Falcons, Boland head LSEN Week again
The same two teams played in the last match in 2016 when Boland beat the Valke 31-14.
The Falcons got through by a single point on Day two, beating Western Province 15-14 while Boland had a big win over Golden Lions Extraordinary Education.
Tuesday was the second day of the LSEN Week, just one day after Day one. Wednesday will be a day off and then on Thursday the teams will play the final round of matches, all played at Glenwood High School.
At the end of Day two the Leopards, Golden Lions, the Falcons and Boland remained the only unbeaten teams. Western Province, although beaten, will play the Golden Lions in the second last match. Leopards will play Golden Lions EE.
The matches kicked off with Eastern Province registering a 12-12 draw with the Pumas after the Eastern Cape side built up a 12-0 lead in the first half, while, host KwaZulu-Natal, delivered a fine second-half display on attack and defence to defeat the Blue Bulls EE 31-8. KwaZulu-Natal centre Juanré Erasmus scored two of the team’s five tries, while scrumhalf Anele Banda converted three of them.
The Leopards again showed that they can be a force to be reckoned with as they beat the Griffons 48-14, thanks to their seven tries – two of which were scored by flyhalf Zolile Ntutela – which they supported with a solid defensive effort to limit the Welkom side to only two tries, both scored by centre Ntokozo Mbongo.
The Golden Lions started their clash against the Free State strongly as they took a 15-0 lead at the break. But the Free State fought back with intent in the second half and scored three tries, two of which were converted, while their Johannesburg counterparts were able to add only five points. This, however, was enough to secure the 20-19 victory.
South Western Districts, meanwhile, bounced back from their defeat in the opening round in a tight tussle with the Blue Bulls, which they won 36-24. Jason Jacobs and centre Stanley Fry each contributed two tries towards South Western Districts' six tries. Despite the defeat for the Pretoria side, the match was memorable for flank Lethabo Mtsheni's hat-trick.
The clash between the Falcons and Western Province was neck-on-neck from start to finish, as the teams threw everything at one another. In the end, the Falcons secured a nail-biting 15-14 victory after leading 8-7 at the break. Both sides crossed the chalk twice, but a successful penalty goal to add to the Valke’s one conversion handed them the edge on the scoreboard.
In the final match of t, e day Boland outplayed Golden Lions EE 43-7 compliments of a seven-try romp, in which flyhalf Shilton van Wyk scored two tries and slotted over four conversions for a personal total of 18 points.
Results, Day two
Boland vs Lions EE, 43-7
Eastern Province vs Pumas, 12-12
Golden Lions vs Free State, 20-19
Leopards Griffons 48-14
South Western Districts vs Blue Bulls, 36-24
Sharks vs Blue Bulls EE, 31-8
Falcons vs Western Province, 15-14
Results, Day one
Boland v Eastern Province, 47-5
Falcons v South Western Districts, 24-15
Free State v Pumas, 24-12
Golden Lions EE v Griffons, 36-18
Golden Lions v Blue Bulls EE, 44-7
Leopards vs Sharks, 57-5
Western Province v Blue Bulls, 24-15
Fixtures, Day 3, Thursday, 6 July 2017
09.00: KwaZulu Natal vs Pumas
09.00: Blue Bulls vs Griffons
10.20: South Western Districts vs Free State
10.20: Blue Bulls EE vs Eastern Province
11.40: Golden Lions EE vs Leopards
13.00: Golden Lions vs Western Province
14.20: Falcons vs Boland
From SA Rugby Communications
