Paul Roos Gymnasium came up short in the World Schools Festival final against New Zealand’s Kelston Boys’ High in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, writes ALLAN SCHULZ.
Paul Roos and EG Jansen were South Africa’s representatives at the six-day event held in Abu Dhabi from 15-21 December.
Paul Roos faced Llandovery College (Wales), Harrow (England) and Westlake Boys’ High (New Zealand) in Pool A, while EG Jansen were drawn in Pool B with Millfield (England), Kelston Boys’ High (New Zealand) and Zambezi Steelers, an invitational side from Zimbabwe.
Paul Roos topped Pool A thanks to a convincing win over Llandovery and two nail-biting wins against Harrow and Westlake Boys’ High, the defending champions. Paul Roos left wing Jordan Steenkamp was outstanding in the pool stages, scoring two long-range tries that were the difference in the games against Harrow and Westlake.
This saw them through to the final, where they faced Kelston Boys’ High, the Auckland and Blues region 1st XV champions in a SA v NZ final.
Paul Roos took the lead against the run of play when Steenkamp took advantage of centre Matthew Kleyn’s intercept to run 60m for a 5-0 lead.
Kelston scored two unconverted tries in reply to take a short-lived lead. In their second 22m entry, Paul Roos reclaimed the lead thanks to a try by superb No.8 Gert Kemp, which was converted for a 12-10 Paul Roos advantage. Kelston kicked a penalty in injury time at the end of the first half for a 13-12 lead in a tightly-contested decider.
There was drama early in the second half as Kelston had their loosehead prop sent off for using his elbow in a clean out on Paul Roos captain Altus Rabe.
Paul Roos were unable to make this man advantage count in the final twenty minutes, and they even fell further behind through a brutal set of carries by Kelston to give them an unassailable 20-12 lead that was not threatened in a disappointing finish for the men from Stellenbosch to a great week.
Kelston made it three wins in a row for New Zealand sides in the World Schools Festival after Hamilton Boys’ High (2022) and Westlake Boys’ High (2023).
Dr. EG Jansen had a tougher time in Abu Dhabi and were winless in their three matches in Pool B, finishing bottom, meaning they would face Llandovery in their final game.
The East Rand saved their best for last, scoring four tries as they put in a spirited display to come from behind twice for a 22-19 win that saved them from taking the wooden spoon.
Results
15 December
Paul Roos 36-15 Llandovery College (Wales)
Dr. EG Jansen 0-33 Kelston Boys’ High (New Zealand)
17 December
Paul Roos 15-12 Harrow (England)
Dr. EG Jansen 5-27 Millfield (England)
19 December
Paul Roos 11-7 Westlake Boys’ High (New Zealand)
Dr. EG Jansen 17-24 Zambezi Steelers (Zimbabwe)
21 December
7th/8th Place – Dr EG Jansen 22–19 Llandovery College (Wales)
Final – Paul Roos 12-20 Kelston Boys’ High (New Zealand)
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Watch: Kiwi schoolboys beat Paul Roos in World Schools final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Paul Roos Gymnasium came up short in the World Schools Festival final against New Zealand’s Kelston Boys’ High in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The post Watch: Kiwi schoolboys beat Paul Roos in World Schools final appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
