The Final Day of the 2026 FNB U18 Craven Week at Grey High School concluded with Western Province scoring six tries to beat Western Province XV 40-24 in the final match of the FNB U18 Craven Week at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Saturday.
WP recorded their third-straight victory at the tournament on Saturday, while the Valke, South Western Districts, Griquas, Blue Bulls, Leopards, Boland and the Sharks claimed wins on day five to end their campaigns on a high.
Both WP teams progressed to the unofficial final of the FNB U18 Craven Week for the first time after winning their respective matches in the earlier rounds of the tournament.
Earlier in the day, SWD wing Bronwin Swiegelaar scored two tries in his side's emphatic 41-19 victory over Eastern Province, while the Limpopo Blue Bulls held off a determined Valke outfit to win 27-24.
Griquas hooker Wian Maritz scored a brace in the 36-26 win over the Griffons, while flyhalf Ruan Fluks kicked 15 points in the Blue Bulls' 30-29 victory against Free State.
Leopards outside centre Marques Jantjies continued his impressive try-scoring form when he bagged a hat-trick in the 45-31 win against Border, and a late blitz by Boland earned them a 40-17 result against the Pumas.
The "Final": Western Province 40-24 Western Province XV
The tournament finale made history as two teams from the same union contested the main match. Western Province XV put up a fierce fight early on, answering WP's opening blows, but captain Tiaan Basson and Dirk Farmer pushed the primary WP side to a 19–5 lead at the break. Despite another second-half surge spearheaded by WP XV's Thomas Saunders, WP's depth was too clinical. Tiaan Basson and Ethan van Biljon each finished with a brace of tries, while fullback Achmat Behardien slotted five conversions to seal the title.
Sharks 31-30 Golden Lions
In what was widely dubbed the match of the tournament, the Sharks narrowly escaped with a one-point victory. The Lions' Jaydon Viljoen scored a magnificent solo try by chasing down his own grubber kick, pushing the game into a breathtaking, see-saw battle. The Sharks held a slim 21-17 halftime lead. The drama peaked in injury time when Viljoen unluckily missed a potentially game-winning penalty. [1]
Blue Bulls 30-29 Free State
The Blue Bulls shattered Free State’s unbeaten streak in a spectacular tactical battle. Bulls' kicker Ruan Fluks kept his side in front for most of the game, though Free State temporarily seized the lead in the second half. A brilliant try from Bulls' Waylin Papier swung momentum back. A late try by Free State's Du Rant pulled them within a single point, but the Bulls held their line to secure the win.
FNB U18 Craven Week results - Saturday, 11 July.
EP 19-41 (7) SWD
Griquas 36-26 Griffons
Valke 24-27 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Free State 29-30 Blue Bulls
Boland 40-17 Pumas
Border 31-45 Leopards
Sharks 31-30 Golden Lions
WP 40-24 WP XV