Wynberg in historic win
WYNBERG scored a huge upset with a historic 30-27 win over Paarl Boys High this past weekend.
The last time they achieved success over Boishaai was 36 years ago, also in Paarl. It was the trusted boot of Yaqeen Ahmed that goaled an angled 40m attempt – against the wind, after the siren had already gone – which clinched victory for the visitors.
The game fluctuated throughout, with the lead changing hands several times but both sides refused to throw in the towel.
The hosts outscored the visitors by five tries to three, but flyhalf Viaan Mentoor could only convert once, while his opposite number Ahmed goaled all three tries and also kicked three penalties for a personal tally of 15 points. Both sides were guilty of undisciplined play, with Wynberg incurring two yellow cards and Boishaai one.
Wynberg were made to pay for their indiscretions as they conceded two tries on each occasion.
The home side led 10-6 early in the game, with tries by wings Ashwin Swarts and Aiden Jacobs to two penalties by Ahmed.
Wynberg regained the lead when wing Levi Brown charged down a kick to score and soon afterwards the other winger, Kunene Gadu, crossed the whitewash.
Ahmed goaled both conversions to extend their lead to 20-10 going into halftime.
Playing with the wind in the second half, Mentoor’s big boot kept Wynberg pinned in their territory.
It was only resolute defence which kept Boishaai at bay.
Disaster struck for Wynberg when midway through the half they copped another yellow card and were yet again punished. First lock Dian Smal crossed from a rolling maul, then Jacobs completed his brace.
At 20-20 and with eight minutes left the game was on a knife edge. More drama followed when it was Boishaai’s turn to get yellow and from the resultant penalty Ahmed bravely opted for the touchline.
From the ensuing line-out, it was Wynberg’s turn to maul and replacement wing Ezra Antonio was on hand to dot down, and with Ahmed again on song with the conversion Wynberg were back in the lead at 27-20.
With time running out, Boishaai – with their seven-man scrum – produced a huge effort, enabling Ashwin Swarts, arguably the best back on the field, to force his way over.
For once Mentoor converted and the scores were level at 27 -27.
With only one play remaining, Boishaai transgressed and not even the strong wind could prevent Ahmed from nailing the winning penalty.
At Rondebosch, Paul Roos continued their winning ways with a comfortable 38-17 win over the home side after trailing 10-7 at the interval. Bosch made a promising start and were 10-0 up after 20 minutes.
Captain and lock Tom Barnard was prominent in a rolling maul to get the touchdown.
Flyhalf Simon David converted and kicked a penalty.
The powerhouse maroon machine gained the ascendancy up front and were soon rewarded with a penalty try after their rolling maul was illegally brought down. At half-time the game was equally poised.
In the second half, visiting captain Riley Norton and his fellow loose forwards Gert Kemp and Reuben Kruger upped the intensity. With flyhalf Josh Dampies making judicious use of the boot, Paul Roos enjoyed territorial advantage.
Two early tries by Kemp and centre Matthew Seymore, both converted by Dampies, stretched their lead to 21-10. But a fine run by fullback Dylan Miller breached the defence to bring Bosch within striking distance after Simon converted (21-17).
The visitors reverted to keeping things tight and replacement prop Gerrit van Vuuren forced his way over from a ruck, for a converted try.
Bosch’s woes continued when, with eight minutes remaining, they earned a red and allowed Paul Roos to run in two unconverted tries via Kemp and Kruger to stretch the final score to 38-17.
Elsewhere, Bishops were on the receiving end of a 52-10 pasting when they hosted Boland Landbou.