Craven Week results: WP beat Sharks in thrilling Day 3 action

A highly competitive third day of the SA Rugby Under-18 Craven Week once again confirmed why this flagship schoolboy tournament is such a popular event amongst all stakeholders – and how much it was missed in its two year Covid-enforced absence.

WIN | ANSWER THESE 5 EASY RUGBY QUESTIONS AND YOU COULD WIN R1 000 IN CASH!

On a day where the skill levels of the country’s best Under-18 players were on full display at Rondebosch Boys High School, Eastern Province secured a first win against Boland by 25-12, the Valke overcame Griquas by 34-28 in a highly entertaining affair, before Border silenced a passionate crowd at Tinkie Heyns Field when they outlasted the Western Province XV 34-31 in another nail-biter.

The final game of the day, featuring the unbeaten Sharks and Western Province, had everything a pundit can expect at this level of rugby. Some outrageous skills, huge physicality, good game management and individual brilliance on both sides delivered a stunning game and showed the depth of talent on display before the hosts snuck through by 29-24.

RIP | THIRD DROWNING TRAGEDY ROCKS SPRINGBOK FAMILY

Eastern Province showed a lot of composure in their second match of the tournament and outplayed Boland in a team effort of note. The impact of flyhalf Logan Muller in this match could not be denied, as he scored in all ways possible – try, conversion, penalty goal and drop goal.

The Valke and Griquas scored nine tries between the two – five by the East Randers and four by the team from the Northern Cape – in a match that stayed tight right through. The Valke held a 19-14 lead at the break and managed to keep that margin in  the second half, when both teams scored two tries each.

Border thought they had the game all sewn up at half-time after scoring four tries, but WP XV refused to give up and kept on coming. The East Londoners held a 28-19 lead, but WP came back strongly in the second half.

READ | SPRINGBOKS’ END OF YEAR TOUR TAKES SHAPE

Border kept their cool though with good game management and flyhalf Kyle van Wyk kicked two long range penalty goals that handed them the crucial buffer. The home side scored in the last minute of play, but by then the result was secured for Border.

The final match delivered even more intensity, as can be expected between two of the biggest unions in the country. Western Province scored some wonderful tries through their dangerous backs and were leading 19-14 at the break, with the Sharks nudging away through their pack of forwards that were slowly getting the better of their counterparts. A late Sharks try cut the Province lead to 29-24 with five minutes to play, ensuring a pulsating end to the match.

READ | ‘OLD MAN’ DEON FOURIE SET TO MAKE SPRINGBOK HISTORY

It will be another day of Craven Week drama on Thursday, with the Blue Bulls and SWD realising that only one of them will have an undefeated record come Saturday, as will the Pumas and Griffons. Both these northern sides scored good wins on Monday.

The Leopards and Limpopo Blue Bulls will open proceedings at 10:30 and in the other match on day four, Free State and Golden Lions will be looking for a first win.

PLAYER RATINGS IN TEST 1 | WHO STOOD OUT – AND WHO FLOPPED – FOR THE SPRINGBOKS

Craven Week: Day 3 scorers

Eastern Province 25-12 Boland

EP – Tries: Max du Pisani, Logan Muller, Khaya Majali. Conversions: Muller (2). Penalty goal: Muller. Drop goal: Muller

Boland – Tries: Biggy Claasen (2). Conversion: Robert Nutt

Valke 34-28 Griquas

Valke – Tries: Devon Strydom (2), Nathan Matthee, Juandre Nel, Jaden Bantom. Conversions: Bantom (3). Penalty goal: Bantom

Griquas – Tries: Ruben Pienaar, Wynand Botha, Phillip Visser, Melvin Diedericks. Conversions: Elridge Jack (2), Botha (2)

Border 34-31 Western Province XV

Border – Tries: Michael Maseti, Sibabalwe Mahashe (2), Sesethu Mpaka. Conversions: Kyle van Wyk (4). Penalty goals: Van Wyk (2)

WP XV – Tries: Dean Crouse, Isaiah Louw, Haashim Pead, Christoff de Bruyn, Gino Cupido. Conversions: Jandre Genis (3)

Western Province 29-24 Sharks

Western Province – Tries: Shah-Jehaan de Jongh (2), Ben Heydenrych, Jameel de Jongh, JC Mars. Conversions: Thurlon Williams (2)

Sharks – Tries: Lihle Bester, AJ Knoetze, Kungawo Mbanga. Conversions: AJ Knoetze (3). Penalty goal: Knoetze

READ | WALES LOSE KEY PROP FOR REMAINDER OF SPRINGBOKS SERIES

Fixtures for Thursday, 7 July

Leopards v Limpopo Blue Bulls – 10:30

Pumas v Griffons – 12:00

Free State v Golden Lions – 13:30

SWD v Blue Bulls – 15:00