A highly competitive third day of the SA Rugby Under-18 Craven Week once again confirmed why this flagship schoolboy tournament is such a popular event amongst all stakeholders – and how much it was missed in its two year COVID-enforced absence.
Western Province 29-24 Sharks
Western Province scored the first try of the match to take an early lead of 07-00. A brilliant long-distance try by Western Province was almost immediately replied on by the Sharks in what could only be described as brilliant. With fifteen minutes to go in the first half the Western Province was leading by 12-07, however, at that stage anything was possible.
Western Province set up camp in the Sharks' 22m for the last seven minutes of the first half and the commitment and clinical pressure they applied eventually paid off as they crossed the Sharks' try line for their third try. The Sharks immediately struck back and scored a try from the kick-off to go into the halftime break trailing 19-14.
The second half started at a furious pace with the Sharks converting a penalty after five minutes of play reducing Western Province's lead to just two points. Western Province scored their fourth try after some halfhearted defence by the Sharks, with Province's left-wing scoring a brilliant try down the sideline.
With fifteen minutes to go Western Province is happy to allow the Sharks to play the rugby while they are defending their seven-point lead. The Western Province started applying the pressure with ten minutes to go and scored another try created by the slick handling of their backs (29-17).
With five minutes to go the Sharks struck back, bulldozing their way over the try line of Western Province to reduce the lead of the hosts to 29-24. Unfortunately for the Sharks unforced errors during the last five minutes of play prevented them to score the winning points.
Scorer:
Western Province - Tries: Shah-Jehaan de Jongh (2), Ben Heydenrych, Jameel de Jongh, JC Mars. Conversions: Thurlon Williams (2).
Sharks - Tries: Lihle Bester, AJ Knoetze, Kungawo Mbanga. Conversions: AJ Knoetze (3). Penalty goal: AJ Knoetze.
WP XV 31-34 Border
Border was the first to score as they looked in control of the match and were seemingly on their way to a good win. However, Western Province XV's scored the equaliser after eighteen minutes of play to level the score. However, the dangerous Border backline once again showed some pure class as they sliced through the defence of the Western Province backline twice in quick succession to open up a 21-07 lead with ten minutes to play. A try by each team during the last ten minutes of play was a clear indication of two teams intent on entertaining the crowd.
The Western Province XV started the second half like a runaway train scoring their first try after just four minutes. Province continue to dominate for an extended period but could not add any points during the first twenty minutes of the second half. The defence of Border is rock solid although under tremendous pressure for the first twenty minutes of the second half.
The pressure Western Province applied eventually resulted in a try in the corner for the host and with twelve minutes to play and just four points the difference it is game on. Border added a converted penalty to make this a two-score game if Western Province want to achieve a come-from-behind win. A try after time was already up by Western Province unfortunately was too little and too late.
Unfortunately, Western Province's XV discipline did slip during the last ten minutes of the match which eventually was the difference between winning and losing, however, Border did deserve their 34-31 win.
Scorers:
Border - Tries: Michael Maseti, Sibabalwe Mahashe (2), Sesethu Mpaka. Conversions: Kyle van Wyk (4). Penalties: Van Wyk (2).
WP XV - Tries: Dean Crouse, Isaiah Louw, Haashim Pead, Christoff de Bruyn, Gino Cupido. Conversions: Jandre Genis (3).
Valke 34-28 Griquas
The Valke were the first to score after just five minutes of action. Both teams indicated early on that they intend to spread the ball wide at every opportunity. The Valke were reduced to fourteen players after ten minutes of play whereafter Griquas stepped up their efforts. However, the Valke ended this ten minutes period with a try from a 5m lineout-maul to increase their lead to 12-00 with ten minutes to go in the first half.
Griquas scored their first try of the match after setting up camp in the Valke red zone for an extended period. The Valke were quick to reply with a try in the corner to restore their twelve-point lead (19-07). A try by Griquas with seconds to go in the first half was just reward for once again a patient attack by Griquas and reduced the lead of the Valke to 19-14.
The Valke's converted penalty was the only points scored in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Griquas was once again extremely patient in their build-up, scoring their third try to trail by just one point and twelve minutes to play in the second half. The Valke refused to let the Griquas back into the match and scored a converted try after the Valke eventually could not stop the wave after wave attack.
The excitement continued with the Griquas scoring a converted try to once again trail by only one point and three minutes left on the clock. Once again the Valke scored from the kick-off to extend their lead to 34-28 which was also the score at the end of the match.
Scorers:
Valke - Tries: Devon Strydom (2), Nathan Matthee, Juandre Nel, Jaden Bantom. Conversions: Jaden Bantom (3). Penalty: Jaden Bantom.
Griquas - Tries: Ruben Pienaar, Wynand Botha, Phillip Visser, Melvin Diedericks. Conversions: Elridge Jack (2), Wynand Botha (2).
Boland 12-25 Eastern Province
Boland started like a house on fire and scored the first try of the match within the first three minutes of the match. Eastern Province thereafter enjoyed territorial and possessions advantage, however with twenty minutes to play in the first half Eastern Province could only show three points for all their efforts. Thereafter Eastern Province selected fifth gear and scored two tries to lead 15-07 with fifteen minutes to go.
Boland had two or three opportunities from turnover ball however, the scramble defence of Eastern Province kept them from scoring until the thirtieth minute when they managed to cross the try line. Eastern Province replied with a converted try of their own to go into halftime leading 22-12.
During the first twenty minutes of the second half, nothing much happened, with mistakes on attack and defence made by both teams resulting in no points scored during this period. Eastern Province added a converted penalty to their score with five minutes still to go in this match to lead 25-12 which was also the final score.
Scorers:
EP - Tries: Max du Pisani, Logan Muller, Khaya Majali. Conversions: Khaya Muller (2). Penalty: Khaya Muller. Drop goal: Khaya Muller.
Boland - Tries: Biggy Claasen (2). Conversion: Robert Nutt.
