Author: hnienaber

[ninja_tables id=”17110″]

KRUGERSDORP. – The Free State will play in the main match of the annual Stadio Craven Week for the first time since 2011.

The Free Staters booked their place in the main match thanks to a 34-27 victory over the Blue Bulls on the tournament’s fourth day at Hoërskool Monument.

The Free State will face Western Province, who will be making their fifth successive appearance in the main match, for the title of unofficial champions. Province will also attempt to better the record for the most consecutive victories at the tournament.

Free State started the match against the Blue Bulls by giving them their own medicine with captain and hooker, Liam van Wyk, crashing over for a brace of tries from rolling mauls.

Besides Van Wyk, the eighthman, Liam Santos, as well as lock AJ Meyer, was busy throughout the match.

Flyhalf Alzeadon Felix once again produced a couple of magic moments. He was deservedly named the Man of the Match for a second time during the week. He has probably cemented his place in the SA Schools’ side or at least SA Schools A-side, which will be announced on Friday.

Fullback Heinz Stockenström also scored a brace of tries while also converting two tries to take his tally for the tournament to 36 points, the most thus far by any player in Krugersdorp.

His four tries also make him the joint top try scorer with Western Province’s flanker Josh Neill.

For the Bulls, their SA Schools inside centre and captain, Janco Purchase, produced one of his best performances of the season. It is as if his battles with Pieter van der Merwe bring the best out of him.

Another player who was good on the day for the losing side was JD Hattingh (lock).

Scorers

Free State 34 (17) – Try: Liam van Wyk (2), Heinz Stockenström (2), Liam Santos, Toriq Schambreel. Conversion: Stockenström (2). Blue Bulls 27 (8) – Try: Dewron Aford, JD Hattingh, Hendré Schoeman, Junaide Stuart. Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (2). Penalty: Ruben Pienaar.

Golden Lions 37 (20) – Tries: Michael Benzien (2), Cheswill Jooste (2), Kebotile Maake, Jamaal Feldman. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty: Moyo. Western Province XV 33 (12) – Tries: Sango Zangqa, Jayden Joubert, Steph van der Merwe, Derick du Preez, Tom Barnard. Conversions: Retagan van Rooi (2), David Simon (2).

Scorers:

Free State 34 (17) – Try: Liam van Wyk (2), Heinz Stockenström (2), Liam Santos, Toriq Schambreel. Conversion: Stockenström (2). Blue Bulls 27 (8) – Try: Dewron Aford, JD Hattingh, Hendré Schoeman, Junaide Stuart. Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (2). Penalty: Ruben Pienaar.

Golden Lions 37 (20) – Tries: Michael Benzien (2), Cheswill Jooste (2), Kebotile Maake, Jamaal Feldman. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty: Moyo. Western Province XV 33 (12) – Tries: Sango Zangqa, Jayden Joubert, Steph van der Merwe, Derick du Preez, Tom Barnard. Conversions: Retagan van Rooi (2), David Simon (2).

Pumas 57 (38) – Tries: Frank Rossouw (2), Vaughn van Zyl, Sfundo Mayisa, Wandisa Mthobeni, Matthew Abbey, Tinyiko Silubane, Johhny dos Santos, Ryan Erasmus. Conversions: Abbey (6). Griffons 26 (7) – Tries: Rewaldo Farmer, Rorisang Marumo, Leano Williams, Cecil Parson. Conversions: Marumo (3).

Griqualand West 53 (19) – Tries: Jacquin Jansen (2), Gregan Jansen (2), Zuan Rautenbach (2), Marno Greeff, Jade Coetzee, Sylvester Hoffman. Conversions: Sylvester Hoffman (3), Ethan van Zyl. Limpopo Blue Bulls 37 (18) – Tries: Mignon Stevens (2), Freddie Pinto, Pontsho Selowa, Aza Mabe, Keanu Visser. Conversions: Byron Hendricks (2). Penalty: Stevens.

KRUGERSDORP. – Western Province equalled the Stadio Craven Week record for the most successive victories at the prestigious tournament with an emphatic victory of 66-14 over Eastern Province on the third day of the 59th annual tournament here.

It was the union’s 14th successive victory since their last defeat back in 2017 at St Stithians College, Johannesburg against the Free State (). It also means that today is 2 532 days since Western Province suffered a defeat at the Craven Week.

The victory over Eastern Province also probably booked their place in Saturday’s main match. This means it will be their seventh appearance in the main match in the last eight tournaments.

Western Province’s Caleb Engelbrecht (winger) and Josh Neill (flanker) scored a brace of tries while they were also awarded two penalty tries in the game. Both penalty tries came in the first half after Eastern Province stopped their maul illegally.

Other star performers for the victorious side were Truspe Schoeman (lock), Quintin Potgieter (eighthman), Oliver Reid (loosehead prop) and Yaqheen Ahmed (flyhalf).

Eastern Province deserves credit as well as they were with their backs against the wall with the scoreline at 0-33. They showed some guts to fight back to make the half-time score read 14-33. Their loosehead prop, Ikechukwe Ukekwe, as well as the flanker, Tapiwe Zhanda, crashing over for tries.

The Valke opened the third day of the Stadio Craven Week with a 36-26 victory over the Leopards. Their right-wing, TK Ngobese, scored a brace of tries and also received the award for Man of the Match.

The Valke’s flanker Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar also produced another noteworthy performance. For the Leopards their flyhalf, Christopher Dennis, is quickly finding his feet at this level.

Dennis showcased his skills providing his backline with quality possession and opportunity while also keeping the Valke guessing.

Scorers: 

Western Province 66 (33) – Tries: Caleb Engelbrecht (2), Josh Neill (2), Penalty Tries (2), Riley Norton, Xabiso Mkiva, Freek de Kock, Markus Muller. Conversion: Viaan Mentoor (4), Yaqheen Ahmed (2). Eastern Province 14 (14) – Try: Ikechukwe Ukekwe, Tapiwa Zhanda. Conversions: Caleb Friskin (2).

Valke 36 (24) – Tries: TK Ngobese (2), Zandré Naudé, Khaya Radebe, Lesego Moitse, Alec Mohlala. Conversions: Sinenhlanhla Ndlovu (3). Leopards 26 (7) – Tries: GJ Steenberg, David Ndala, Christopher Dennis, Francois Dumond. Conversions: Dennis (3).

Scorers: 

Western Province 66 (33) – Tries: Caleb Engelbrecht (2), Josh Neill (2), Penalty Tries (2), Riley Norton, Xabiso Mkiva, Freek de Kock, Markus Muller. Conversion: Viaan Mentoor (4), Yaqheen Ahmed (2). Eastern Province 14 (14) – Try: Ikechukwe Ukekwe, Tapiwa Zhanda. Conversions: Caleb Friskin (2).

Sharks 28 (7) – Tries: Junior van Wyngaardt (2), Zekhe Siyaya, Sibusiso Mahlangu. Conversion: Luke Davidson (4). South Western Districts 19 (11) – Tries: Henro Kuhn, Gareth Maree. Penalties: Ellie Meyer (3).

Boland 34 (19) – Tries: Llewellyn Fransman, Luan Giliomee, Bernedict George, MJ van der Westhuizen, Philip Du Plessis. Conversions: Giliomee (3). Penalty: Giliomee. Border 20 (17) – Tries: Jed Stone, Mveli Mqulo. Conversions: Ryan Denston (2). Penalties: Denston (2).

Valke 36 (24) – Tries: TK Ngobese (2), Zandré Naudé, Khaya Radebe, Lesego Moitse, Alec Mohlala. Conversions: Sinenhlanhla Ndlovu (3). Leopards 26 (7) – Tries: GJ Steenberg, David Ndala, Christopher Dennis, Francois Dumond. Conversions: Dennis (3).

KRUGERSDORP. – Western Province received good and bad news for their campaign at this year’s 59th annual Stadio Craven Week here.

Both the players, Josh Neill (flanker) and Henry du Plessis (prop), who received red cards during their opening match against the Sharks received suspensions of two matches and three matches respectively after their disciplinary hearings on Tuesday.

Western Province did appeal the outcome of Neill’s hearing and his initial red card was lowered to a yellow card. He will therefore be available to play for WP in their next match against Eastern Province on Wednesday.

The other setback is that the side’s inside centre, Kobus Blanckenberg‘s injury is serious enough to rule him out of the tournament as well. His midfield partner at Paarl Gimnasium, Markus Muller, has been called up from the Western Province XV and will take his place on the bench for the match against Eastern Province.

Muller will play in the number 25 jersey. In Du Plessis’ place, they have called on Matthew van der Merwe to start at tighthead prop on Wednesday.

The Western Province XV will still announce who will take Muller and Van der Merwe’s spots before their next encounter against the Golden Lions on Thursday.

KRUGERSDORP. – It was a match that had it all.

All the suspense, all the drama, the disappointment as well as the elation.

The Blue Bulls managed to upset the hosts of the annual Craven Week here, the Golden Lions, by 35-34 in an encounter that many are wondering how did they pull it off.

In the clash of the two flyhalves, Vusi Moyo (Golden Lions) and Ruben Pienaar (Blue Bulls), it will be difficult to adjudicate who won.

Pienaar probably had his worst day off the kicking tee in his life, but when it mattered he stepped up to give his side the edge with a penalty in this closely contested match.

Pienaar missed five conversion attempts before slotting his sixth attempt also to get the Bulls ahead. The last 15 minutes of the match saw the lead exchange between the two teams a couple of times.

Before Pienaar secured the victory with a penalty goal.

The free-running flanker Luann Olivier scored a hat-trick of tries all from rolling mauls from line-outs. This was the area where the foundation of the Bulls’ victory was laid. The home side had no answers to keep the Bulls pack at bay in this aspect of the game.

The Lions started off well to take a 21-5 lead early on thanks to a brace of tries by winger Khuthadzo Rasivhaga from interceptions. Both interceptions came from sustained pressure on defence by the Golden Lions.

The Golden Lions lost their main jumper in the line-out JP Lombaard (lock) due to a hit to the head in a tackle. This had a huge impact on their ability to counter the Bulls at line-out time.

The Bulls must be applauded for the fact that they never gave up. Although the Golden Lions have been favourites to come out on top, the Bulls took them to the trenches and emerged as victors.

The Bulls will face the Free State in their second match-up of the tournament on Thursday, while the Lions will face a tricky Western Province XV.

The Pumas proved to be too strong for the Limpopo Blue Bulls in their opening clash. Whipping them by 60-17 with outside centre, Ian Wood scoring a hat-trick of tries.

The Pumas will be hosting next year’s edition of the Craven Week in Middelburg. The side’s flyhalf, Matthew Abbey, could by then be one of the names on everybody’s lips if he keeps developing as a player. Abbey is without a doubt one of the players to watch out for in this Puma-squad.

He also combined well with his scrumhalf, Liam Pringle. The inside centre, Johnny dos Santos, was also dangerous on attack creating the space for Wood to cause havoc in the back.

In the pack of forwards the Pumas’ two locks, Bakkies Bezuidenhout and Zak Loock, impressed with their physical presence.

Scorers: 

Blue Bulls 35 (15) – Tries: Luann Olivier (3), Junade Pasensie, Leskin Samuels, Hendré Schoeman. Conversion: Ruben Pienaar. Penalty: Pienaar. Golden Lions 34 (24) – Try: Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (2), André Poulton, McMillen Mongwana. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4). Penalties: Moyo (2).

Pumas 60 (22) – Tries: Ian Wood (3), Prosper Chiloane (2), Ryan Erasmus, Stefan Bezuidenhout, Vaughn van Zyl, Penalty Try Conversion: Matthew Abbey (5). Penalty: Abbey. Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (0) – Tries: Aza Mabe (2). Conversions: Byron Hendricks (2). Penalty: Hendricks.

Hoërskool Middelburg will host the Stadio Craven Week in Middelburg in Mpumalanga next year.

It will be the 60th edition of the prestigious tournament.

It will be the third time since the inaugural Craven Week back in 1964 that the town was founded in 1864 as Nasareth. It was renamed to Middelburg in 1872.

The previous Craven Week hosted in Middelburg was held at HTS Middelburg in 2014. It was also hosted in the sleepy Mpumalanga town in 1978.

Scorers: 

Blue Bulls 35 (15) – Tries: Luann Olivier (3), Junade Pasensie, Leskin Samuels, Hendré Schoeman. Conversion: Ruben Pienaar. Penalty: Pienaar. Golden Lions 34 (24) – Try: Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (2), André Poulton, McMillen Mongwana. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4). Penalties: Moyo (2).

Free State 57 (33) – Tries: Heinz Stockenström (2), Donelle Hendricks, Kwanda Tokwe, Pieter van der Merwe, Liam van Wyk, Kutlwana Tukulu, Ethan Adams, Pretorius Ekeji. Conversions: Stockenström (6). Griffons 36 (17) – Try: Cecil Parsons, Buhle Mgxabayi, Dylan Kemp, David Fourie, Rewaldo Farmer, Jayden Weideman. Conversion: Rorisang Marumo (2), Leano Williams.

Pumas 60 (22) – Tries: Ian Wood (3), Prosper Chiloane (2), Ryan Erasmus, Stefan Bezuidenhout, Vaughn van Zyl, Penalty Try Conversion: Matthew Abbey (5). Penalty: Abbey. Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (0) – Tries: Aza Mabe (2). Conversions: Byron Hendricks (2). Penalty: Hendricks.

Western Province XV 52 (14) – Tries: Markus Muller (2), Briint Davids, Altus Rabe, Ikhona Maxegwana, Sango Zangqa, Ashwin Swarts, Aiden Jacobs. Conversions: David Simon (5), Muller. Griqualand West 17 (10) – Try: FJ de Vries, Ethan van Zyl. Conversion: Sylvester Hoffman (2). Penalty: Hoffman.

KRUGERSDORP. – It wasn’t easy at all but Western Province has their 13th successive victory at the Stadio Craven Week in the bag.

WP had to overcome a couple of obstacles to defeat the Sharks by 36-26 in the main match of the opening day of the tournament at the Ras van Rooyen field here.

The Sharks came out blazing controlling most of the possession as well as the territory in the first 20 minutes of the clash.

They managed to build up a 13-0 lead thanks to some great attacking by their fullback, Aka Boqwana. While flyhalf, Luke Davidson, had his kicking boots on slotting a couple of penalties from just inside his own half.

Western Province however kept calm to reduce the deficit to only 14-16 at the break. Their flanker Josh Neill running hard at the defence. Neil crossed the tryline twice in the match.

It was the unofficial champions’ flyhalf, Yaqheen Ahmed, who was however their standout player. He had a perfect day from the kicking tee converting all three of his side’s tries as well as slotting five penalties for a personal tally of 21 points.

The Sharks kept asking questions at Western Province defence with the hooker, Mahle Sithole, and flanker Vuyo Gwiji at the forefront. In the backs the inside centre, Zingce Simka, also showcased to the selectors what he could do.

The Sharks got an ideal opportunity with about eight minutes left in the match when in one movement Western Province’s Neill as well as the replacement prop Henry du Plessis was red carded after a review. Neill’s came after a tackle on the Sharks’ Aphiwe Shelembe, while Du Plessis’ card was for a badly timed cleanout on the ruck that ensued.

Western Province will now face Eastern Province on Wednesday. Both these two sides finished the 2023-edition of the tournament in George unbeaten.

Eastern Province secured a 24-14 victory over their neighbours Border in their opening match. They already enjoyed a well-deserved 21-0 lead at the break.

The team almost took their foot too much from the accelerator in the second half. Scorers: 

Western Province 36 (14) – Try: Josh Neill (2), Adeeb Boraine. Conversion: Yaqheen Ahmed (3). Penalties: Ahmed (5). Sharks 26 (16) – Tries: Aka Boqwana, Zingce Simka. Conversion: Luke Davidson (2). Penalties: Davidson (4).

Eastern Province 24 (21) – Tries: Damien Witbooi, Likhona Kepe. Conversions: Praise Matsila. Penalties: Matsila (2), Caleb Friskin (2). Border 14 (0) – Tries: Thina Fenako, Phikolomzi Mtyalela. Conversions: Ryan Denston, Landile Gidi.