Latest news with #U13CravenWeek
The Herald
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
WP crowned unofficial U13 Craven Week champions in East London
Western Province finished as the top-seeded team to be crowned the champions of the 2025 edition of the U13 Craven Week at Selborne College in East London on Friday after they defeated Boland 21-7 in an unofficial final. This was WP's ninth time they ranked first in the competition after featuring in 13 of the last 14 U13 Craven Week finals. The contest for the number one seed between the sides was a repeat of two years ago, when WP won by a narrow 10-8. This time, converted tries from Francois Gouws, Theolin Edwards and Lihlombe Mabengu ensured they won comfortably over their provincial neighbours. Boland B exacted revenge for their main team beating WP B 23-14 in the unofficial Academy Week final. EP's main team finished seventh in the rankings after their two wins in four games. They beat Griquas 52-5 in the last game. Grey Junior centre Bulelani Norman, Jeffreys Bay lock Warren Grootboom, Woodridge No8 Aqhama Macembe all scored two tries with Kabega Primary's Musa Mdongwane and Gill College's Ruben Lotter the other scorers. Despite showing glimpses of good innovation in their play and forward dominance through the week, Border Central finished as the second-last ranked team in the Craven Week category. The Blue Bulls beat them 41-12 in their final match. Queen's Primary centre Luke Mpangele, who was among the top performing players for the team, scored a try, with the other five-pointer coming through Selborne Primary's Vuyo Foslara. Border Country Districts closed the tournament with the most points conceded in the week, a negative 212 difference, losing all four of their games. EP B finished fifth in the Academy Week standings, finishing with a 17-15 loss to the Golden Lion B team. Right behind EP were Border B, who beat Golden Lions C team 19-0. The 2026 U13 Craven will be held in Bloemfontein. Other results on Friday: Blue Bulls B 22 Pumas B 12, Griffons B 27 Zimbabwe 14, Free State B 38 Limpopo Blue Bulls B 0, Valke B 17 Leopards B 5, Griquas B 10 SWD B 29, Namibia 20 Sharks B 12, Sharks 33 Pumas 19, SWD 21 Free State 7. Daily Dispatch
The Herald
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Good day for EP at U13 Craven Week
The Eastern Cape teams produced mixed results on the second day of the U13 Craven Week rugby tournament, with Eastern Province's main team providing the highlight for the host province, comfortably beating the Valke 40-17 at Selborne College on Tuesday. The other leading team of the region, Border Central, put up a courageous performance in front of their home crowd but were narrowly defeated 27-20 by Griquas. Eighthman Aqhama Macembe and centre Bulelani Norman were the standouts in the EP victory over the Valke with their braces of tries. EP started the game well with tries from tight-head prop Musa Mdongwana from Kabega Primary and Sunridge Primary f ullback Janko Havenga to be 12-0 ahead after just 10 minutes. But EP struggled with discipline, with some of their players spending time in the sin bin. Noah Tshineva dotted down a converted try for the Valke, but Woodridge College eighthman Macembe stretched EP's advantage with two consecutive seven-pointers to give EP a 26-7 lead at halftime. Rossouw Nieuwoudt reduced the score with a penalty before Siyabonga Mtshwene powered over for a converted try to make it 26-17 to the Valke. Grey Junior pupil Norman erased any hopes of a Valke comeback as he dotted down twice for EP at the end. In the Border Central game, captain Esona Nqayana shone for his side in scoring twice, but it was not enough to win the game. For their first try, Border's forwards showed innovation with a tap-and-go at the edge of the field to set up a mid-maul inside the Griquas five-metre line, from where Queen's eighthman Nqayana scored. Border then pulled off some razzle-dazzle inside their own half, which Lilyfontein's Tyler Lendingham finished off for a converted try. Griquas showed as well that their forwards were capable of matching Border's as they opened their account through Joshua Basson. Nqayana powered his way over for his brace and extended Border's lead to 17-5. The hosts had a lapse in concentration close to halftime and allowed Angus Hattingh and Braydon Matshoba to cross the line to give the Kimberley boys a 19-17 advantage at the break. Matshoba slotted a 40m penalty at the start of the second stanza for the Griquas, but Border's Motheo Mabe also added three points from the tee. Centre Jacobus Prinsloo then put the game to bed for Griquas to hand Border their second loss of the event. EP B got their second win of the competition, beating Namibia 17-12. The tries came from Kabega Primary centre Clivian Buys (2) and Clarendon Primary prop Nathan van der Merwe. Border B could not repeat their heroics from opening day as they were beaten 20-0 by the Golden Lions B. Border Country Districts were beaten 81-0 by the Limpopo Blue Bulls in the opening match of the day. In that match, Phetelo Mokwena scored five tries and his centre partner, Esihle Tshicila, added four. Title contenders the Sharks beat SWD 6-0 in the main game of the day. Other results on day 2: Free State B 7 Valke B 14, SWD B 17 Griffons B 5, Zimbabwe 0 Griquas B 17, Leopards B 5 Pumas B 17, Blue Bulls 5 Leopards 7, Golden Lions C 5 Western Province B 59, Boland 17 Griffons 15, Blue Bulls B 35 Limpopo Blue Bulls 0, Golden Lions 5 Pumas 27, Western Province 27 Free State 12, Boland B 34 Sharks B 7 Daily Dispatch
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
SA's best U16 rugby players head to Pretoria for spectacle at St Alban's College
SA's best U16 rugby players head to Pretoria for spectacle at St Alban's College The FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week for provincial U16 rugby teams is coming of age this year, and Pretoria fans have the privilege of supporting the country's top young players right on their doorstep. According to Pretoria Rekord, this year marks only the second time in the tournament's 21-year history that it will be hosted in Pretoria. The previous occasion was in 2014, when it took place at the Tshwane University of Technology sports grounds in Pretoria West. The prestigious tournament was launched by SA Rugby in 2003 to serve as a stepping stone for players between the U13 Craven Week and the U18 Craven Week. It also helps identify and develop rugby talent within the U16 age group as part of SA Rugby's official development pathway. This year, the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week will be held on the sports fields of St Alban's College in Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria. In addition to first-class facilities suited to a tournament of this scale, the school boasts two well-maintained rugby fields, which will host the matches. Although St Alban's rugby teams do not participate in an official league, their players travel across the country to compete against similar schools in nearly every major city in South Africa. Locally, their annual derby against Pretoria Boys High School is a highlight on the school rugby calendar. The school fields 13 rugby teams, including five senior teams, two U16 teams, three U15 teams and three U14 teams. The first team is known as The Hoops, while the second team is called The Greys. St Alban's College has already produced two Springboks – double Rugby World Cup winner Bongi Mbonambi, and former Bulls lock Jason Jenkins, who currently plays for the Sharks. View the programme here. The tournament is held over a week but features matches on only three days. This year, it kicks off on Monday, with further action on Wednesday (Day Two) and next Friday (Day Three). As with all national schools' tournaments, only the Day One fixtures are confirmed in advance. Fixtures for the other days are based on results. On Monday, the tournament opens at 09:00 with Zimbabwe facing Border Country Districts on the B-field. Half an hour later, Border and the Leopards will clash on the A-field. The Bulls will play their opening match at 13:30 on the A-field against Boland, followed by the official opening ceremony. The day's main fixture between Western Province and Free State is set for 15:15 on the A-field. Other A-field matches on Monday include South Western Districts vs Eastern Province (10:50) and Sharks vs Golden Lions (12:10). On the B-field, after the Zimbabwe match, the schedule continues with Falcons vs Limpopo Blue Bulls (10:20); Griffons vs Namibia (11:40); WP XV vs Pumas (13:00); and the Iqhawe Week team vs Griquas (15:15). Fixtures: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Caxton Network News (@caxtonnetworknews)
