South Africa’s top Under-16 schoolboys were in action at the SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week, staged at Grey High School in Gqeberha over the next five days.
The prestigious provincial tournament marks the start of SA Rugby’s annual Youth Weeks programme. Twenty teams will compete across the matches staged between 17 and 21 June.
Monday 17 June Results and Match Reports
Leopards 40-07 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Unfortunately for the Limpopo Bulls, they just were never in the match. The Leopards already led 26-07 at the halftime break and added another fourteen points to win 40-07.
Scorers:
Leopards: Tries: Jayden Minnie, Thabang Tsebiso, Jayden Steyn, Tydiane Williams, Kani Kananelo, Junior Longman. Conversions: Wian Du Preez (5).
Limpopo Bulls: Try: Barnabas Nyamakupe. Conversion: Juan Randall.
Western Province 38-25 Eastern Province
Many said that the hosts, Eastern Province would be humiliated by the highly-rated Western Province, however, from the start of this match, it was clear that Eastern Province did not read the script and lead 15-14 at the halftime break. The spectators were spoilt with a display of brutal rugby combined with brilliant interplay and sublime handling by both teams.
The second half had the Western Province just keeping ahead of their hosts, every time the Eastern Province just needed to score to take the lead Western Province struck. With minutes to go, Western Province led 31-25 while the Eastern Province was attacking from anywhere and everywhere. A mistake on the attack by Eastern Province led to a last-minute try by Western Province to secure their 38-25 win.
Scorers:
Western Province: Tries: Lehan Barnard, Hendre Van Zyl, Ethan Van Biljon, Tylo Hess, Tevez Cupido. Conversions: Travis Pheiffer (5). Penalty: Travis Pheiffer.
Eastern Province: Tries: Erin Nelson (2), Lucritia Magua. Conversions: William Stevens (2). Penalty: Leighton Lawrence. Drop Goal: Leighton Lawrence.
South Western Districts 26-06 Namibia
The final score does not reflect the effort of Namibia's defence on the field however SWD led 11-06 and the halftime break and kept Namibia from scoring cruising to their 26-06 win.
Scorers:
South Western Districts: Tries: Jacobus De Villiers, Adrian Smith (2). Conversion: Mark-hein Fourie. Penalties: Mark-hein Fourie, Caleb Williams (2).
Namibia: Penalties: Sergio Pamplin (2).
Blue Bulls 26-24 Western Province XV
The Blue Bulls were seemingly on their way to an easy win against Western Province XV, leading 20-10 at the halftime break. However, one can always debate what was said to Western Province at the halftime break, as they started the second half like a house on fire forcing the Blue Bulls to convert penalties rather than going for the corner.
Western Province XV outscored the Blue Bulls with four tries to three and the boot of Blue Bulls' flyhalf Vihan Pretorius was the difference between winning and losing. The Blue Bulls "unfortunately" did enough in the first half to hang on for an exciting and close 26-24 win.
Scorers:
Blue Bulls: Tries: Wandile Mbatha, Yuvrah George (2). Conversion: Vihan Pretorius. Penalties: Vihan Pretorius (2). Drop Goal: Vihan Pretorius.
Western Province XV: Tries: Qiraan Hermans, Juan Visagie, Achmat Behardien, Wian Delport. Conversions: Achmat Behardien (2).
Border 26-20 Zimbabwe
In yet another close match Border edged Zimbabwe 26-20 in a ding-dong battle. Border led 12-08 at the half-time break and outscored Zimbabwe four tries to three. The hero of the day for Border was outside centre Ncutu Kepe who scored two tries, while Rukudzo Mayida was Zimbabwe's star at flyhalf adding ten points for Zimbabwe. It was an exciting match with both teams attacking from anywhere at the slightest opportunity.
Scorers:
Border: Tries: Likhanyile Mampunye, Pindokuhle Mdalana, Ncutu Kepe (2). Conversions: Liyema Tsoko (3).
Zimbabwe: Tries: Sean Mahere, Lee Chigumba, Rukudzo Mayida. Conversions: Rukudzo Mayida. Penalty: Rukudzo Mayida.
Free State 20-26 Sharks
The Free State was well on their way to securing a win over the Sharks late in the second half, however, two quick tries late in the second half by the Sharks secured a 26-20 win.
The Free State scored two early tries in the first half to lead 17-07 at the halftime break. The Sharks left their best for last and scored three unanswered tries in the second half, despite a yellow card, while the Free State could only add a converted penalty in the second half.
Scorers:
Free State: Tries: Zachary Walbrugh, Eddie Mabena. Conversions: O'ryan Kleyn (2). Penalties: O'ryan Kleyn (2).
Sharks: Tries: Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Olwethu Kosani, Mili George, Lux Sonkononkono. Conversions: Cilermo Carolus, Ludi Van Der Walt (2).
Valke 15-17 Griffons
A missed conversion was the difference at the end of the day with the Griffons beating the Valke in the 17-15 second game on the B Field. The score was 07-07 at the halftime break with this exciting match which was up for grabs until the final seconds of the match.
Scorers:
Valke: Tries: Almero Gerritsen, Brandon Mathews. Conversion: Vaughn Steynvaart. Penalty: Vaughn Steynvaart.
Griffons: Tries: Katleho Xaba, Omphile Maphira. Conversions: JC Pretorius (2). Penalties: JC Pretorius.
Golden Lions 16-21 Boland
The Boland was responsible for the First "Big Surprise" of the U16 Grant Khomo when they beat the Lions, despite a second-half fightback from the visitors of Gauteng to secure a "famous" 21-16 win. The Lions trailed 03-15 at the halftime break with the Boland's speed out wide testing the Lions' defence to the maximum.
Despite scoring the only try of the second half the Lions preferred to kick for points at every opportunity which made it difficult for them to catch the Boland on the score board. An exciting match with the Lions leaving with the age-old question, "What if?"
Scorers:
Golden Lions: Try: Juandre Ehlers. Conversion: Jaydon Viljoen. Penalties: Jaydon Viljoen (3).
Boland: Tries: Nieken Lubbe, Darren Makeza. Conversion: Joshua Arnoldus. Penalties: Joshua Arnoldus, Jano Van Deventer (2).
Free State XV 29-07 Border Country District
The first half was an arm wrestle, with the Free State showing early signs of dominating the Border despite trailing 07-05 at the halftime break. However, the Free State added three tries and a penalty try to the none of Border in the second half to cruise to an easy 29-07 win.
Scorers:
Free State XV: Tries: Samson Lackay, Kia Babu, Johan Dormehl, Keaton Pottas. Conversion: Sean Brown.
Border Country District: Try: Esam Tokwe. Conversion: Indiphinde Ngoma.
Pumas 39-14 Griquas
The Pumas sent an early warning to the other teams when they outplayed Griquas in the first game of the day, convincingly beating Griquas 39-14 on the Kolisi Field. Although the halftime score was "only" 14-07 at the halftime break it was clear that the boys from the Northern Cape will be outclassed at the end of the day.
The scoreline in the second half was not a true reflection of the on-field action, with Griquas asking several questions on the defence. The Pumas scored five tries to the two by Griquas, with the outside centre of the Pumas, Siboniso Mahlangu, adding his name twice, scoring great tries.
Scorers:
Pumas: Tries: Vian Louw, Jeandre Cornelius, Siboniso Mahlangu (2), Ewan Van Der Merwe. Conversions: Buhle Mphahlaza (2), Vian Louw (2). Penalties: Buhle Mphahlaza (2).
Griquas: Tries: JG Van Heerden, Ane Gubula. Conversions: Duran Makoni (2).
