The final match of day two at the Absa Wildeklawer belonged to Paarl Gim. In a performance that mixed defensive grit with attacking flair, the boys from the Paarl stamped their authority with a comprehensive 45-10 victory over Helpmekaar.
Breakdown pressure and defensive intensity were on the menu from the opening whistle, and Gim devoured every course with relish. When Helpmekaar threatened to break them, they stood firm. When opportunities presented themselves, they pounced with clinical precision.
Helpmekaar came out swinging, laying siege to the Paarl Gim line with wave after wave of attacks. But Gim kept making tackles, kept getting turnovers, kept refusing to break. It was defensive work of the highest order, the kind that wins tight matches and breaks opposition spirits.
When Gim finally got their driving maul going, magic happened. Mickyle Booise took off from the back of it, was almost bundled into touch, but somehow, by some miracle, kept the ball in play to find Derik Cloete, who fell over the line to open the scoring. 7-0, and Gim had weathered the storm.
They found their groove. Back into the Helpmekaar 22, and this time it was the big lock forward Bernhardt Schulze who powered over for Gim’s second try. 14-0, and the Paarl boys were purring.
But Helpmekaar weren’t done. With 10 minutes left in the half, they started finding a groove of their own. Gim kept stopping their forward runners, so Helpmekaar decided to send it wide. Ruben Coetzee got on the end of it, but as he was falling down, he delivered a sublime offload to Liam Hessel, who went over. 14-5. The deficit was cut, hope flickered.
Gim responded immediately. Another driving maul, another try. 21-5, and the cushion was restored.
The box kicks were paying dividends for Helpmekaar, creating opportunities and finding space. But Paarl Gim’s line speed was ferocious, pushing them back on the next phase every single time. It was a tactical battle within the war, and Gim were winning it.
Whatever was said in the Paarl Gim sheds at halftime, it worked. They emerged looking a lot more zippy, getting the ball out wide with urgency. Booise was kicking pinpoint box kicks, controlling territory with surgical precision. They looked like a side wanting to put the sword to Helpmekaar, and they didn’t waste time doing it.
Within six minutes of the restart, Gim scored in the corner. 26-5. The game was drifting away from Helpmekaar.
Then, with 14 minutes left, Helpmekaar produced a moment of absolute magic. They sent the ball wide, Gim rushed to defend, but Helpmekaar got it past the defensive corner. Xander van Niekerk raced down the sideline before sending it back inside. The ball went coast to coast, Helpmekaar holding possession beautifully before getting it away to Zuan Krige, who raced in. 26-10. Game back on?
Not quite. Gim hit back straight away, scoring in the corner. 33-10. Punch by Helpmekaar, counter-punch by Paarl Gim.
And Gim kept the punches coming. Thomas Saunders glided through the defence with pace and footwork that left Helpmekaar grasping at shadows. 38-10. Gim scored another before full time ringing the score to 45-10
Paarl Gim’s defensive effort in the opening exchanges was exceptional, refusing to break under sustained Helpmekaar pressure. When they got their maul going, it proved unstoppable, delivering crucial tries when they needed them most.
In the second half, they lifted the tempo and showed what they’re capable of when playing with width and urgency. Mickyle Booise controlled proceedings beautifully.
