For the 3rd year in a row Paul Roos Gymnasium was crowned the winners of the very prestigious Zest Fruit Gerrie Berner Tennis Festival that was played in the Winelands in Stellenbosch over the weekend. The tournament, which is in its 15th year is hosted by Paul Roos and twelve schools from across South Africa competes for this sort after trophy This was Paul Roos's 11th title and the only other school that has been able to win this trophy, is St. Stithians.
Paul Roos played quality tennis and won the title for the 3rd year in a row by beating 1st time finalist, Waterkloof in the final.
The twelve schools are divided in two groups and after two days of playing each school in the group, Paul Roos was nr 1 and King Edward School (KES) 2nd in their group, with Waterkloof and Grey College, one and two in the other group. For the 1st time American College tennis rules was followed, where there was no warm-up's before matches and the value of the 3 doubles matches was only 1 point. The winner of 2 or more doubles matches gave a team 1 point with the 6 singles matches, adding 6 more points. A total of 7 points is on the table and for a win, the team must have 4 points in total to win the tie.
In the semi-finals Paul Roos beat Grey College in a very tough match 4 - 3 in which the result was in the balance until the last singles match which Paul Roos won in the 3rd set super tie-breaker. Waterkloof was to strong for King Edward School (KES) and won their semi-final 4 - 2.
In the final Paul Roos and Waterkloof played excellent tennis. Paul Roos got off to a good start by winning the doubles point. The 6 singles matches was very competitive but it was Paul Roos that won 2 singles matches and when the PRG number 1, Carl Roothman beat Erich Sullwald it was all over and Paul Roos won the tie 4 - 0 with 3 single matches still on-court and un-finished.
Schools that participate in this invitational tournament are: Afrikaans H/S (Affies), Grey College in Bloemfontein, King Edward School (KES), St.Stithians, Waterkloof, Oakdale, Stellenbosch High School, Pretoria Boys High, Paarl Boishaai, Kearsney College, St. Davids's and Paul Roos Gymnasium
After the conclusion of the pool matches the two pools looked as follows:
Pool A:
- Paul Roos
- KES
- St. Stithians
- Affies
- Kearsney College
- St. Davids
Pool B:
- Waterkloof
- Grey
- Paarl Boishaai
- Pretoria Boys High
- Stellenbosch HS
- Oakdale
The final standings after the tournament:
- Paul Roos
- Waterkloof
- Grey College
- KES
- Paarl Boishaai
- St. Stithians
- Affies
- Pretoria Boys High
- Stellenbosch
- Oakdale
- St. Davids
- Kearsney
