Forget the arm wrestling, this was an absolute points party in Gqeberha. The Free State Cheetahs and Limpopo Blue Bulls served up a breathtaking 107-point thriller on day one of Craven Week 2026, with the Bloemfontein men emerging victorious 66-41 in a match that had everything but defense.
Fifteen attempts. Twelve conversions. Extensive rugby at a breakneck pace. This wasn’t your typical schoolboy arm wrestle, this was champagne rugby played with reckless abandon, and the neutral supporters on the A field were treated to an absolute spectacle.
Lamla Mgedezi’s late try sealed the deal for the Free State, but the real story was how both sides threw caution to the wind and delivered running rugby that would make the Barbarians blush.
Bulls start hot, Free State roars back
The Limpopo Bulls looked hungry from the opening whistle, although an early try was denied in the sixth minute as the score remained at 0-0. But they would not be denied for long.
The Limpopo side finally broke through in the 13th minute after a well-constructed maul set up a platform from close range. The attackers did the donkey work and Limpopo had a 7-0 lead. They doubled up four minutes later with a slick midfield move that cut the Free State defense wide open and weaved under the posts to make it 14-0.
Free State was in trouble, but this is where champions respond. Vrijstaat went wide in the 22nd minute and found space on the edge to get on the scoreboard at 14-7. Just three minutes later they struck again with another attack down the touchline, making the score 14-14.
The momentum had shifted emphatically. Eddie Mabena grabbed his second try of the afternoon in the 29th minute as Free State upped the tempo, using fast ball and devastating line breaks to stretch the Bulls’ defence. At 21-14, the Free State was in the lead.
Limpopo Bulls responded with a powerful carry in the 33rd minute and crashed to make it 21-19, but Free State had the final say before half-time. Another attack wide in the 35th minute gave them a 28-19 halftime advantage.
Shooting in the second half
If the first half was entertaining, the second was absolute chaos in the best way possible.
Free State’s number nine produced a moment of individual brilliance three minutes after the restart, firing around the ruck to extend the lead to 35-19. The Bulls hit back almost immediately and found space in the 40th minute to reduce the score to 35-24, but this Free State team had found another gear.
The Bloemfontein side went wide again in the 45th minute, with their outside backs rioting to take the score to 42-24. Limpopo refused to go quietly and produced an excellent kick-and-chase in the 47th minute to make it 42-31 and keep themselves within striking distance.
Vrijstaat answered three minutes later with another five-pointer to extend the lead to 47-31. The Bulls kept coming, another excellent contestable kick paying off in the 55th minute as they chased hard to score and close the gap to 47-36.
At this point it was anyone’s game – or so it seemed.
Freestanding finish strong
One attempt from Vrijstaat was disallowed in the 60th minute when a long Hail Mary pass was not within reach, but was recovered before the line. The TMO ruled it a downer, but Vrijstaat hardly blinked an eye.
Two minutes later they scored another beauty to make it 54-36. The dam had really broken. In the 65th minute, with ball in hand, the Cheetahs looked unstoppable as they added another to increase the score to 61-36.
Limpopo showed a lot of character by seizing another space with a cheeky grab that was finished excellently in the 69th minute, making it 61-41. But there was still time for a final flourishing of the Free State.
Lamla Mgedezi capped a magnificent performance with the final try of the match at the death, making the final score 66-41 and confirming Free State’s dominance in a match that will live long in the memory.
The numbers tell the story
Fifteen tries scored. Both sides have committed to running rugby from the first whistle to the last. This was Craven Week at its best, young talent expressing themselves with ball in hand, backing their skills and providing loads of entertainment.
The Free State’s ability to find wide space proved the difference. Their backs were electric, consistently stretching the Limpopo Bulls defense and converting every half-chance. Eddie Mabena’s first-half brace set the tone, while Lamla Mgedezi’s late clincher will be the highlight.
While the scoreboard may sting for the Limpopo Bulls, there is plenty to detract from their performance. They scored six tries themselves and showed excellent resilience to keep fighting back.
Limpopo Bulls showed despite the defeat that they can score anywhere on the park. Tightening defensively, especially outwards, will be the priority for their next outing.
Dustin Wetdewich
novanews.co.za