Paarl Gim had an excellent day out at Rondebosch in the southern suburbs on the weekend. They won 15 of the 16 matches played, only losing the 5th team encounter and recorded an average score of 37 – 9 across all matches.
It was a particularly difficult day for the Rondebosch u/14 division who lost all 4 games and did not score a single point in any of them!
The u/15A and u/16A matches were tight affairs, which Gim winning 15 – 7 and 28 – 21 respectively.
Ironically, the open division saw the only victory for Bosch, but the other four teams all conceded 50. The First XV game was much anticipated after Bosch’s surprise defeat of Boishaai earlier in the season and the Gim side would have arrived in Cape Town desperate to avoid a similar fate to their arch enemies.
Paarl Gim started strongly, with massive intensity in their forward play and would go on to dominate all facets of the game, making very few errors to cap an impressive performance.
6’ – After a dominant start, Gim had a scrum on the right hand side close to the Rondebosch line, and flyhalf Kyle Smith drifted across the field, dummying his centres, without being harassed before feeding his fullback Johandré van Niekerk who was in acres of space to go over untouched. 7 – 0 Paarl Gim.
8’ – From the kickoff, Rondebosch made two errors. Kicking the restart out direct and then conceding an offside penalty which led to a Paarl Gim lineout 10m from the ‘Bosch line. When the ball was won at the back of the lineout, the Gim pack constructed a maul and there was only one outcome. Rondebosch cynically collapsed the maul just short of the tryline and conceded a penalty try and a yellow card. 14 – 0 Paarl Gim. Yellow card for Ryan du Rand (Rondebosch).
13’ – Paarl Gim continued their dominance with brilliant ball retention and carries, Rondebosch’s ill-discipline leading to another 10m lineout for Gim. After a good sack by Rondebosch, Gim were able to offload in the tackle and then in the third phase simple hands did the trick and left wing Thyron Ross went over for a good try in the corner. Alarm bells would have been ringing for Bosch! 19 – 0 Paarl Gim.
The next fifteen minutes saw Rondebosch come into the game with a bit more territory and some prolonged possession but handling errors were proving costly and as soon as Gim got another chance in the red zone they capitalised.
28’ – Paarl Gim’s ruck speed and ball retention was proving impossible to stop and after the concession of another penalty in their 22m, ‘Bosch were again defending a lineout 10m from their line. The maul was stopped 5m short and after going around the corner for 3 phases through their forwards, Gim sent the ball to flyhalf Smith who scored an easy try handy to the uprights after some very weak defending. 26 – 0 Paarl Gim.
32’ – Paarl Gim had a lapse in concentration when the ball was cleared direct into touch after being taken back into their 22m. This gave ‘Bosch their first meaningful attacking opportunity of the half, with a lineout 10m out. After a peel around the back, the ball was given to strong running hooker Jono Birhange who ran over a few would-be defenders to give the home crowd something to shout about. 26 – 7 Paarl Gim.
34’ – As a result of ‘Bosch wing Ammissi kicking the ball direct into touch, Paarl Gim had a lineout just inside their half and scored the easiest of first phase tries. The ball off the top of the lineout just went through the hands in the backline and left wing Ross scored his second without a hand being laid on him. It looked like a training run, such was the lack of defensive pressure on the Gim backline. 31 – 7 Paarl Gim.
Half Time
Rondebosch 7 – 31 Paarl Gim
Paarl Gim’s forwards were making light work of Rondebsoch and dominating the set piece, especially through their strong lineout drive. If Rondebosch were going to prevent a rout, they would need to improve their discipline and cut the unforced errors which were being ruthlessly capitalised on by the excellent Paarl Gim finishing in the backline.
43’ – From an innocuous looking scrum just inside Rondebosch’s half, Gim did a simple skip pass move to the inside centre who made a clean break and then drew the last defender before passing to outside centre Labuschagne who went over for another first phase try for the visitors. 38 – 7 Paarl Gim.
47’ – After a period of concerted pressure in the Gim 22m area, Bosch were awarded a penalty and after a tap and go from Birhange fell just short, ‘Bosch went around the corner for inside centre Jamie Ricketts to swivel over the line under the attention of a couple of defenders to score a good try for the home side. 38 – 14 Paarl Gim.
50’ – Once again, a Bosch error was punished by Gim. A knock on was pounced on by Gim who launched a counter attack which led to another penalty which was kicked to the corner for a 5m Gim lineout. ‘Bosch conceded a short arm free kick for incorrect numbers and Gim took the free kick quickly and with simple hands they were able to go wide for another easy try in the wide channel, much to the exasperation of the Bosch commentator! 45 – 14 Paarl Gim.
52’ – From the kickoff, Paarl Gim showed their class. In wonderful interplay between forwards and backs, offloading effortlessly in the tackle, Gim made their way upfield via a couple half breaks before excellent handling in the midfield saw the fullback van Niekerk cut in from the left wing to beat the last defender for the try of the day. 52 – 14 Paarl Gim.
The next ten minutes were punctuated by errors, and scrappy play, the intensity having been taken out the game. Rondebosch to their credit did not give up and were able to get a consolation try five minutes from the end.
65’ – From a penalty inside the Gim 22m, the Rondebosch forwards had a number of attempts at the line, before impressive hooker Birhange used good feet and explosive power close to the line to go over, beating two defenders. 52 – 21 Paarl Gim.
After some solid and determined defence in the ‘Bosch half, Gim won a jackal penalty before taking the penalty quickly for one last attack before ‘Bosch won a jackal penalty of their own. Rondebosch then recycled the ball from a lineout and were awarded a penalty in midfield when the Gim flank was offside, and shown a yellow for repeated infringing. As if to summarise the match, Bosch then knocked on from the ensuing lineout 5m from the Gim line and that was that.
Full Time
Rondebosch 21 – 52 Paarl Gim
Paarl Gim’s massive forward pack dominated from start to finish. Their lineout maul was unstoppable, Rondebosch resorting to late and illegal sacks to curb the advance. Gim’s backline were also much more slick in their handling than their counterparts and took advantage of the many errors that Rondebosch made on the day. Bosch will be disappointed at conceding so many first phase tries. This was a great result for Gim after their surprise defeat at home to Paul Roos last week. Bosch have a week off to reset and prepare for the massive southern suburbs clash with the powerful Wynberg side in two weeks.
