The Blue Bulls edged the Golden Lions while the Limpopo Blue Bulls recorded the biggest victory of the opening round of the FNB U16 Girls Week at Kearsney College in Botha's Hill near Durban on Tuesday.
Several teams laid down a marker in the first round of the tournament, with the Pumas, Griffons, Boland, South Western Districts, and Limpopo Blue Bulls scoring a host of tries on their way to securing some emphatic victories.
Meanwhile, Border, Western Province, and the Bulls were made to fight for their victories in a series of low-scoring yet fiercely competitive contests.
The Bulls and the Lions – who both finished the 2025 tournament unbeaten – enjoyed a particularly dramatic battle in the last match of the day.
The Lions were awarded two kickable penalties in the final minute of the game, but both attempts drifted wide of the uprights and the Bulls hung on for an 18-17 win.
Earlier in the day, the Griffons dominated the central derby, with outside centre Rethabile Molatela, No 8 Bokamoso Lebohang Moahloli and wing Orefile Tau scoring two tries apiece in their side’s 49-0 win over Free State.
The Pumas beat Border Country Districts 31-0, while SWD flyhalf Hayley Joseph scored a brace of tries in their 37-5 victory against the Leopards.
The Limpopo Blue Bulls scored 10 tries in their 56-0 win against the Valke.
The FNB Youth Weeks action continues at Kearsney College on Wednesday, with the second round of the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week kicking off at 08h30.
Griquas will face Border Country Districts in the first match of the day, while Western Province and the Golden Lions – who both won their matches on Monday – will meet at 14h45.
Meanwhile, the FNB U16 Girls Week tournament will resume on Thursday.
FNB U16 Girls Week Results – day one:
Pumas 31 (19) Border Country Districts 0 (0)
Griffons 49 (22) Free State 0 (0)
Border 13 (8) Eastern Province 3 (3)
Boland 46 (14) Griquas 0 (0)
Western Province 10 (0) KwaZulu-Natal 0 (0)
South Western Districts 37 (22) Leopards 5 (0)
Golden Lions 17 (10) Blue Bulls 18 (8)
Limpopo Blue Bulls 56 (27) Valke 0 (0)
FNB U16 Girls Week Fixtures – day two (Thursday, 2 July):
A-field:
09h30: KwaZulu-Natal v Border Country Districts
10h45: Eastern Province v Golden Lions
12h00: Blue Bulls v Border
13h15: Western Province v Pumas
B-field:
09h30: Griquas v Valke
10h45: Leopards v Free State
12h00: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Griffons
13h15: Boland v South Western Districts