The 2022 u/18 Academy Week hosted at Hugenote High School in Wellington ended with an all u/17 Sharks team beating the Free State Academy side 32-20 in the "unofficial" final on Thursday.
The Sharks and Boland XV were the only unbeaten teams at the end of the Tournament with the Boland XV beating the Valke 41-19 on the final day of play.
Sharks 32-20 Free State
The final match of the day was played at a brilliant pace with both teams spreading the ball wide at every opportunity. The half ended with the Sharks leading 22-20. Although both teams had opportunities to score points in the second half it was the Sharks who added ten unanswered points to their halftime score with disciplined play to win 32-20.
Scorers:
Sharks: Tries: Siya Ndlozi, Campbell Ridl, Jaco Williams. Conversions: Chris Horak (3). Penalties: Chris Horak (2).
Free State: Tries: Jaco Grobbelaar, Tat Botha, Kutlo Seyoko. Conversion: Ian van der Merwe. Penalty: Ian Van Der Merwe.
Eastern Province 33-26 Blue Bulls
A game that was played at a tremendous pace but unfortunately marred by the number of penalties. Eastern Province converted four penalties that proved in the end to be the difference between winning and losing. The Blue Bulls scored four tries to the three of Eastern Province.
Scorers:
Eastern Province: Tries: Jd Van Zyl, Kenneth Magau. DJ Zietsman. Conversions: DJ Zietsman (2), Oyintando Maseti. Penalties: DJ Zietsman (4).
Blue Bulls: Tries: Francois Prinsloo, Ilanga Engondo, Salomon Bezuidenhout (2). Conversions: Nicallen Gabrielsen (3).
Boland 29-17 Griffons
Boland scored twelve unanswered points in the first half and had to defend like made to keep the Griffons from scoring the winning points as the Griffons came out in the second half showing intent and commitment.
Scorers:
Boland: Tries: Lleyton Van Rooi (3), Fernando Muller, Aaron Swartz. Conversions: Aaron Swartz (2).
Griffons: Tries: Conrad Hattingh, Bongi Ngidi (2). Conversion: Paseka Mokoena.
Western Province 32-32 Golden Lions
Western Province opened up a lead of 17-10 during the first half, seemingly laying the foundations for a good win. However, the Lions came back in the second half and after an exciting and tense last ten minutes managed to draw 32 all.
Scorers:
Western Province: Tries: Franco Roux, Juma Amissi, Matthew Coates, Ridhau Bey. Conversions: Monray Daars (3). Penalties: Monray Daars, Gilermo Mentoe.
Golden Lions: Tries: Joseph Zulu, Arne Roux (2), Thulani Shabalala. Conversions: Thulani Shabalala (3). Penalties: Thulani Shabalala, Coun-lee Koekman.
Border 25-25 Pumas
A ding dong battle with the success of the kicking or lack thereof by the Border costing them the win perhaps? However, an exciting match with both sides having enough reasons to believe that they should have won.
Scorers:
Border: Tries: Lindokhule Xozwa, Liyema Hiltane, Big Jo Jho, Asiphe Madikane. Conversion: Schalk Smit. Penalty: Mo'unga Hare.
Pumas: Tries: Andreas Fouche, Andre De Lange, Johnny Durrheim. Conversions: Zander Erasmus (2). Penalties: Zander Erasmus (2).
Namibia 19-20 Zimbabwe
Namibia opened up an early lead against Zimbabwe and led 12-00 at the halftime break, however, in the second half Zimbabwe started to run the defence of Namibia to pieces and scored three great tries to edge the Namibians with only one point.
Scorers:
Namibia: Tries: Edward Drotsky, Markus Meyer, Heindrich Januarie. Conversions: Ashton Van Wyk (2).
Zimbabwe: Tries: Giordano Sarpo, Emmanuel Magutakuona, Edward Sigauke. Conversions: Tatenda Gonese. Penalty: Cody Grant.
Border CD 14-36 Limpopo Blue Bulls
The Limpopo Bulls came out in the first half and blew Border CD away as they scored twenty-six unanswered points in the first half to lead 26-00. The Limpopo Bulls took their foot off the petrol in the second to cruise to a relaxing 36-14 win. Border CD was unable to win a match during the tournament while this win was Limpopo Bulls' first of the tournament.
Scorers:
Limpopo Blue Bulls: Tries: Janko Van Deventer, Cornel Riekert (2), Waldie Haasbroek, Kagiso Ramoloto, Ulrich Gilbert. Conversions: Reese Coetzee (3).
Border CD: Tries: Dedz Balfour, Reeko Owusu. Conversions: Libolethu Mponzo (2).
Boland XV 41-19 Valke
Boland XV did enough in the first half to secure a win, leading 27-07 at the halftime break. The second half was more even with the Boland XV cruising to a well-earned win.
Scorers:
Boland XV: Tries: Langes Corneluis, Darius Venter, JD Gouws, Jean Swart, Herbie Adams, Jenico Truter. Conversions: Jean Swart (4). Penalty: Jean Swart.
Valke: Tries: Marnus Swarts, Thapelo Lengwasa, Anrich Lessmann. Conversions: Ntsika Tsengiwe.
Western Province XV 19-31 SWD
SWD opened up an early lead to go into the second half leading 21-09. The second was much closer with both sides scoring ten points each.
Scorers:
Western Province XV: Try: Marco Ferreira. Conversion: Jason January. Penalties: Blane Marais, Jayson January (3).
SWD: Tries: Devon Windvogel, Brendan Gouws, Marcel Strydom, Ethan Myners. Conversions: Marcel Strydom (4). Penalty: Marcel Strydom.
Leopards 29-00 Griquas
The Leopard led 10-00 at the halftime break and really dominated the second half to score four tries to the zero of the Griquas. Leopards flyhalf scored fourteen points and were the sixth-highest points scorer with the thirty-four points he accumulated during the tournament.
Scorers:
Leopards: Tries: Mj Mostert, Musa Khumalo, Junior Finger. Conversions: MJ Moster (3). Penalty: MJ Mostert
