Free State were the biggest winners on day one of the FNB u18 Craven Week bee Gray high school in Gqeberha on Monday, while Western Province (WP), Bolandand the Sharks also recorded victories.
South African rugby’s premier schoolboys and girls descended on Gray High School on Monday to compete in the opening round of the FNB u18 Craven Week and FNB U18 Girls Week tournaments.
The FNB u18 Craven Week got off to an explosive start, with 41 tries scored in the four matches. Free State and the Limpopo blue bulls combined for 107 points in an entertaining match at the Kolisi Fieldwith the Bloemfontein boys eventually claiming a 66-41 victory.
Free State flyhalf Zacharias Walbrugh ended the free-flowing encounter with a personal total of 31 points – a run that included a hat-trick of tries – as the centers Ruan Roux And Eddie Mabena scored two tries each.
In other FNB U18 Craven Week matches played on Monday, Boland fired late for a 39-20 win against the Leopardsand the Sharks scored five tries in their 36-19 win Southwestern Districts (SWD).
Hosts Eastern Province made a good start to the last game of the day against WP. At half-time the result was still in balance, after the local flyhalf Nathan Trytsman scored two penalties.
The Western Cape team upped the tempo after the break, scoring 21 unanswered points, with Achmat Behardien (flyhalf) kicking six conversions and adding a death try as WP secured a 42-25 win.
The FNB u18 Craven Week action continues on Tuesday at Gray High, with Border frontally to the Valke at 9:30 am and the Blue Bulls meeting with the Golden Lions in an exciting Jukskei Derby in the afternoon.
Results | Day 1
Western Province 42 (14) – Tries: Kwaza Gobingca, Dirk Farmer, Caleb Bell, JC Swart, Werner de Bruin, Achmat Berhardien. Conversions: Behardien (6). Eastern Province 25 (13) – Tries: 7, 9, Ruben van Dijk. Conversions: 10 (2). Penalties: 10 (2).
Sharks 34 (7) – Tries: Olwethu Kosani (2), Anesu Kuzonyei, Iglesias Bruiners, Luxolo Sonkononkono. Conversions: Daniel Miskey (3). Penalty: Miskey. Southwestern Districts 17 (5) – Try: Bernard Badenhorst, Adrian Smith, Fagon Hendricks. Conversion: Tyler Marais.
Free State 66 (28) – Tries: Zachary Walburgh (3), Eddie Mabena (2), Ruan Roux (2), Lamla Mgedezi, Andrew Wessels, Unathi Ntuli. Conversions: Walburgh (8). Limpopo Blue Bulls 41 (19) – Tries: Lehlogonolo Letlabola (2), Juan Dreyer, Juan Randell, Kristen Swanepoel, Andru de Beer, Mahlatse Kekana. Conversions: Randell (3).
Boland 39 (3) – Tries: Anwill Jacobs (3), Dihego Braaf, JP Lotriet. Conversions: Jaydan van Niekerk (4). Penalties: Johan van Deventer, Van Niekerk. Leopards 20 (13) – Try: Aydan Willemse, De Wet Grobler. Conversions: Ricardo Enos (2). Penalties: Enos (2).
Fixtures | Day 2
A field:
09:30 – Border v Valke
11:15 – Griqualand West vs Pumas
13:30 – Western Province XV vs Griffons
15:15 – Blue Bulls vs. Golden Lions
Published by SA Rugby Communications
SA Rugby
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