Golden Lions & Free State Cheetahs Set The Standard At Coca-Cola u18 Craven Week
The Golden Lions and Free State beat SWD and Easter Province, respectively on the second day of the Coca-Cola Craven Week in Polokwane on Tuesday and in the process have likely set themselves up for what will be a semifinal in all but name on Thursday.
Although the Craven Week is not supposed to be knockout tournament, the race for the tournament’s only prize – a spot in Saturday’s final game of the week is fought between the big guns and the winners of Monday’s late games – The Blue Bulls and Western Province – meet on Wednesday, with the winners there probably going through to play the winners of the Free State v Lions clash in Saturday’s main game.
There were plenty of points scored on the second day of play, with one game drawn and several high-scoring thrillers.
The drawn game was a 37-all thriller between the Valke and Griffons, while the Golden Lions and SWD scored seven tries between them as the Lions ran out 34-27 winners.
The fortunes of the two sides fluctuated throughout the game – the Lions were well in control in the beginning, while SWD looked like they were going to win early in the second half.
In the end it was solid defense and the good goal-kicking of flyhalf Erwin Harris that saw them home.
EP put up a brave fight against, they led at half time and looked capable of winning it, but they faded in the last quarter as the big Free State forwards took control, helping their side to a 32-21 win.
Eastern Province Country Districts beat the Northwest Leopards 35-10 in the early game, and Griquas Country Districts were too strong for Border Country Districts, beating them 51-0.
Tuesday’s Results
Eastern Province CD 35 Leopards 10
Griquas CD 51 Border CD 0
Valke 37 Griffons 37
Golden Lions 34 SWD 27
Free State 32 E Province 21
Wednesday’s Fixtures
09:30 Namibia v Griquas
11:00 Limpopo Blue Bulls v Zimbabwe
12:30 Boland v Border
14:00 KwaZulu-Natal v Pumas
15:30 Blue Bulls v Western Province
Thursday’s Fixtures
09:30 Leopards vs Border CD
11:00 Valke vs Griquas CD
12:30 Griffons vs Eastern Province CD
14:00 Eastern Province vs South Western Districs
15:30 Free State vs Lions
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