Western province and southwestern districts continued their winning series during the U18 Craven Week, but it was the free state and the Blue Bulls that took the headlines.
The promotion was red -hot at HOërskool Middelburg on Wednesday While Free State bounced back from a loss from the first round to SWD, seven attempts scored in a 52-33 victory against the Blue Bulls.
Fullback Lamla Mingezi and Fleet-Footed No. 13 Ethan Adams played the leading role for the winners, scored a hat trick and a brace respectively, while the middle Thabiso Simelane also claimed a hat trick for the losing side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZXL1QSE74Y
SWD and WP XV have recorded their second victories of the competition.
After the freedom of Free State 35-34 in their first fixture of the tournament, SLD dominated the collision against the Golden Lions and scored eight attempts in a thunderous 54-22 victory. Christiaan Vorster and Jacobus de Villiers scored two attempts each for the Eagles.
Fresh from their 52-6 victory at the Griffons, the WP XV achieved another 45 points and seven attempts against the Pumas, with Lock Gershom Pieters and replacement forward Caleb Koeberg who grabbed a brace each.
Read: WP, Sharks Bank Big Wins at Craven Week
While the province is looking for the business ending, all eyes will be two striking players in the tournament so far. No 8 Quintin Potgieter and Center Markus Muller are the only WP representatives of Paarl Gim, Sa’s No 1-ranked school this year, and are both contracted by the stormers.
WP and Sharks High Schools Headline Day Four’s Action.
Day three results:
Limpopo Blue Bulls 49 (21) Griffons 44 (31)
Western province XV 45 (33) Pumas 14 (7)
Free State 52 (27) Blue Bulls 33 (19)
Golden Lions 22 (7) South Western Districts 54 (26)
Day four schedule – July 10, 2025:
10 am: Boland V Valke
11.30 am: Griquas V Leopards
1.00 pm: Border V Eastern Province
2.30 pm: Western province V Sharks High Schools
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo images
Morne Esben
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