Porirua Invitational Schools side goes down to top South African schools team

On Monday night an Invitational side made up of 2016 students from Porirua’s four colleges, plus others from the area such as ex-Rongotai players Esi Komasavai and William Heather, took on a side from the famous Paarl Boys’ High School from South Africa’s Western Cape area near Cape Town who are touring New Zealand.

The locals took on a composite side from the Africans in what turned into an enterprising encounter with the Porirua boys willing to give the ball plenty of air, while the visitors stuck to a structured plan and ultimately kept the home side pinned in their own half and deservedly took a 12-0 lead into halftime.

An early second-half try extended that to 17-0, but Porirua – who only had a couple of practices ahead of this match – had the last say scoring on full-time for a final of 17-5 to the visitors.
 
Paarl are long established as one of the very top schools in the Republic, and have already played Auckland schools Sacred Heart College (winning 24-8), St Peter's College and Otahuhu College on tour, and on Saturday their top side thrashed Gisborne Boys 73-3. On Wednesday they play Nelson College before finishing against Christchurch Boys’ High School on Friday.

Paarl's 100-strong touring party of players consists of their 1st XV, 2nd XV, 3rd XV and the U16A teams. In total they are playing 17 matches in New Zealand. 
 
Paarl Boys’ High School play an annual match against their arch-rivals, Paarl Gimnasium High School, in one of the biggest interschool games in South Africa that attracts 20,000 spectators.

Photos by Hugh Pretorius of the match here