DHL Western Province and Eastern Province claimed crucial derby wins on the fourth day of the FNB U18 Craven Week at Hoërskool Middelburg.
WP maintained their perfect record at this week’s tournament after downing the Sharks High Schools on Thursday, while EP proved too strong for Border in the Eastern Cape derby.
Earlier on Thursday, the Valke and Suzuki Griquas secured their first wins of the competition when they beat Sanlam Boland and the Leopards respectively.
The first quarter of the Coastal Derby was fiercely contested, with the Sharks stretching the WP defence and wing Jadrian Afrikaner touching down for a hard-earned try.
WP hit back with tries by centre Markus Muller and prop Matthew van der Merwe, while flyhalf Ethan van Biljon slotted a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time to boost his team’s lead to 11 points.
Province continued to dominate after the break, and went on to finish with six tries in an emphatic 45-13 win, with the impressive Muller bagging a brace.
After losing 41-10 to the Sharks earlier this week, EP made a statement when they put three early tries past Border in the Eastern Cape derby. Flyhalf Tristan Kemp kicked three conversions and three penalty goals to steer his side to a convincing 30-12 victory.
The game between the Valke and Boland was in the balance at half-time, before the boys from the East Rand shifted through the gears in the second stanza to secure a convincing 35-19 win.
Meanwhile, Griquas bounced back from their recent loss to Border to down the Leopards 46-34, with flyhalf Aidan Gadeija scoring two tries and four conversions.
The last round of the FNB U18 Craven Week will be staged at Hoërskool Middelburg on Saturday, with WP taking on South Western Districts in the final match of the tournament.
FNB U18 Craven Week day four fixtures (Thursday, 10 July):
DHL Western Province 45-13 Sharks High Schools
The Western lead 24-13 at the halftime break and despite the Sharks keeping contact on the scoreboard the Western Province are threatening to take complete control of the match in the second half. Western Province scored two tries early in the second half to extend their lead to 38-13. A brutal maul that ended in a try secured a 45-13 win for Western Province with seconds to go in the second half.
Western Province: 1 Bulela Mbala, 2 Ismaeel Conrad, 3 Juan Van Der Merwe, 4 Juvan Burden, 5 Jayden Joubert, 6 Briint Davids, 7 Josh Neill, 8 Gert Kemp, 9 Jayden Brits, 10 Ethan Van Biljon, 11 Jadon Ocks, 12 Markus Muller, 13 RJ Davids, 14 Albert Lourens, 15 Jeneall Davids. Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Jordan Jooste, 18 Bernhard Du Toit, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Quintin Potgiete, 21 Morne Noble, 22 Achmat Behardien, 23 Cole Moultrie.
Sharks: 1 Indiphile Mlotshwa, 2 Josh Grant, 3 Alande Ngubane, 4 Lian Terblanche, 5 Lwandile Mlaba, 6 Cyril Cherayi, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 8 Zander Muller, 9 Zander Muller, 10 Liyema Nela, 11 Jadrian Afrikaner, 12 Sean McGough, 13 Rourke O'Sullivan, 14 William Ridl, 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya. Replacements: 16 Okuhle Mbanjwa, 17 Sphephelo Ntshangase, 18 Bandile Mncwango, 19 Chad Howe, 20 Jamie Wimble, 21 Liam Simpkins, 22 Nathan Aneke, 23 Stefan Moolman.
Border 12-30 Eastern Province
The Eastern Province converted an early penalty; however, the Border were attacking from every opportunity and were rewarded after thirteen minutes of play, scoring in the corner to lead 05-03. The Eastern Province started to take control of the match and added valuable seven points to lead 05-13 at the halftime break. Eastern Province continued to dominate in the second half, earning a well-deserved 30-12 win.
Border: 1 Amyoli Ngxongwana, 2 Bulumko Manqina, 3 Ahlunile Gqwetya, 4 Ebenezer Sarpong, 5 Luca Liebenberg, 6 Jeffrey Niland, 7 Dominic Stegmann, 8 Acwenga Saul, 9 Ayola Somhlahlo, 10 Ndimphiwe Songqwaba, 11 Milani Mdide, 12 Sbabalwe Magwebu, 13 Owam Nqweniso, 14 Njongo Mbanga, 15 Oliver Schmidt. Replacements: 16 Liam Hansen, 17 Robert John-Onsunkwo, 18 Zeake Mata, 19 Ethan Schoeman, 20 Hlumelo Gobile, 21 Travis Enslin, 22 Ncuthu Kepe, 23 Bungqina Nuku.
Eastern Province: 1 Evan Mucka, 2 Janu Janse Van Rensburg, 3 Andre van der Merwe, 4 Damian Le Roux, 5 Ruben Van Dijk, 6 Liyema Katikati, 7 Josh Mackenzie, 8 Petrus Kleinhans, 9 Luke Doyle, 10 Tristan Kemp, 11 Lucritia Magua, 12 Ciaran Killian, 13 Erin Nelson, 14 Damien Witbooi, 15 Meyer Prinsloo. Replacements: 16 Zandre Van Der Mescht, 17 Ike Ukekwe, 18 Ross Atkinson, 19 Ruben Van Dijk, 20 Likhona Bill, 21 Luke Doyle, 22 Cole Hilpert, 23 William Stevens.
Suzuki Griquas 46-34 Leopards
The Leopards started like a house on fire and scored four tries within the first seventeen minutes of the first half to lead 24-00. Griquas clawed their way back in contention and scored their first try of the match with five minutes still to play in the first half. Thereafter, Griquas added two tries and trailed 19-24 at the halftime break.
The Griquas started the second half like a team on a mission and took a 34-31 lead, with fifteen minutes to play. Griquas continued to dominate and scored two late tries during the final quarter, secured a 46-34 win against the Leopards.
Border: 1 Amyoli Ngxongwana, 2 Bulumko Manqina, 3 Ahlumile Gqwetya, 4 Ebebzer Sarpong, 5 Luca Liebenberg, 6 Jeffrey Niland, 7 Dominic Stegmann, 8 Acwenga Saul, 9 Ayola Somhlahlo, 10 Ndimphiwe Songqwaba, 11 Milani Madide, 12 Sbabalwe Magwebu, 13 Owam Nqweniso, 14 Njongo Mbanga, 15 Oliver Schmidt. Replacements: 16 Liam Hansen, 17 Robert John Osunkwo, 18 Zeake Mata,19 Ethan Schoeman, 20 Hlumelo Gobile, 21 Travis Enslin, 22 Bungqina Nuku, 23 Ncuthu Kepe.
Griquas: 1 Evan Mucka, 2 Janu Janse Van Rensburg, 3 Andre van der Merwe, 4 Damian Le Roux, 5 Neshaun Bester, 6 Liyema Katikati, 7 Josh Mackenzie, 8 Petrus Kleinhans, 9 Jaiden Brewis, 10 Tristan Kemp, 11 Lucritia Magua, 12 Ciaran Killian, 13 Erin Nelson, 14 Damien Witbooi, 15 Meyer Prinsloo. Replacements: 16 Zandre Van Der Mescht H, 17 Ike Ukekw, 18 Ross Atkinson, 19 Ruben Van Dijk, 20 Likhona Bill, 21 Luke Doy, 22 Cole Hilpert, 23 William Stevens.
Sanlam Boland 19-35 Valke
Valke scored two tries within the first two minutes of the start of the match to lead 05-00. The Valke continued their dominant form and added two more tries before Boland scored their first try. The Valke led 15-07 after 20 minutes of play in the first half. The rest of the first half was even, and the Valke led 20-14 at the halftime break.
The first half was an even battle with the Valke converting a penalty for the first point of the second half after fourteen minutes of play. The Valke were dominant with their big forwards and opened up a comfortable 35-19 lead with ten minutes still to play. Despite the Boland dominating during the final minutes against a fourteen-man Valke, Boland could not add to the score. Valke secured a 35-19 win.
Sanlam Boland: 1 Stefan Le Roux, 2 Liam van Der Westhuizen, 3 Joshua Swarts, 4 Gerhard Goosen, 5 Clint Afrika, 6 Gideon Scheepers, 7 Joshua Steenkamp, 8 Amaan Adendorff, 9 Caleb Cornett, 10 Zion Rabie, 11 Darren Makeza, 12 Lorenzo Kroutz, 13 Jeraldo Davids, 14 JT Adams, 15 West-lee Uithaler. Replacements: 16 JP Lotriet, 17 Linrique Mason, 18 Heinrich Redelinghuys, 19 Werno Ramsauer, 21 Johan van der Walt.
Valke: 1 Ruan Rossouw, 2 Marco Ventura, 3 Elshaan Duminy, 4 Daniel Wawina, 5 Jaco Engelbrecht, 6 Slade Mowbray, 7 Daniel Kazambo, 8 Juandre Pretorius, 9 Joshua van Rensburg, 10 Deshean Pietersen, 11 Tumi Moloi, 12 Christopher Combrinck, 13 Tshepo Molakeng, 14 Dihan Crause, 15 Otlotleng Zulu. Replacements: 16 Lesego Moitse, 17 Khumo Maimane, 18 Deveraux Weideman, 19 Jacques Van Tonder, 20 Alec Mohlala, 21 Yani Mokiri, 22 Juan van Aswegen, 23 Wian Riekert.
