The Sharks and Free State showed serious intent on day two of the SA Rugby U16 Grant Khomo Week in Kimberley, scoring impressive wins over traditional powerhouses, DHL Western Province and Blue Bulls on Tuesday. See Thursday's fixtures at the bottom of this article.
These wins secured their undefeated record so far, with the DHL Western Province XV the only other team not to have their flags lowered during the first two days of matches at the Northern Cape Griquas Stadium.
The Free State side had a stellar second half against the Pretoria side, ultimately scoring 10 tries in a 60-12 win, while the Sharks outplayed the Capetonians by 24-7. The Kimberley crowd had something to cheer about as Griquas beat SWD 23-12 and the Griquas XV outplayed Border Country Districts 26-0.
The Leopards scored the biggest win of the day in a 47-0 romp over Zimbabwe, while Valke and Thepa Trading Motswako Griffons played to an exciting 23-all draw.
Griquas 23 (8), SWD 12 (12)
SWD started like a house on fire and led after a comeback by the hosts with 12-08 at the halftime break. Griquas played brilliant rugby in the second half opening up the gaps for the backline to strike with regular intervals scoring three unanswered tries on their way to a 23-12 win. Scrumhalf Lwandle Maseko was rewarded for his great work at the back of the forwards with the man of the match award.
Griquas: Tries: Stiaan van Loggerenberg (2). Valentino Lenge, Denilson Metcalfe. Penalty: Marno Greeff.
SWD: Tries: Kurt Coetzee, Deven Kleingeld. Conversion: Andrew Stopforth.
Valke 23 (15), Thepa Trading Motswako Griffons 23 (13)
The sides that gave their all with the draw a just result. Cheswill Jooste, fullback of the Griffons was awarded the man of the match award after his contribution of thirteen points. Exactly the same as Matthew Bergman's total points scored for the Valke.
Valke: Tries: Zaid Rippenaar, Divan Francis, Matthew Bergman. Conversion: Matthew Bergman. Penalties: Matthew Bergman (2).
Griffons: Tries: Craig Mann, Cheswil Jooste, Lerato Rammile. Conversion: Cheswil Jooste. Penalty goals: Cheswil Jooste (2).
Griquas XV 26 (21), Border CD 0 (0)
Griquas XV - Tries: Jeandre Hanse, Lehan van der Westhuizen, Stefan van der Merwe, Tshiamo Tsiane. Conversions: Tsiane (3).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 27 (7), Namibia 8 (5)
The first forty minutes were an even battle with Limpopo Blue Bulls the dominant side even if just, however, the second half saw the Limpopo Blue Bulls' winger Damian Bye score two more tries to add to the one try he scored in the first half. Unathi Mlotshwa flyhalf of the Limpopo Blue Bulls did enough in directing the play and steering his side to a win, to be awarded the man of the match award. Mlotshwa's contribution with the boot was ten points.
Limpopo: Tries: Damian Bye (3). Conversions: Unathi Mlotshwa (3). Penalties: Unathi Mlotshwa (2).
Namibia - Try: Rudolph Harmse. Penalty goal: Jano Erasmus.
Border 35 (13), Pumas 17 (10)
The Pumas started dominating the "smaller" boys of Border in the first half, however, the Border scored two late tries to take the lead at the break. The second half belonged to the Border, scoring four unanswered tries by their brilliant backs to secure a well-deserved 35-17 win. Border's eight-man Mbasa Mda scored two tries deserving the man of the match award.
Border: Tries: Bubbles Mtshini, Mbasa Mda (2), Mveli Mqulo, Thina Fenako, Praise Mtsila. Conversion: Itha Mbulana. Penalty: Qiqa Qwesha.
Pumas: Tries: Sihle Mkhatshwa, Sibisi Sibisi. Conversions: Theuns Meyer (2). Penalty: Theuns Meyer.
Leopards 47 (14), Zimbabwe 0 (0)
The Leopards dominated from the first second until the last. Leopards' fullback Lorenzo Snyers' display of attacking rugby earned him the player of the match award.
Leopards: Tries: Luyanda Taffa (2). Hanre Venter, Simeon Botha, Asif Sumara, Loyiso Fihla (2). Conversions: Tiano Combrinck, Lorenzo Snyers (5).
WP XV 45 (17), Eastern Province (7)
The first forty was a close affair although WP XV did show some early signs of what was to come, however, the four unanswered tries in the second half were just reward for a brilliant fifteen-man effort. Adeeb Boraine played the perfect match at scrumhalf to justify an easy choice as the man of the match.
WP: Tries: Truspe Schoeman, Codi Binneman, Collin-Paul Kemp, Abeeb Boraine, Keenan Stoffels, Nicolas Reynolds, Michael Satade. Conversions: Abeeb Boraine (5).
EP: Try: Sipho Nonyalela. Conversion: Lucraine Muggels.
Golden Lions 30 (20), Boland 22 (10)
The Lions started with purpose and opened up an early lead against a willing but "smaller" Boland team, however, it was the Lions that had to defend for their lives to keep the Boland from scoring the match-winning points during the last fifteen minutes. Lions' eight-man Esethu Mnebelele were outstanding on the attack to earn himself the man of the match award. Smphiwe Moyo at flyhalf also show that he is a very talented boy with a great future ahead of him.
Lions: Tries: Esethu Mnebelele, Khuti Rasivhaga, Tiaan Le Roux. Conversions: Simphiwe Moyo (3). Penalties: Simphiwe Moyo (3).
Boland: Tries: Wilfred Slingers, Dewron Aford, Ewald Vorster. Conversions: Luan Giliomee (2). Penalty: Luan Giliomee.
Free State 60 (38), Blue Bulls 12 (7)
All there is to report is that a brilliant hard running Free State simply overpowered a Blue Bulls team that could just stand by and "enjoy" the brilliance of the Free Staters on the attack. Fifteen-year-old inside-centre Ethan Adams was awarded the man of the match award.
Free State: Tries: David Venter, Danie Kruger, Liam Santos, Philip McLaren, Toriq Schambreel, Theko Montjane, Ethan Adams, Pretorius Ekeji (2), Alzeadon Felix. Conversions: Alzeadon Felix (2), Toriq Schambreel (3).
Blue Bulls: Tries: Malan Graham, Daniel Malakiya. Conversion: Ruben Pienaar.
Sharks 24 (19), DHL Western Province 7 (7)
The Sharks were maybe not as dominant as the Free Staters were, however, the Western Province also had no answer for the speed and aggression of the Sharks' attack and although Western Province had their moments on the attack they just could not breach an also brilliant defence of the boys in black and white.
Sharks: Tries: Jake Jansen, Swelihle Mbatha, Zingce Simka. Conversions: Luke Davidson. Penalty: Aka Boqwana.
WP: Try: Matthew Weideman. Conversion: Ashwin Cox.
Fixtures: Thursday 30 June
A-field:
08h00: Valke vs Griquas
09h20: WP XV vs Blue Bulls
10h40: Lions vs Border
12h00: WP vs Boland
13h30: Sharks vs Free State
B-field:
08h00: Border CD vs Zimbabwe
09h20: Pumas vs Griffons
10h40: Namibia vs Griquas XV
12h00: SWD vs EP
13h30: Leopards vs Limpopo Blue Bulls
