Bulls and coastal teams lay down marker at U16 Grant Khomo Week
DAY ONE WRAP: The Bulls, Sharks and both Western Province teams claimed valuable wins on day one of the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week staged at St Alban’s College in Pretoria on Monday.
The opening day of the U16 tournament witnessed a number of tight contests, with Border, the Falcons, South Western Districts, Griffons and Griquas among the teams that went on to secure victories.
The Bulls began their home campaign with a clinical performance, scoring four tries in a 32-13 win over Boland. Outside centre Dandre Brink crossed the line twice for the hosts.
The battle between the Sharks and Golden Lions yielded 79 points and 11 tries, with the KwaZulu-Natalians going on to secure a 44-35 victory.
Fullback Rosco Williams scored a hat-trick for the Sharks, while inside centre Blessing Manoreng did the same for the Lions.
A far tighter contest between the Western Province XV and the Pumas was decided by inside centre Divan Meyer, who kicked three conversions and three penalty goals to steer the WP XV to a 30-27 win.
Zimbabwe put on a show in the first fixture of the day, scoring 11 tries in a resounding 71-3 win over Border Country Districts.
Inside centre Denzel Nyambo scored a hat-trick for the Zimbabweans, while scrumhalf Gray van der Merwe slotted eight conversions.
The Falcons fought back from a first half deficit to beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls 24-15, while the Griffons also managed to edge Namibia 32-24, after trailing by two points at the break.
In the final two matches of the day, Western Province claimed an emphatic 55-22 win over Free State – with centre Luca Orgill scoring a brace for the men in blue and white hoops – while Griquas cracked on to beat the Iqhawe XV 50-14, after the scores were level at the half-time.
U16 Grant Khomo Week day one results (Monday, June 30)
Zimbabwe 71-3 Border Country Districts
Border 26-22 Leopards
Valke 24-15 Limpopo Blue Bulls
South Western Districts 27-10 Eastern Province
Griffons 32-24 Namibia
Sharks 44-35 Golden Lions
Western Province XV 30-27 Pumas
Bulls 32-13 Boland
Western Province 55-22 Free State
Iqhawe XV 14-50 Griquas
