Paul Roos hosted Drostdy HTS on Friday and secured a well-disciplined 24-7 win against a team that many predicted would be one of the surprises, and even a Top 5 school.
Unfortunately, it must be said that the difference between the two teams was the speed and accuracy of the defence and attack of Paul Roos, which was typical of a Top Five School. Paul Roos is a balanced fifteen-man team with several stars capable of shredding the defence of any opponents.
Drostdy HTS is a very good team, well-balanced, which will push for a credible Top 20 school.
A mistake by Drostdy off the kickoff led to Paul Roos attacking off a dominant scrum, and following a few runs by their big forwards around the fringes of mauls, the ball was spread wide for the fullback to score their first try in less than two minutes since the start of the match.
Following the initial shock, Drostdy clawed their way back into the match and dominated territory and posession for the next ten minutes; however, the calm, structured defence of Paul Roos kept Drostdy from scoring.
After fifteen minutes of play, Paul Roos scored from the back of a five-meter lineout maul, which was converted to extend Paul Roos’ lead to 12-00.
Thirteen minutes later, Paul Roos attacked off a five-meter lineout maul, and after spreading the ball wide, their outside centre crashed over, and following the successful conversion, Paul Roos led 19-00, which was the halftime score.
Following one minute of play, Paul Roos’ loosehead was red-carded, and a try scored was disallowed. Thereafter, Drostdy started to dominate territory and posession; however, the structured defence of Paul Roos stopped Drostdy from opening their account on the scoreboard.
However, a clever grubber by Drostdy’s inside-centre was pounced on by their winger to cut Paul Roos’ lead to 19-07.
Thereafter, Paul Roos upped the pace of their defence and attack and eventually their prop barged over Drostdy’s tryline to extend Paul Roos’ lead to 24-07 and seven minutes still to play in the second half.