Paarl Gimnasium held out against a brave Paarl Boys’ High comeback effort to claim a first win in the big Interschools since 2019 on Saturday.
The main match between the two U19A sides did not disappoint, offering up plenty of drama at the Faure Street Stadium.
Paarl Gimnasium came out the victors, building up just enough of a buffer to claim a 20-17 win after opening up a 20-0 lead early in the second half.
A try from scrumhalf Dawid Kotze, to go with two penalties from flyhalf and captain Kyle Smith – who was named player of the match – gave Paarl Gim a 13-0 lead in a first half where they largely dominated possession and territory.
It seemed like Paarl Gim would claim an unusual easy victory when outside centre Hennie Otto scored early in the second half. However, Paarl Boys fired back, getting on the scoreboard through star fullback JC Mars, before No 8 Divan Fuller drove over from a five-metre scrum.
A thrilling end was set up when wing Jameel de Jongh did brilliantly to beat two defenders to score in the corner from a bounce pass, bringing Paarl Boys to within four points of the lead. Paarl Gim, however, ran the clock down through a missed penalty and forced the knock-on to bring an end to the match and win the Interschools for just the second time in seven games.
In other results, Boland beat Paul Roos (28-12) for the first time since 2016, Affies ran up a record 76-24 win in their Pretoria Interschools with Pretoria Boys High, Monument demolished Menlopark 111-7, while Graeme College capped off an excellent season in their 150th by beating Queen’s College 24-21.
Selected results (Saturday, 5 August):
Paarl Gymnasium 20 Paarl Boys’ High 17
Paul Roos 12 Boland Landbou 28
Affies 76 Pretoria Boys’ High 24
EG Jansen 31 Noordheuwel 29
Garsfontein 89 Nelspruit 10
Jeppe 39 Durban High 36
Maritzburg College 33 KES 24
Monument 111 Menlopark 7
Grey College 36 Oakdale 25
Grey High 58 Muir 5
Graeme College 24 Queen’s 21
Photo: Paarl Gim lock Danio Botha celebrates