The Sharks and Blue Bulls finished the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week unbeaten after claiming convincing wins in the final round of the tournament staged at St Alban’s College in Pretoria on Friday.
The Sharks scored seven tries to beat Western Province 51-28 in the final match of the day, while the Bulls, Eastern Province, Zimbabwe, the Iqhawe XV, South Western Districts, Boland, the Pumas, Free State and the Limpopo Blue Bulls secured wins to finish the tournament on a high.
WP went into the final showdown on the back of wins against Free State and SWD, while the Sharks beat the Golden Lions on day one before drawing 29-29 with the Bulls on day two.
On Friday, the KwaZulu-Natalians dominated the coastal derby, with reserve loosehead prop Nyakallo Masiloane and winger Lisa Sijadu scoring two tries apiece, and flyhalf Daniel Miskey, who missed a couple of kicks in the previous clash against the Bulls, slotting five conversions and two penalty goals.
Earlier in the day, the Bulls scored seven tries in their 43-12 win against the WP XV, with No 8 Caleb Pretorius and reserve hooker Hendre Ehlers touching down twice.
Free State claimed something of an upset when they powered their way to a 45-34 victory over Griquas, with tighthead prop Rossouw van de Waal scoring a hat-trick. Griquas won their first two matches of the tournament, while Free State lost both of theirs.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe put five tries past Namibia, with fullback Ethan Zhou scoring twice in the second half. The Iqhawe XV had a reason to cheer after a seven-try display earned the invitational outfit a stunning 43-11 win over Border Country Districts.
The battle between the Golden Lions and SWD was a lot tighter, with the Eagles clinching the contest 15-5 thanks to a second-half try by scrumhalf Rufagon Hendricks.
U16 Grant Khomo Week day three results (Friday 4 July):
Griffons 16 (7) EP 35 (17)
Zimbabwe 34 (3) Namibia 5 (5)
Border Country Districts 11 (6) Iqhawe XV 43 (24)
Golden Lions 5 (5) SWD 15 (7)
Border 12 (0) Boland 36 (24)
Pumas 29 (15) Valke 0 (0)
Blue Bulls 43 (22) WP XV 12 (7)
Free State 45 (10) Griquas 34 (15)
Leopards 12 (12) Limpopo Blue Bulls 30 (27)
WP 28 (21) Sharks 51 (38)
