHOTO GALLERY

    Article written by

    Keo has written about South African and international rugby professionally for the last 25 years

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