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The South African
5 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Craven Week Day 3 results: What's happened to Blue Bulls rugby?
South Western Districts and the Western Province XV extended their winning records on the third day of the U18 Craven Week at Hoërskool Middelburg on Wednesday. SWD and WP XV recorded their second wins of the competition, while Free State and the Limpopo Blue Bulls got off the mark, following their respective defeats on day one. The Blue Bulls lost for the second straight match. After edging Free State 35-34 in their first fixture of the tournament, SWD dominated the clash against the Golden Lions on Wednesday, scoring eight tries in a resounding 54-22 victory. Christiaan Vorster and Jacobus de Villiers scored two tries apiece for the Eagles. Earlier in the day, Limpopo completed an incredible comeback against the Griffons, after trailing 19-0 in the first quarter. Hooker Ziahn Lombaard scored a hat-trick while fullback Ryno Mienie slotted seven conversions to steer their team to an unlikely 49-44 victory. Fresh off their 52-6 win over the Griffons, the WP XV racked up a further 45 points and seven tries against the Pumas, with lock Gershom Pieters and replacement forward Caleb Koeberg grabbing a brace apiece. Free State bounced back from a first-round loss to SWD, scoring seven tries in a 52-33 victory against the Blue Bulls. Fullback Lamla Mgedezi and No 13 Ethan Adams starred for the winners, scoring three and two tries respectively, while centre Thabiso Simelane claimed a hat-trick for the losing side. The tournament will continue at Hoërskool Middelburg on Thursday, with Boland facing the Valke at 10:00, and Western Province tackling the Sharks later in the day. Limpopo Blue Bulls 49-44 Griffons Western Province XV 45-14 Pumas Free State 52-33 Blue Bulls Golden Lions 22-54 SWD Boland vs Valke – 10:00 Griquas vs Leopards – 11:30 Border vs Eastern Province – 13:00 Western Province vs Sharks – 14:30 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Craven Week: SWD stun Free State, Lions trump Bulls and Pumas pummel Limpopo
Who will be crowned the unofficial champion of the 2025 FNB U18 Craven Week? Can Western Province make it six in a row? And which players will put up their hands for SA Schools selection? Day one of this year's tournament – hosted at Middelburg Hoërskool in Mpumalanga, affectionately known as Middies – offered an early glimpse at what those answers might be, as eight teams took to the field in the opening round of the action. In the words of former Springbok and now SuperSport commentator Teboho 'Oupa' Mohojé: 'We're in for an incredible tournament.' Here's a recap of the day's action, and a preview of what is to come on day two of this prestigious schoolboy rugby tournament. WP XV vs Griffons The first try of this year's showpiece was scored by WP XV's Kunene Gadu of Wynberg Boys' High. Kunene set the tone of the match as the WP XV side surpassed the 50-point mark, beating the Griffons 52-6, and running in eight tries. The boot of WP inside centre Iwan Jordaan of Paarl Boys' High was instrumental in keeping the scoreboard ticking, converting six of the tries. @middelburgobserver FNB u/18 Craven Week kicks off with a WP XV victory against the Griffons. ♬ original sound – MiddelburgObserver – MiddelburgObserver Free State vs SWD The Free State's flyhalf, Darius Erwee, scored the first try of the second match of the day, to put them in the lead after an early penalty scored by SWD. The Grey College No 10's try, which he failed to convert, was cancelled out minutes later when SWD centre Anrich Scheffer of Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale scored his team's first try of the tournament. His try was also not converted, and SWD had a slender lead of 8-3. A yellow card in the 10th minute to try-scoring machine Ethan Adams, Free State's centre from Grey College, proved not to be too costly. SWD managed just three points, through the boot of scrumhalf Jandrian Goosen, also from Oakdale, while Ethan was off the field. Free State led 17-11 at half-time. Arguably the match of the day, the back-and-forth battle continued in the second half, and although Free State looked in control at one stage, leading 27-16, poor discipline saw them lose another two players due to yellow cards. SWD replacement Tyrese Plaatjies, another Oakdale schoolboy, capitalised and put his side back in the battle. Moments later, Kai Pratt from Oakdale scored another try and the conversion by Jandrian gave the SWD side a one-point lead with less than four minutes to go. SWD scored another try, through Hoërskool Outeniqua's Jade Petersen, also converted by Jandrian. The Free State clawed back in the dying minutes as replacement O'Ryan Kleyn of Grey scored a try and converted it himself to bring the score to 35-34 in favour of SWD. Bulls vs Lions A Jukskei derby between the Bulls and Lions was the penultimate match of the day. The Bulls burst out of the blocks and crossed the tryline twice in quick succession. The first was a five-pointer in typical Bulls fashion: Hooker Okuhle Hini from Hoërskool Overkruin scored from a rolling maul, followed by a try by winger Drewyn Baron from Hoërskool Garsfontein. Neither try was converted, resulting in a 10-0 lead for the boys from Pretoria. The Lions roared back after a brief injury pause, with scrumhalf Shaye Lourens from Helpmekaar Kollege – whose twin brother Ethan plays inside centre – crossing the tryline. The try was converted by flyhalf Jeandre Uithaler from Hoërskool Noordheuwel. Bulls flyhalf and captain Ruben Groenewald (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool) opened his account with a penalty, stretching his team's lead to 13-7. But it did not last long – Shaye scored his second try, and with Jeandre slotting the conversion, the Lions edged ahead 14-13. The lead changed hands once more as the Bulls scored a try, through prop Jeffrey Singo (Pretoria Boys' High), on the stroke of half-time. The converted try meant the Bulls were ahead 20-14 at half-time. As with the first try of the match, the first try of the second half was scored off a lineout move that saw Lions prop Andre Poulton (Jeppe High School for Boys) put his side within one point of the Bulls (20-19). The conversion was missed, but the Lions gained the lead a few minutes later when the bounce of the ball favoured centre Lindelani Nkambule, also from Jeppe. His try was converted by Jeandre, taking them to 26 points over 20. The Bulls' flyhalf cut the Lions' lead by three points when he slotted a penalty with 19 minutes remaining. The other Lourens twin, Ethan, wrote his name onto the scoresheet as he extended the Lions' lead with a try of his own. It was again converted by Jeandre, bringing the score to 33-23 for the boys from Johannesburg. A yellow card to Lions flank Sam Bruwer (King Edward VII School), due to him intentionally infringing the offside law, proved costly as the Bulls made their player advantage count. They scored a try through scrumhalf Zirk Meyer (Affies), converted by Ruben to 30-33. With 10 minutes to play, the Bulls took the lead again when Thabiso Simelane (St Alban's College) scored after chasing his own kick. With the score at 35-33 and less than two minutes to go, the Bulls got penalised and the Lions opted to go for the poles. Jeandre slotted in the penalty, giving them a 36-35 lead. It was nail-biting to the end as Bulls captain Ruben had a chance to win the match from far out, near the touchline. The kick was, however, missed, and after a frantic finish, the Lions grabbed the bragging rights. Pumas vs Limpopo The last match of day one, between hosts Pumas and Limpopo, saw the latter open the scoring with a try from a rolling maul. No 8 Funi Simba from Hoërskool Ellisras scored the five-pointer, which was converted by fullback Ryno Mienie of Hoërskool Pietersburg. The Pumas hit back with a try by wing Siyanda Dennison (Ligbron Akademie vir Tegnologie), but Matthew Abbey (Middies) failed to convert. Another lethal Limpopo lineout saw Funi go over for another try off a rolling maul. The fullback again converted and took Limpopo's lead to nine points. The visitors had another chance to deploy a rolling maul in the 20th minute but failed to secure possession from their own throw. From there, the Pumas gained momentum and scored a try-of-the-tournament contender through fullback Katlego Baloyi, which was converted by Matthew. The half-time score saw the hosts trail by just two points (14-12). The Pumas started the second 35 minutes on the front foot as a penalty by Matthew saw them take the lead for the first time. They extended their lead to six points when centre Jacques Greyling (also from Middies) crossed the tryline. The deficit was reduced to three points through the boot of Ryno. With the score at 20-17, the Pumas began to control the momentum, with flanker Franko Rossouw (Hoërskool Secunda) scoring the first of his two tries. Matthew added the extras and gave the hosts a 10-point lead, and added another penalty shortly after, bringing the score to 30-17. Franko then scored another try, again converted by Matthew, which made it look like Limpopo were down and out at 37-17. Limpopo replacement Tshenello Nkwana from HTS Tom Naudé had other plans as he scored a five-pointer. With the score 37-22, Limpopo looked to find their rhythm again, but this was short lived as Pumas replacement hooker D'Angelo Roberts from Hoërskool Nelspruit gave the visitors their own medicine, scoring from a rolling maul. Matthew converted, and it was the proverbial nail in the coffin as the Pumas sealed a 44-22 victory on home turf. Fixtures: Past 'winners' All of the teams aspire to win the 'main game' on the final day, even though there are no official winners. These are the 'unofficial' winners of the past few years: 1964 East London Border 10 -9 Natal 1965 East London Natal 22 – 11 Transvaal 1966 Pretoria Natal 13 Eastern Province 1967 Cape Town Vrystaat 8 – 3 Western Province 1971 Kimberley Western Province 11–0 Griqualand West 1972 Potchefstroom Western Province 16–9 Western Transvaal 1973 Stellenbosch Western Province 36–7 Transvaal 1974 Johannesburg Western Province 22–12 South Western Districts 1975* Pretoria Northern Transvaal 20–8 Transvaal 1975* Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) Eastern Province 46–13 Natal 1976* Wolmaransstad Transvaal 28–10 Northern Transvaal 1976* Kroonstad Boland 13–9 Free State 1977 Oudtshoorn Eastern Province 19–17 Western Province 1978 Middelburg Western Province 12–3 Free State 1979 East London Northern Free State 9–6 Free State 1980 Stellenbosch Free State 16–6 Transvaal 1981 Worcester Transvaal 11–7 Western Province 1982 Windhoek South Eastern Transvaal 25–7 Northern Free State 1983 Upington Free State 13–9 South Eastern Transvaal 1984 Bloemfontein Transvaal 3–0 Eastern Province 1985 Witbank Free State 23–15 Transvaal 1986 Graaff-Reinet South Eastern Transvaal 19–12 Western Province 1987 Paarl Natal / Transvaal 22–22 N/A 1988 Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) Western Province 16–3 Free State 1989 Johannesburg Transvaal 17–6 Eastern Province 1990 Durban Natal 18–8 Northern Transvaal 1991 East London Northern Transvaal 10–9 Border 1992 Pretoria Western Province 22–15 Free State 1993 Secunda Northern Transvaal 25–13 South Eastern Transvaal 1994 Newcastle Border / Eastern Province 13–13 N/A 1995 Bloemfontein Free State 15–13 Boland 1996 Stellenbosch Northern Transvaal 24–12 Western Province 1997 Kimberley Northern Transvaal 29–27 Western Province 1998 Vanderbijlpark Blue Bulls 23 – 19 Falcons 1999 George Western Province 15–11 Eastern Province 2000 Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) Pumas 19–18 Boland 2001 Rustenburg SWD 26–20 Blue Bulls 2002 Pietermaritzburg Western Province 31–16 Free State 2003 Wellington Western Province 22–17 Free State 2004 Nelspruit (now Mbombela) Free State 17–16 Western Province 2005 Bloemfontein Golden Lions 38–15 Eastern Province 2006 Johannesburg Blue Bulls 35–20 Golden Lions 2007 Stellenbosch Free State 52–3 Western Province 2008 Pretoria SWD 31–25 Free State 2009 East London Western Province 19–17 Free State 2010 Welkom Free State 42–21 Western Province 2011 Kimberley Free State 28–17 Golden Lions 2012 Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) Blue Bulls 46–0 Golden Lions 2013 Polokwane Western Province 45–29 Golden Lions 2014 Middelburg Eastern Province 25–7 South Western Districts 2015 Stellenbosch Western Province 95–0 Eastern Province 2016 Durban Western Province 27–20 Golden Lions 2017 Johannesburg Golden Lions 45–18 KZN 2018 Paarl Western Province 47–8 KZN 2019 Bloemfontein Western Province 56–31 Blue Bulls 2022 Cape Town Western Province 29–21 Blue Bulls 2023 George Western Province 29–5 Blue Bulls 2024 Krugersdorp Western Province 37–24 Free State * There were two Craven Weeks in 1975 and 1976, as the school holidays of the old Transvaal and the rest of SA were not aligned. Also read: Youth Weeks: What you need to know as provincial rugby fever grips SA
