Craven Week, Day One - Free State and WP set the tone
WRAP: Free State were the biggest winners on day one of the U18 Craven Week at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Monday, while Western Province, Boland and the Sharks also recorded victories.
South African rugby’s leading schoolboys and girls descended on Grey High School this past Monday to compete in the opening round of the Under-18 Craven Week and U18 Girls Week tournaments.
The U18 Craven Week got off to an explosive start, with 41 tries scored across the four matches.
Free State and the Limpopo Blue Bulls combined for 107 points in an entertaining clash on the Kolisi Field, with the boys from Bloemfontein eventually claiming a 66-41 victory.
Free State flyhalf Zachary Walbrugh finished the free-flowing encounter with a personal tally of 31 points – a haul that included a hat-trick of tries – while centres Ruan Roux and Eddie Mabena scored two tries apiece.
In other U18 Craven Week matches played on Monday, Boland fired late to secure a 39-20 win against the Leopards, and the Sharks scored five tries in their 36-19 win against SWD.
Hosts Eastern Province made a bright start to the final clash of the day against WP, and the result was still in the balance at halftime, after local flyhalf Nathan Trytsman slotted two penalty goals.
The Western Cape outfit lifted the tempo after the break and proceeded to score 21 unanswered points, with Achmat Behardien (flyhalf) kicking six conversions and adding a try at the death as WP went on to secure a 42-25 win.
The U18 Craven Week action continues at Grey High on Tuesday, with Border fronting the Valke at 9.30 and the Blue Bulls meeting the Golden Lions in an exciting Jukskei Derby later in the afternoon.
U18 Craven Week day one results:
Monday, July 6
Boland 39-20 Leopards
Free State 66-41 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Sharks 36-19 South Western Districts
Western Province 42-25 Eastern Province
U18 Craven Week day two schedule (Kick-off time is SAST)
Tuesday, July 7
A-field:
Border v Valke (09.30)
Griquas v Pumas (11.15 )
Western Province XV v Griffons (13.30)
Blue Bulls v Golden Lions (15.15)
U18 Girls Week day one results:
Monday, July 6
KwaZulu-Natal 10-27 Boland
Valke 24-10 Griquas
Blue Bulls 8-38 Eastern Province
Free State 15-30 Griffons 30
Golden Lions 26-10 Border 10
South Western Districts 44-5 Leopards
Western Province 27-5 Pumas
Limpopo Blue Bulls 24-15 Eastern Province XV
U18 Girls Week fixtures – day two (Kick-off time is SAST)
Wednesday, July 8
B-field:
Pumas v KZN (09.30)
Border v Blue Bulls (10.45 )
EP v Boland (12.00)
WP v Golden Lions (13.15 )
C-field:
Griquas v Leopards (09.30)
Valke v Free State (10.45)
Limpopo Blue Bulls v Griffons (12.00)
SWD v EP XV (13.15)
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