Review: LSEN Day 3 & Girls U18 Day 2
The LSEN Under-18 Week held its third round of matches at Hoërskool Sentraal in Bloemfontein and the Under-16 Girls held their second playing day at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg.
On the last day of the LSEN Week on Thursday, 20 June 2019, Western Province claimed bragging rights, as they remained the only unbeaten team after three matches by beating South Western Districts Eagles 53-5. This match concluded a highly successful tournament in the Free State, where 21 matches delivered no fewer than 172 tries and 1099 points.
Meanwhile, at Jeppe Boys High School, three teams are still undefeated at the SA Rugby Under-16 Girls Week, following eight matches. The Western Province, Boland and hosts, Golden Lions, will all go into the final day tomorrow undefeated.
Both the SA Rugby Under-18 Girls Weeks and the SA Rugby Under-16 Girls Weeks will conclude on Friday.
LSEN, Day 3
As the score suggests in the match between Western Province and South Western Districts, there was really only one team in command and the Cape side kept their clean slate for the tournament by scoring no fewer than nine tries to the solitary effort from South Western Districts.
Western Province’s No.8, Dimitri Gossmann, was a big thorn in die South Western Districts side with his three five-pointers, but it was a team effort that resulted in the side crossing the line 22 times in their three matches played at the 2019 Week.
The Leopards scrumhalf, Lesego Seikaneng, finished the tournament as leading points’ scorer with 57 points, including seven tries in three matches. But in their match against the Gauteng XV, not even the prolific Seikaneng was the most productive points’ scorer. Gauteng XV’s centre Michael Dicks scored four tries and kicked six conversions for a personal tally of 32 points in the match, which his team won 52-26. The Gauteng XV were off to a fast start and jumped into a commanding 35-7 lead at the break as they continued with their good performances they managed to deliver this past week and outplayed Leopards in a match that delivered no fewer than 12 tries.
The Eastern Province Elephants finished their week with a win over Griffons when they defeated the Goldfields team 31-22. Leading 17-10 at the break, the Eastern Province side continued with their dominance and outscored the Griffons by five tries to four. Eastern Province flanker Nando Kemp scored three of those, while Keanan Webb (centre) added three vital conversions. Lock Wian Herbst managed to score two tries for the losing side.
The match-up between Golden Lions EE and Pumas turned out to be a well-balanced affair. The Lions scored first and managed to hold on for a 5-0 lead at the break. The second half was just as competitive and both teams scored twice, with the first half effort from Bandile Mazibuko (flyhalf) proving the difference in the end.
The Free State Cheetahs left their best performance for last as they totally dominated the Sharks 45-5 in their final encounter. The hosts ran in seven tries, with six of those coming in the second half. Scores were tight at the break with KZN just in front at 7-0, however, they overran their opponents in the second half by scoring three of their six tries through No.8 Tsekiso Mokhele.
The Jukskei derby between Blue Bulls and Golden Lions was a real nail-biting affair and it was the Pretoria team who prevailed by 15-14. Both teams scored a converted try in first half play but it was a drop goal from flyhalf Luan Gouws that gave the Blue Bulls the edge at the break. The second half also delivered two tries and despite converting theirs, the Golden Lions still found themselves a point short of their opponents when the final whistle sounded.
Meanwhile nine tries were scored in the 43-28 Valke win over Boland and credit must go to the two goal kickers on each side. Ettiene Fourie (flank) converted five of the six Valke tries and also kicked a penalty goal while the Boland flyhalf, Clifton le Fleur, converted all three of their tries, including his own try. The Cape team were also awarded a penalty try.
LSEN Week Results, Day 3
Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions, 15-14
Eastern Province Elephants vs Griffons, 31-22
Free State Cheetahs vs Sharks, 45-5
Gauteng XV vs Leopards, 52-26
Golden Lions EE vs Pumas, 15-10
Valke vs Boland, 43-28
Western Province vs South Western Districts Eagles, 53-5
LSEN Week Results, Day 1
Free State vs Pumas, 24-15
Gauteng XV vs Golden Lions EE, 29-0
Golden Lions vs Leopards, 26-24
Griffons vs Sharks, 69-17
South Western Districts vs Boland, 59-29
Valke vs Blue Bulls, 38-13
Western Province vs Eastern Province, 34-18
LSEN Week Results, Day 2
Blue Bulls vs Boland, 18-14
Eastern Province Elephants vs Gauteng XV, 25-17
Golden Lions EE vs Sharks, 37-5
Golden Lions vs Pumas, 38-12
Leopards vs Free State Cheetahs, 53-24
South Western Districts vs Valke, 29-17
Western Province vs Griffons, 48-17
Under-16 Girls Week, Day 2
Western Province toppled the South Western Districts Eagles on Thursday, with Boland and Golden Lions beating Free State and Griquas respectively to remain the three undefeated teams at the SA Rugby Under-16 Girls Week.
Following the conclusion of another round of games, there are now just one more round of matches left to play on Friday in Johannesburg. It was a highly competitive round two, with close scores and no fewer than two draws, illustrating how closely the teams are matched.
The Western Province side won 26-5 against South Western Districts thanks to a superior second-half effort. The South Western Districts side were still in the match at the break with the score at 7-5 but they failed to add to their solitary try scored by Amanda Klassen (wing). The Capetonians, meanwhile, scored three second times in the second stanza clinch the match.
Boland outplayed Free State 17-5 in a tight clash. They enjoyed a 7-0 lead after Niveena Jantjies (flank) scored and Debra Fredericks (flyhalf) slotted the conversion.
The second half pretty much belonged to the Boland pivot, who scored a try and converted it plus added a penalty goal in the only scoring action of the second half. This win was also Boland’s second in as many matches.
Tournament hosts the Golden Lions, had to dig deep to overcome Griquas. The home side held a slender 5-0 lead at the interval which proved vital. Both sides scored a converted try in the second half, however, the Golden Lions prevailed thanks to their first half advantage the win allowed them to keep their undefeated status.
The competitive nature of matches continued when in the next game Border and the KZN Sharks shared the honours 7-7, with defense ruling over attack for most of the match. A second half try by Border the fullback, Ayakha Myeko, and converted by Aphelele Wanyaza (flyhalf), got Border on the scoreboard. The Sharks responded though with a Nonjabulo Ngobese (fullback) try. Mary Zulu (No 10) succeeded with the conversion to tie the game.
There was also a draw between Old Mutual Zimbabwe and Blue Bulls, who shared the spoils at 5-5. The Zimbabweans led 5-0 lead at halftime and looked set to keep their winning run intact before a try by the Blue Bulls flank Lesego Mdhluli equalled matters.
The match between Griffons and Pumas proved a hugely contested one, with the Northern Free Staters emerging 20-17 winners. The scores were tied 5-all at halfway but a fourth try gave the Griffons the edge over the Pumas in the end, who could only managed three tries.
The Schutte-twins, playing for the Griffons, will have mixed emotions of this match though, as Bianca (No.8) scored a try while Danele (centre) was red-carded.
The Border Country Districts had an impressive start to their day and managed to beat the Leopards 32-5 while scoring six tries to one. They were 17-0 up already at the break from scoring three tries and added another three in the second half. Lively No 9 Uthimna Kanana scored four tries as she showed her potential to the appreciating crowd.
The only blow-out in today’s matches came from Eastern Province Elephants, who had way too much class for Limpopo Blue Bulls. The Eastern Cape side scored seven tries without any reply in their 39-0 romp with the talented fullback, Thandolwethu Hena, bagging a hat-trick. The Elephants were 24-0 in front after the first half and continued their dominance in the second half.
Girls Under-16 Week Results, Day 2
Boland vs Free State, 17-5
Border Country Districts vs Leopards, 32-5
Border vs Sharks, 7-7
Eastern Province Elephants vs Limpopo, 39-0
Golden Lions vs Griquas, 12-7
Griffons Pumas, 20-17
Western Province vs South Western Districts Eagles, 26-5
Zimbabwe vs Blue Bulls, 5-5
Girls Under-16 Week Results, Day 1
Blue Bulls vs Boland, 41-7
Border vs South Western Districts, 41-22
Eastern Province vs KwaZulu-Natal, 22-14
Free State Cheetahs vs Valke, 29-10
Golden Lions vs Griffons, 53-0
Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Griquas, 36-12
Pumas vs Leopards, 39-0
Western Province vs Border Country Districts, 40-0
Girls Under-16 Fixtures, Day 3 – Friday, 21 June 2019
09.00: Leopards vs Free State Cheetahs
09.00: Boland vs Griffons
10.15: Valke vs Pumas
10.15: Griquas vs Border Country Districts
11.30: Golden Lions vs Sharks
11.30: Eastern Province Elephants vs Limpopo
12.45: Border vs Western Province
12.45: Blue Bulls vs South Western Districts Eagles
Girls Under-18 Fixtures, Day 3 – Friday, 21 June 2019
09.00: Griquas vs Free State
09.00: Leopards vs Pumas
10.15: Border Country Districts vs Griffons
10.15: Boland vs Golden Lions
11.30: Eastern Province Elephants vs Sharks
11.30: Limpopo Blue Bulls vs Border
12.45: Zimbabwe vs South Western Districts
14.00: Western Province vs Blue Bulls
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
