Grey College had not only had to prove to themselves that they are worthy of the top 1stXV title in the country but also had to prove that to South Africa. In a brilliant performance, Grey outplayed Paarl Boys’ High at home with 37-3.
Grey College was in the lead with 16-00 at the end of the first half, however, hosts Paarl Boishaai were still in the game to a certain extend. Three second-half team tries helped Grey extend their unbeaten streak to three against Boishaai since 2018.
Grey College had worked hard on their struggling scrums and line-outs and used their success here to launch one after the other attack on the Paarl Boishaai defence.
18:48 Boishaai enjoyed most of the possession in the opening 15 minutes with captain Abu Ndabambi making some promising runs. He was well supported at the breakdown by Coetzee Le Roux, but it was Grey who drew first blood courtesy of a penalty conversion from flyhalf Juan Smith. (00-03)
27:33 Jean Smith converted his second penalty to stretch Grey College's lead to 6-0.
33:08 Jean Smith converted his third penalty to stretch Grey College's lead to 9-0.
36:00 A 70-metre penalty kick from Smith took play deep into Boishaai territory. Hooker Juanre Breitenbach crashed over for the opening try of the match. (00-16)
Paarl Boishaai's forward pack’s defensive effort led by Le Roux, Ndabambi, and Luca Ribbens kept the visitors at bay, restricting them to just one try in the first half. Ill-discipline from Paarl Boishaai combined with great tactical kicking by Grey College allow Grey College to spend most of the second quarter of the first half inside Paarl Boishaai's territory.
45:45 Despite some enterprising attacking play from the Paarl Boishaai and getting over the advantage line at regular intervals during the first quarter of the second half, Boishaai could only open their account with a penalty by Cobus Louw (03-16)
60:45 After a gruelling 60 minutes of schoolboy rugby the cracks in Paarl Boishaai's defence became holes. A brilliant effort by Grey's Alfondso Isaacs saw him going over in the corner for Grey College's second try. (03-23)
64:45 Caleb Abrahams scored Grey College's third try in the same corner as Alfondso Isaacs. (03-30) A brilliant grubber by flyhalf Jean Smith led to this try.
67:50 Grey College's fourth unanswered try by centre Banie Britz was the final nail in the coffin of Boishaai. (03-37)
A brilliant and clinical second-half performance from Grey saw them walk away as the deserving winners, 37-3.
Scorers:
Paarl Boihaai: Penalty: Cobus Louw
Grey College: Tries: Juanre Breitenbach, Alfondso Isaacs, Caleb Abrahams, Banie Britz. Conversions: Jean Smith (4). Penalties: Jean Smith (3)
Source: Premier Interschools