The DHL Western Province on Saturday kept their unbeaten record at the SA Rugby Under-18 Craven Week at Rondebosch Boys’ High School intact with a 29-21 win over the Blue Bulls in the unofficial final of the tournament, giving the host union the bragging rights at this showpiece event of the schools’ rugby calendar.
Western Province 29-21 Blue Bulls
The Blue Bulls dominated territory for the first seven minutes of the game and scored a try as a just reward to lead 07-00. Western Province struggled in the first ten minutes, however, a long-distance try gave them the momentum to level the score. Western Province enjoyed territorial advantage with fifteen minutes to go and put the Blue Bulls under a lot of pressure.
The continued pressure by Western Province lead to their second try after great physical work by their pack of forwards. The Blue Bulls at this stage are not in the match with the Western Province's domination increasing by the minute. The first half ended with Western Province camping in the red zone of the Blue Bulls, deserving their 14-07 lead at the end of the first half.
The Blue Bulls driving maul failed to impress the Western Province's defence, however, they spread the ball wide with their wing scoring in the opposite corner to level the score. A loose pass by the Blue Bulls is intercepted and after a leisurely stroll the Western Province player dotted down for a converted try. Western Province in the lead with 21-14 at that stage.
The Blue Bulls with only fourteen players on the field could not stop a Western Province lineout-maul and with their fourth try on the board, they led 26-14, well on their way to defend their 2019 crown. A converted penalty by Western Province made it a three-score game with the Blue Bulls struggling to cope with the aggression and speed of Western Province's play. The Blue Bulls scored a consolation try with seconds left on the clock with the Western Province the deserved winners of the 2022 Craven Week with 29-21.
Scorers:
WP - Tries: Luca Bakkes (2), Gazza Blackmore, Luke Graham. Conversions: Thurlon Williams (3). Penalty: Thurlon Williams.
Blue Bulls - Tries: Abri van der Westhuizen, Liam Dick, Luyolo Doyi. Conversions: Tireque Apolles, Stehan Heymans (2).
Sharks 20-13 SWD
SWD scored a try with fifteen minutes still to play in the second half after some great interplay between their backs and forwards. However, it was a brutal and exciting match-up to this stage with both sides, not willing to give an inch.
The Sharks converted a penalty and then scored two tries in quick succession to lead 15-05 with three minutes to go in the first half. A converted penalty by SWD closed the gap to 15-08 at the halftime break.
The Sharks opened the scoring in the second half with a scintillating try and although both teams played quality rugby the defence by both sides was rock solid. With fifteen minutes to go the Sharks led 20-08.
Following an extended period in the Sharks' 22m SWD scored a well-worked try to trail 13-20 with six minutes to play. SWD threw everything they had at the Sharks with mistakes costing them the draw which would have been a just result.
Scorers:
Sharks - Tries: Ethan Bester, Deano Boesak, Dwight Pietersen. Conversion: AJ Knoetze. Penalty: AJ Knoetze.
SWD - Tries: Ramon Uys, Camden Schoeman. Penalty: JT Strydom
Golden Lions 31-23 Border
The Lions started like a house on fire and scored their first try within five minutes since the start of the match to lead 07-00. However, Border clawed their way back into the match and spent started to "dominate" after fifteen minutes of play in the first half. Border converted a penalty as a "reward" for their efforts.
With fifteen minutes left to play in the first half, the Lions sliced through Border's defence at the back to score the second try of the match. Not to be outdone, Border scored from the kickoff after spending some time on the Lions' try line to narrow the gap once again to just four points. A penalty each just before halftime kept the Lions' lead at just four points (17-13).
The Border attacked from the kick-off and scored their third try within three minutes to take the lead for the first time in the match (20-17). A long-distance try by the Lions which started in their own half and scored in the corner after a brilliant try by the winger gave them back the lead with twenty minutes on the clock. At this stage, there was not much to separate the two teams with both sides spreading the ball wide at every opportunity.
Border converted a penalty after which the Lions pounced on a mistake by the Border on their own try line to score another try to lead 31-23 with three minutes left to play in the match. Although Border attacked from the kickoff the score remained 31-23 with the Lions the deserved winners of an exciting match.
Scorers:
Lions - Tries: Sifiso Magwaza, Ceano Everson, Tylor Sefoor, Joel Leotlela. Conversions: Tylor Sefoor (4), Penalty: Tylor Sefoor.
Border - Tries: Dewan Du Preez (2). Conversions: Kyle van Wyk, Lesego Bota. Penalties: Lesego Bota (3).
Western Province XV 40-36 Free State
The Western Province scored two tries during the first fifteen minutes of the match to lead 14-00. The Free State scored their first try thereafter to trail 14-07 with fifteen minutes to go. Free State is clearly a beaten team at that stage with only a few players showing intent on the field.
Western Province added two tries in quick succession to lead 26-07 with eight minutes to go in the first half. Unfortunately not much has come from an expected Free State comeback with the Western Province XV outplaying them in all aspects to lead 26-14 at the halftime break. A late try by the Free State with one minute on the clock is hopefully an indication of what we can expect in the second half.
Some heard words were spoken at the halftime break with the Free State scoring their first try within the first three minutes from a brilliant driving maul. A second converted try by the Free State in the second half on the back of their now dominant forwards gave them the lead (28-26) for the first time of the match. The "new" Free State is at this stage dominating and added another three points to lead 31-26 with fifteen minutes to go in the match.
Great work by Western Province's forward led to a great try with thirteen minutes to go. Game on with Western Province back in the lead. The match opened up a lot with both sides giving the ball a lof air in an attempt to overrun the other. However, with six minutes to go a penalty to Free State was converted into a try after another successful driving maul.
Western Province almost immediately struck back with the interplay between their forwards and backs leading to another great try that gave the lead back to the host (40-36) which was also the final score.
Scorers:
WP - Tries: Sampie Joubert (2), Joe Bezuidenhout, Gino Cupido (2) Jandre Genis. Conversions: Jandre Genis (3), Christoff de Bruyn (2).
Free State - Tries: Nick Greyling (2), Casper Badenhorst, Nel van Heerden, Benito Goeda. Conversions: Bradley Giddy (4). Penalty: Bradley Giddy
Meadows 1
Pumas 49-12 Griquas
The Pumas were in rampant form against Griquas, winning 47-12 to complete a fine tournament for the Lowvelders, ending this tournament as the second team to win all three matches.
Scorers:
Pumas - Tries: Njabulo Shabangu (2), Francios Odendaal, Danny van Staden, Grant de Jager (2), Philasande Ntshapela. Conversions: Danny Van Staden (2), Hardus Visser (4).
Griquas - Tries: AJ Wiese, Elridge Jack. Conversion: Juan Agenbag
Valke 17-48 Griffons
The Thepa Trading Motswako Griffons scored eight tries in their 48-07 win over the Valke.
Scorers:
Griffons - Tries: Oupa Appollis, Tiaan Naude, Connie Timmie, Jayleigh Arends, Ruben Kruger, Ayanda Silwanyana, Andru Mulder, Curt Smith. Conversions: Nalei Kiewiet (2), Ruben Kruger (2).
Valke - Tries: Morne Johnson, Oregopotse Shilubane, Christopher Swart. Conversion: Jaden Bantom.
Meadows 2
Boland 21-14 Leopards
FinGlobal Boland left their best effort for last after defeats on Monday and Wednesday and edged past Leopards 21-14 for their first win of the tournament. Early in the day, the DHL Western Province XV also scored a good 40-36 win over the Free State, leaving the Bloemfontein side winless at a tournament where they have a proud record.
Scorers:
Boland - Tries: Jeandre Overmeyer, Jovawn Visagie. Conversion: Jayden Fortuin. Penalty: Jayden Fortuin (3).
Leopards - Tries: Grant Coetzee, Kraynu Kruger. Conversions: Erich Snyman (2).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 17-66 Eastern Province
Eastern Province also finished the tournament in a flurry, scoring ten tries in their 66-17 win over Limpopo Blue Bulls
Scorers:
EP - Tries: Max du Pisani, MC Kruger, Liselihle Maphekula, Burrie van Heerden (2), Logan Muller, Luvuyo Nkomphela, Mtika Oliphant, Batho Hlekani (2). Conversions: Logan Muller (8).
Limpopo - Tries: Johan van den Heever, Joy Ngobeni, Letlotlo Mohlala. Conversion: Tristan Brits.
