WP takes top honours at U13 Coca-Cola Craven Week
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
DHL Western Province on Friday took top honours at the Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira in White River as they defeated neighbours Boland 34-14 to finish the tournament as the only unbeaten side.
The team’s victory in the final match of the tournament followed on similar success in the 2013 and 2014 editions of the tournament in Bela-Bela and Durban respectively.
The Cape Town side defeated the Valke, Border and SWD in their first three matches in White River to book their place in the grand finale of the Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week against their sister union.
In the other big match-ups on the final day, TW Profile Services Valke defeated SWD 28-12, while KwaZulu-Natal beat the Leopards 24-3.
Border CD, who came through their first two matches unbeaten, meanwhile, registered the biggest victory of the day as they cruised to a 40-7 victory against Namibia.
DHL Western Province 34 (17) Boland 14 (7)
Western Province were completely dominant in their clash against Border as they delivered a fine all-round performance featuring strong forward and back play, which proved to be too much firepower for Boland. Boland scored the first points in the sixth minute compliments of a try by Corne Ethan Oliphant, but their Cape neighbours controlled proceedings soon after. Western Province’s form paid off as they scored two converted tries and penalty to take a 17-7 lead at the break.
They picked up where they left off when play resumed and added two more converted tries to take their score to 34 points. Boland refused to give up and scored their second try on the stroke of full-time, but this merely served as a consolation as Western Province were far ahead on the scoreboard.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province – Tries: Duran Koevort, Ethan James, Armand Maritz, Rynardt Botha. Conversions: Jack Cloete (4). Penalties: Jack Cloete (2).
Boland – Tries: Chadley Jermaine Josias, Corne Ethan Oliphant. Conversions: Nazero Cleophas, Curwin Gertse.
TW Profile Services Valke 28 (21) SWD 12 (7)
The TW Profile Services Valke finished their campaign on a high note after a few unlucky performances in the tournament as they defeated SWD 28-12 with four tries to one in a strong showing. The Valke again combined their power up-front with a solid performance by their backs to outclass SWD and hand the George side their second defeat in as many days.
Such was the Valke’s dominance they built up a good 21-7 lead at the break, which set them up for a convincing 28-12 victory despite a closely contested second half.
Scorers:
TW Profile Services Valke – Tries: Keagan Balfour, Thulane Ngobe, Musa Sithole, Tyler Skudder. Conversions: Kyle Benadie (4).
SWD – Tries: Laurence Victor, Gary Colannini. Conversion: Tinsley Stuurman.
KwaZulu-Natal 24 (17) Leopards 3 (3)
KwaZulu-Natal made good use of their try-scoring chances in the first half against the Leopards, as they managed to break through to the line twice compliments of Kaleb Thomas and Hendrik Gouws. Interestingly the Leopards opened up the scoring in the second minute with a penalty, but this proved to be their only points in the half.
The Leopards stepped up their defence in the second half and limited KwaZulu-Natal to only one converted try, which flyhalf Mathew Halstead converted to increase his individual contribution to nine points thanks to three conversions and a penalty. Unfortunately for the Leopards, however, their efforts on attack came to nothing as they were unable to penetrate KwaZulu-Natal’s watertight defence, which left them with a disappointing 24-3 defeat.
Scorers:
KwaZulu-Natal – Tries: Kaleb Thomas, Tristian Trollip, Hendrik Gouws. Conversions: Mathew Halstead (3). Penalty: Mathew Halstead.
Leopards – Penalty: Theuns Steyn.
Eastern Province 14 (7) Itec Blue Bulls 38 (31)
The Itec Blue Bulls dominated the first half against EP completely by taking charge up-front and showing an impressive attacking prowess out wide. The Blue Bulls’ attack was fantastic as they forced EP onto the back-foot and the rewards followed as they crossed the chalk four times in the first half. Eastern Province did their best to force their way into the match, but their efforts were curtailed by the effective Blue Bulls defence, leaving them to settle for only one converted try in the first half and a 31-7 deficit at the break.
Eastern Province tightened up their defence significantly in the second half and limited the Blue Bulls to only one more try. The Port Elizabeth side, meanwhile added their second try, leaving the final score at 38-14.
Scorers:
Eastern Province – Tries: Larquin Goliath, Ethan Liberty. Conversions: Daniel Smith (2).
Itec Blue Bulls – Tries: Jooste Nel, Rolen Visagie, Chris Schoombee, Zandre Du Toit (2). Conversions: Jooste Nel (5).
Bidvest Golden Lions 12 (7) Griffons 15 (0)
The first half between the Bidvest Golden Lions and Griffons was tight as both teams put their bodies on the line on attack and defence. So closely matched were the teams, the only points scored in the half was a converted try by the Lions to take a 7-0.
The Lions showed their desire to attack more in the second half, and it paid off with a try shortly after the break, which extended their lead to 12-0. The Griffons, however, staged a dramatic comeback in the last 10 minutes with two tries in two minutes, one of which was converted, and a penalty to sneak into a 15-12 lead, which they held onto for the victory.
Scorers:
Bidvest Golden Lions – Tries: Luan Van der Walt, FC Kotze. Conversion: Sebastine Watney.
Griffons – Tries: Niel Harmse, Karabo Moahlodi. Conversion: Du Toit Van Huyssteen. Penalties: Du Toit Van Huyssteen.
Border CD 40 (28) Namibia 7 (0)
Border CD were in fine form from the outset against Namibia and crossed the tryline for the first of their four first-half tries in the second minute. Three of these tries were scored by the in-form Luyanda Dyani, who earned his hat-trick by the 20th minute. Unfortunately for Namibia, Border CD dominated possession and made their presence felt on attack for most of the first half, which resulted in them having to feed off the scraps and left them trailing 28-0 at the break.
The East London side continued this impressive form in the second half and added another two tries to their tally for a total of six, while Namibia were only able to cross the tryline only once. This earned Border CD an impressive 40-7 victory.
Scorers:
Border CD – Tries: Athenkosi Mutala, Yola Matomane (2), Luyanda Dyani (3). Conversions: Siphe Nonkwenke (5).
Namibia – Try: Patrick Waggie. Conversion: Kian Fransman.
Pumas 7 (0) Border 17 (0)
The Pumas dominated territory and possession against Border, and they did well to put together phases on attack and apply pressure on the opposition. But despite these determined attempts Borders’ effective defence held them out, which resulted in the teams entering the break scoreless.
Border improved their attack in the second half with their forwards applying pressure up-front while their backs ran hard when they received the ball, and this paid off as they scored two tries to take a 10-0 lead. The Pumas, however, bounced back with an intercept try to close the gap to 10-7 with two minutes left on the clock. But Border ensured their victory with a try immediately after as they found space out wide and dotted down the ball to seal a 17-7 victory.
Scorers:
Pumas – Try: Alec Vermaak. Conversion: Alec Vermaak.
Border – Tries: Theuns Janse van Rensburg, Latica Nela. Conversion: Sihlalo Benge.
Limpopo Blue Bulls 19 (14) GWK Griquas 5 (0)
The clash between the Limpopo Blue Bulls and GWK Griquas proved to be a physical forward battle as the teams opted mainly for pick-and-goes to gain yards on attack. While Griquas struggled to make their way through the Limpopo Blue Bulls’ defence in the first half, the Limpopo side did well to capitalise on their try-scoring chances early on, which earned them two tries in the first seven minutes. But Griquas tightened up their defence and prevented them from scoring any more points before the break.
The Limpopo Blue Bulls threatened to score again after the break, but the tenacious Griquas defence again managed to shut them out for several minutes. It eventually took a chip and chase from the Limpopo side to get through the Griquas defence for their third try. Griquas, however, fought back to score their first try late in the match to go down 19-5.
Scorers:
Limpopo Blue Bulls – Tries: Rotandwa Mulea, Willie Potgieter, Franco Knoetze. Conversions: Juan Smith (2).
GWK Griquas – Try: Duan Ludik.
Zimbabwe 14 (7) Free State 14 (7)
The clash between Zimbabwe and the Free State was tight as the teams gave everything in the hope of securing their first victory of the tournament. Both teams crossed the tryline once in the first half to go into the break at 7-7, although mistakes at crucial times cost Free State from inflating their score in the half.
The second half was nail-biting as Zimbabwe extended their lead to 14-7 with their second try, and after a few tight exchanges the Free State broke through the defence to level the scores in the dying minutes at 14-14. Unfortunately neither team could add to their score, which forced them to settle for a draw.
Scorers:
Zimbabwe – Tries: Munashe Maisera, Panashe Masaya. Conversions: Milton Manyangadze, Brendan Mason.
Free State – Tries: Oratile Botlhoko (2). Conversions: Du Toit Fourie (2).
U13 Coca-Cola Craven Week day-four results:
DHL Western Province 34 – 14 Boland
TW Profile Services Valke 28 – 12 SWD
KwaZulu-Natal 24 – 3 Leopards
Eastern Province 14 – 38 Itec Blue Bulls
Bidvest Golden Lions 12 – 15 Griffons
Border CD 40 – 7 Namibia
Pumas 7 – 17 Border
Limpopo Blue Bulls 19 – 5 GWK Griquas
Zimbabwe 14 – 14 Free State
Related Posts
« South Africa hungry to host Rugby World Cup, 28 years on WP, Leopards unbeaten at U16 Girls Week »
