Western Province edged the Sharks on the third day of the FNB U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha, while the Leopards, Eastern Province and Free State were also among the winners at Grey High School on Wednesday. Three of the four matches were decided by 12 points or fewer.
A-field:
Western Province 24-22 Sharks
The Sharks started like a house on fire, and Theo Boshoff crashed over from the back of a ruck to extend the Sharks' lead to 07-00. Western Province clawed their way back into the game, and after 16 minutes of play, Jean Dryer crashed over at the back of a line-out maul. Achmat Behardien converted to level the scores on 07-07. Following an arm wrestle in which the Sharks started to dominate, it was the Sharks’ Theo Boshoff who scored off the back of a lineout maul to extend their lead to 12-07 going into the halftime break.
Following 11 minutes of play in the second half, Dominic du Toit converted a penalty for the Sharks. The Sharks continued their dominance, and Lwazi Mbebe controlled a grubber from Dominic du Toit to score for the Sharks. Du Toit converted to extend the Sharks' lead to 22-07 with 14 minutes still to play in the second half. The Western Province was awarded a penalty try with 7 minutes left to play, and with the Sharks reduced to 13 players, Western Province threw everything they had at the Sharks. With 2 minutes still to play, Jean Dreyer crashed over, and Achmat Behardien converted to cut the Sharks' lead to 1 point. Then the referee sent off another Shark’s player and Achmat Behardien converted the match-winning penalty.
Teams:
Western Province: 1 Jayden Steyl, 16 Charles Whitehead, 3 Zak Steyn, 4 Juvan Burden, 5 Jean Dreyer, 19 Christian Le Roux, 7 Hendre Van Zyl, 8 Esa Van Der Schyff, 9 Mickyle Booise, 10 Ethan Van Biljon, 11 Dirk Farmer, 12 Ethan Barker, 13 Tiaan Basson, 15 Liam Jacobs, 22 Achmat Behardien. Replacements: 17 Uzair Blanckenberg, 2 Kwaza Gobingca, 18 Solam Gegana, 6 Linakho Mehlomakulu, 20 Werner De Bruin, 21 Caleb Bell, 23 Eljaron Geduld, 11 Joshua Swart.
Sharks: 1 Aphelele Chamane, 2 Theo Boshoff, 3 Nicolas Salamousas, 4 Lwandile Mlaba, 5 Andrew Schnell, 6 Zander Muller, 19 Tristan Parkinson, 8 Jamie Wimble, 9 Ludi Van Der Walt, 12 Alex Jankowitz, 11 Anesu Kuzonyei, 22 Olwethu Kosani, 13 Nathan Aneke, 14 Amogelang Mataboge, 15 Luxolo Sonkononkono. Replacements: 16 Iglesias Bruiners, 17 Clement Makelele, 18 Priden Sibiya, 24 Oliver Ludwig, 20 Nhlanhla Ndlovu, 21 Dominic Du Toit, 26 Elgenio Oerson, 23 Lwazi Mbebe.
Free State 38-26 South Western Districts
Lamla Mgedezi scored a brilliant try within the first two minutes of play in the first half. Three minutes later, SWD’s Moeshaan Mortlock scored off the back of a lineout maul, which was converted to edge SWD in a two-point lead. Following a dominant maul, SWD spread the ball wide, and eventually it was Rufagon Hendricks who scored. Tylor Marais converted, extending SWD’s lead to 14-05. After 19 minutes of play, Adrian Smith scored off the back of a lineout maul, after which the Free State started to get their hands on quality attacking ball, and Jonathan Drysdale scored the Free State’s 2nd try. Samson Lackay converted to cut SWD’s lead to 7 points. With 3 minutes to play, the Free State spread the ball wide, and Lamla Mgedezi scored his second try. The conversion by Lackay levelled the scores at 19-19 going into the second half.
SWD started the second half dominating with their pack of forwards, and after 9 minutes of play, Jacobus de Villiers crashed over from a lineout-maul. De Villiers converted the try, extending SWD’s lead to 26-19. Not to be outdone, the Free State launched wave after wave of attacks until AJ Hendriks crashed over to level the scores following the conversion by Lackay. Eddie Mabena scored the Free State's next try, and Free State led 31-26 after 16 minutes of play in the second half. With 10 minutes to play, the Free State patiently worked their way into SWD’s half, and following wave after wave of attacks, Samson Lackay took two tacklers with him over SWD’s tryline. Lackay converted to extend the Free State’s lead to 38-26 with 5 minutes to play in the second half. Free State is still unbeaten at the 2026 U18 Craven Week.
Teams:
Free State: 1 Hennie Bredenhann, 16 AJ Hendriks, 3 Johan Willem Coetzee, 4 Alexi Tyropolis, 7 Prestan Bennet, 2 Xander De Beer, 6 Henru Erasmus, 8 Niel Du Randt, 9 Jonathan Drysdale, 10 Samson Lackay, 11 Guiteau Petrus, 12 Ruan Roux, 13 Eddie Mabena, 14 Kingsley Pule, 15 Lamla Mgedezi. Replacements: 20 Josh Nelson, 17 Frans-Paul Troskie, 18 Lwazi Mcandi, 19 Desmond Udenzeeze, 5 Siyabonga Bulwane, 21 Andrew Wessels, 22 Zachary Walbrugh, 23 Unathi Ntuli.
SWD: 1 Kyle Burger, 2 Adrian Smith, 3 Francois Le Roux, 4 Ruan Groenewald, 5 Lincoln Zietsman, 6 Bernard Badenhorst, 20 Moeshaan Mortlock, 8 Jacobus De Villiers, 9 Rufagon Hendricks, 21 Tylor Marais, 11 Heiliano Beukes, 12 Andre Van Der Merwe, 13 Myburgh Eksteen, 14 Nathan Gordon, 15 Darnell Delport. Replacements: 16 Keaton Olivier, 17 Matthew Prins, 18 A-Jay Julies, 19 Shagon Kiewiet, 7 Andreas Gouws, 10 Caleb Williams, 12 Jade Lothering, 23 Bronwin Swiegelaar.
Boland 31-32 Eastern Province
Boland started like a house on fire, and hooker Anzio Brinkhuis crashed over the EP tryline. Jaydan Van Niekerk converted to extend Boland’s lead to 07-00 after six minutes of play. Eastern Province struck back immediately when Akho Tonjeni crashed over off the front of a lineout to cut Boland’s lead to 07-05. Jaydan van Niekerk crashed over in the corner off a brilliant blindside movement, extending Boland’s lead to 12-05 and 15 minutes to play in the first half. Two minutes later, EP’s Niel September used brilliant stepping to score in the corner to cut Boland’s lead to just 2 minutes. EP’s captain Erin Nelson exploited the lack of defence by Boland to score his side’s 3rd try, which Nathan Trytsman converted after 28 minutes of play in the first half. With 5 minutes to play, Anwill Jacobs showed his pace to score a great level to level the scores (17-17), which was the halftime score.
Eastern Province’s Micah Wessels scored off the back of a lineout maul after 4 minutes of play in the second half, extending EP’s lead to 22-17. Boland’s JP Lotriet scored off the back of a lineout, and Jayden van Niekerk converted to edge Boland 24-22 into the lead after 15 minutes of play in the second half. Eastern Province converted a penalty to edge the EP into a 1 point lead. With 5 minutes to play in the second half. A minute later, Luke Doyle sniped from the back of a maul to score the match-winning try for Eastern Province. Tristan Kemp converted to edge a 32-24 lead to Eastern Province. However, Boland had the last say with a try by Joniel Claasen, which was converted by Jano van Deventer. Unfortunately, it was not enough, and Eastern Province won 32-31.
Teams:
Sanlam Boland: 17 Anzio Brinkhuis, 16 Jaydrian Van Staden, 18 Tyrone Lefa Modipa, 4 Jl Matthee, 19 Heinrich Redelinghuys, 7 Joniel Claasen, 20 Jaden Stewart, 9 Wernard De Villiers, 10 Jaydan Van Niekerk, 11 Darren Makeza, 13 Willvino Paultin, 22 Brent Leigh Exstraal, 14 Chris-will Du Toit, 15 Anwill Jacobs. Replacements: 2 JP Lotriet, 1 Christoff Filmalter, 3 Reece Matthee, 5 Nieken Lubbe, 8 Simamkele Lahlekile, 21 Dihego Braaf, 12 Jano van Deventer, 23 Braydon Joseph.
Eastern Province: 17 Bagcine Njengele, 2 Janu Janse Van Rensburg, 3 Juan Potgieter, 19 Caleb Harvey, 5 Ruben Van Dijk, 6 Henrico Bodenstein, 4 Akho Tonjeni, 7 Neshaun Bester, 9 Luke Doyle, 10 Nathan Trytsman, 11 Lucritia Magau, 12 Anfred Jansen, 13 Erin Nelson, 21 Niel September, 15 Tristan Kemp. Replacements: 16 Micah Wessels, 1 Daniel Naude, 18 Silinde Ntshokoma, 8 Luniko Marivate, 20 Joandre van Jaarsveld, 23 Sibulele Ngebulana, 24 Qhawe Madikizela, 15 William Stevens.
Leopards 57-14 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Juan Dryer crashed on a grubber to score the Bulls' first try, which was converted by Juan Randall to open the scoring after 7 minutes of play in the first half. The Leopards' attacks were fast and furious, and after 16 minutes of play, Marques Jantjies sped down the touchline to score in the corner, cutting Limpopo’s lead to 07-05. Four minutes later, De Wet Grobler took off from the back of a retreating scrum to score a 40m try, which Ricardo Enos converted, extending the Leopards' lead to 12-07. The Leopards were dominating with the speed of their attack, and Karabelo Kgamanyana scored the Leopards' 3rd try, which Enos converted. After 26 minutes of play, Fanie Linde scored around the front of a lineout to extend the Leopards’ lead to 24-07. Marques Jantjies scored his second try as the Leopards' attack is like a tsunami overrunning the Bulls. The Leopards led 31-07 at the halftime break.
Despite a better effort by the Bulls, the Leopards continued their dominance, and Wian du Preez crashed over after 15 minutes of play in the second half. Enos converted to extend the Leopards’ lead to 38-07. Thereafter, Junaid Stevens, Marques Jantjies and Tiaan de Kock scored for the Leopards while Juan Dreyer scored a consolation try, which was converted. The Leopards won 57-14.
Teams:
NWU Leopards: 17 Tlholego Maape, 2 Fanie Linde, 3 Jayden Minnie, 4 Evan van Heerden, 5 Tiaan de Kock, 20 Tydiane Williams, 7 Ruben van Heerden, 8 De Wet Grobler, 9 Shayloh Cox, 10 Ricardo Enos, 23 Junaid Stevens, 12 Wian du Preez, 22 Marques Jantjies, 14 Karabelo Kgamanyana, 15 Aydan Willemse. Replacements: 16 Dandre Graham, 1 Ab Brink, 18 Nicolas Dreyer, 19 Lefa Maloma, 6 Karabelo Maseka, 21 Rellston Wilson, 13 Simphiwe Nero, 11 Elzeno Schalkwyk.
Eyesizwe Limpopo Blue Bulls: 1 Dewan Windell, 16 Limi-lu Heswick, 18 Randy Magabe, 4 Brent Vorster, 5 Ludke Pienaar, 8 Mogau Matemotsa, 20 Puki Mpiti, 19 Rhandzo Malatji, 23 Risuna Mngoni, 15 Lehlogonolo Letlabola, 21 Leeroy Alexander, 22 Mahlatse Kekana, 13 Juan Dreyer, 14 Ronnel Komana, 10 Juan Randall. Replacements: 2 Ziahn Lombaard, 17 Kristen Swanepoel, 3 Stephan Jansen Van Rensburg, 6 Andru De Beer, 7 Liam Van Der Bank, 9 Curtis Cloete, 12 Edwin Matola, 11 Graham Rooza.
FNB U18 Girls Week fixtures – day two (Wednesday, 8 July):
B-field:
Pumas 28-00 KZN
Border 36-00 Blue Bulls
EP 41-00 Boland
WP 12-10 Golden Lions
C-field:
Griquas 30-05 Leopards
Valke 19-10 Free State
Limpopo Blue Bulls 05-22Griffons
SWD 15-10 EP XV
