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Western Province is the team to beat at this year’s Grant Khomo Week in White River. They will face the Sharks in the main match of this year’s tournament on Rob Ferreira’s main field.

The team from the Cape pushed last year’s unofficial champions, the Free State, aside by 44-12 on the second day of the tournament to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Western Province is one of only four unbeaten sides left in the tournament. The Golden Lions kept their unbeaten record by beating Eastern Province by 29-19 in their second clash.  The Sharks drew 20-all against South Western Districts, while the latter also drew their first match of the festival against the Free State (38-all).

Scorers: 

Western Province 44 (31) – Tries: Keagan Smith (3), Tris van Dyk, Sulie Hartzenberg, Hakeem Kunene. Conversions: Compion von Ludwig (4). Penalties: Von Ludwig, Smith. Free State 12 (5) – Tries: Regan Izaks, Jan Meyer. Conversion: Jean Smith.

Sharks 20 (17) – Tries: Jannes Potgieter (2). Conversions: Christian Els (2). Penalty: Els (2). South Western Districts 20 (6) – Tries: Johron Jansen, Neil le Roux. Conversions: Le Roux (2). Penalties: Le Roux (2).

Boland 30 (18) – Tries: Ghudian van Reenen (2), Keanu Philander (2), Ashwill Dampies. Conversions: Van Reenen. Penalty: Van Reenen. Griqualand West 20 (10) – Tries: Jeandré Rust, Jeanovane Jansen. Conversions: Carlo Louw (2). Penalties: Louw (2).

Golden Lions 29 (19) – Tries: Shaan van der Walt (2), Henré van Zyl, Katlego Letebele. Conversions: Bronson Mills (2), Joshua Smith. Penalty: Smith. Eastern Province 17 (0) – Tries: Hlombe Langa, Dwayne Pharo, Liyabona Matabiele. Conversion: Divan Moss.

Leopards 22 (14) – Tries: Alex Mokatse (2), Letlhogonolo Kgaudi. Conversions: Dean Snyders (2). Penalty: JP Klue. Valke 19 (14) – Tries: Alberto Speelman, Wian McGeer, Joseph Skosana. Conversions: Eduard Olivier (2).

Blue Bulls 38 (19) – Tries: Thansville Mayman, Kevin Locke, Jorim Bangue, Tian Muller, Leighton Horn, Dillon Oppelt. Conversions: Riaan Gerber (4). Pumas 17 (7) – Tries: Monteo Meyer, Duimpie Markus, Jacquin Jacobus. Conversion: Christiaan Gates.

Border 13 (10) – Try: Kyle Thompson. Conversion: Riego Heath. Penalties: Heath (2). Griffons 8 (8) – Try: Henro Claasen. Penalty: Claasen.

Iqhawe XV 23 (15) – Tries: Uthmaan Lackay, Denver van Wyk, Cullen Smith. Conversion: Wessie Odendaal. Penalties: Likhona Ntalantala, Odendaal. Namibia 20 (3) – Tries: Keanan Januarie, Owen Hawanga, Herman Coetzee. Conversion: Denver Beukes. Penalty: Ethan Koopman.

Limpopo Blue Bulls 26 () – Tries: Bradley Mokwena, Marvin Mofokeng, Junior Sethaba, Tshegofatso Ramaloko. Conversions: Tiaan van den Heever (3). Pumas 7 (0) – Drie: Buhle Thusi. Conversion: Christo Nel.

Zimbabwe 10 (10) – Tries: Tamuka Kambani, Richard Mapfumo. Border Country Districts 0.

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There is no stopping Western Province at the u13 Craven Week in White River. They’ve galloped past the Limpopo Blue Bulls by 41-5 on the second day of the tournament hosted on the fields of Rob Ferreira.

On the opening day, Western Province thrashed the Valke by 70-12. It seems that no team will be able to stop their dominance at the Craven Week for Primary schools.

Western Province’s last defeat at the tournament was back in 2012. They have been crowned the unofficial champions of the tournament for the last six years.

The Golden Lions have stepped forward to be a contender as well as they record a comprehensive 36-12 victory over Boland. The Sharks eased past Eastern Province by 55-0 with their winger Ramatuku Sikhakhane scoring a hat-trick.

The man-of-the-match award however belonged to the lock Trey Sammons for his stellar performance. The only other hat-trick of tries belonged to Zimbabwe’s Ethan Chaponda in his side’s 29-5 victory over Border Country Districts.

Scorers: 

Western Province 41 (19) – Tries: Chris Jordaan (2), Simthandile Mafuya (2), David Simon, Ashwin Swarts, Samuel Badenhorst. Conversions: Ashwin Cox, Ruan de Weerdt, Simon. Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 (0) – Try: Kebo Maake.

Golden Lions 36 (24) – Tries: Esuthu Mnebelele (2), Kiyan Pretorius, Jamaal Feldman, Tiaan le Roux, Handré Maree. Conversions: Alzeadon Felix (3). Boland 12 (0) – Tries: Viaan Mentoor (2). Conversion: Mentoor.

Sharks 55 (17) – Tries: Ramatuku Sikhakhane (3), Aiden Botha, Chris Cloete, Sisonke Ndlela, Karabo Qhola, Lindo Mpungose, Luke Davidson. Conversions: Davidson (5). Eastern Province 0.

South Western Districts 21 (7) – Tries: Rowan Mafutu, Keanon Jantjies, Aya Dada. Conversions: Jantjies (3). Blue Bulls 12 (5) – Tries: Philip du Plessis, Hendré Schoeman. Conversion: Ruben Pienaar.

Pumas 15 (10) – Tries: Bakkie Bezuidenhout, Carel Jacobsz, Sihle Mkhatshwa. Free State 5 (5) – Try: Pretorius Ekeji.

Griffons 26 (14) – Tries: Sandile Mayana (2), Rylen Kirsten, Rorisang Matlosa. Conversions: Jayden Weideman (3). Namibia 10 (3) – Try: Waldré Kotze. Conversion: Kotze. Penalty: Kotze.

Griqualand West 10 (10) – Tries: Stiaan van Loggerenberg, Jacquin Jasson. Valke 0.

Leopards 20 (20) – Tries: Daniel Nortjé, Francois Dumond. Conversions: Lhuandré Pretorius (2). Penalties: Pretorius (2). Border 15 (5) – Tries: Thino Fenako, Bibo Makwedini, Qiqa Qwesha.

Zimbabwe 29 (12) – Tries: Ethan Chaponda (3), Calton Takawira, Munangi Kamwendo. Conversions: Andrew Maringa, Chaponda. Border Country Districts 5 (5) – Try: Mihlali Fayo.

 

Coca-Cola South Africa under-19s assistant coach, Siya Sibiya, believes the team has taken a few positives from the series-opening defeat against Pakistan as they prepare for the second Youth One-Day International (ODI) taking place in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.

Despite falling 17 runs short at the Chatsworth Oval this past weekend, the hosts were on top at various stages of the game and Sibiya thinks that the team can build on that front, particularly with bat in hand – which was one of the focuses of the pre-match preparations.

“It’s a nice base for us to work from,” he said during the side’s training session on Monday. “We weren’t 44 for four, which is generally the trend with SA U19s, with guys having not played in a little while and being off the pace.

So, I thought the batters were sound enough, they really worked hard towards our indexes of performance but a pity no one went on at the top, it would have been nice to see someone kick on. You must give credit to the opposition, they bowled well in the middle overs, they squeezed us and set smart fields.

“In our preparations today, we worked towards countering that and do the things that we did well, more regularly and hopefully the boys can take a lot of positives from that and look to go and execute better in the next game,” Sibiya added.

In the first game, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 226/9 in their 50 overs after half-centuries from Haider Ali (60) and Abbas Afridi (53). South Africa replied with a hard-fought 209/9, with Bryce Parsons (57* off 64 balls) recording his maiden Youth ODI fifty and Luke Beaufort contributing 46 off 87 balls. The former also picked up figures of 2/24 in his ten overs, alongside speedster, Lifa Ntanzi (2/59).

When asked about the difference in the end between the two sides, Sibiya pointed out the opposition’s skill with the ball, which restricted the home side’s scoring rate to under four runs an over for much of the innings.

“At the backend of the game, they generally got the ball to reverse a little bit in those last 10-15 overs,” he said. “They bowled skilfully, they executed their yorkers and you have to take that on the chin and accept that that was a special bowling performance from their opening bowlers. Naseem Shah bowled well, he didn’t miss his yorkers, he had a good bumper and that is potentially what the difference was.

Adding to that, Sibiya also called on his players to improve on their bowling towards the end of the innings in order to shut teams out after having the sub-continent side reeling with eight wickets down in the 34th over before a crucial 69-run stand for the ninth wicket propelled them to a defendable total.

“They were 150/8 but this is not school cricket anymore, this is international under-19s. The guy batting at number 10 is probably a number six or seven in their State team. So, we must be a little more ruthless with our death skills, look to knock those guys over and be a little more aggressive and bowl some bouncers and upset their rhythm.

“Looking forward, those are the lessons we learnt from our guys and we look to be better tomorrow at those skills,” he concluded.

The second Youth ODI takes place on Tuesday, 25 June at the City Oval from 09h00. Regular updates will be available through Cricket South Africa’s platforms on Facebook (www.facebook.com/cricketsouthafrica) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/officialcsa).

Coca-Cola South Africa U19 squad: Bryce Parsons (captain, Gauteng), Luke Beaufort (Eastern Province), Jonathan Bird (Western Province), Achille Cloete (Boland), Gerald Coetzee (Free State), Khanya Cotani (North West), Micheal Copeland (Gauteng), Andrew Louw (Free State), Akeem Minnaar (Boland), Lifa Ntanzi (KZN Coastal), Imraan Philander (Western Province), Siya Plaatjie (Western Province), Ruan Terblanche (Boland), Tiaan van Vuuren (Eastern Province), Nonelela Yikha (Border).

Series Itinerary

June 2019

Tue 25 2nd Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Thu 27 3rd Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Sun 30 4th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

July 2019

Tue 02 5th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Pietermaritzburg)

Fri 05 6th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Chatsworth Oval)

Sun 07 7th Youth ODI South Africa vs Pakistan U19 (Chatsworth Oval)

Scorers: 

Free State 36 (8) – Tries: Juann Else (2), Caleb Abrahams, Ethan Muller, Levi Smiles. Conversions: Jean Smith (3), CJ Herholdt. Penalty: Smith. South Western Districts 36 (24) – Tries: Simeon Oosthuizen (2), Riaan Swart, Paul de Villiers, Morné Els, Russel Tenteni. Conversions: Neil le Roux (3).

Western Province 78 (50) – Tries: Keagan Smith (3), Tris van Dyk (2), Sulie Hartzenberg (2), Coetzee le Roux, Compion von Ludwig, Hanno Wessels, Matthew van Schalkwyk, Joshua Africa. Conversions: Africa (7), Von Ludwig (2). Boland 7 (0) – Try: JP Swanepoel. Conversion: Ghudian van Reenen.

Sharks 44 (27) – Tries: Phatu Ganyane (2), Daniel Botha, Gcino Mdletshe, Nick Hatton, Ethan Hooker, Litelihle Bester. Conversions: Christian Els (3). Penalty: Els. Border 29 (10) – Tries: Riego Heath (2), Manga Zixesha, Floyd Simanga, Aya Mngaza. Conversions: Bouwer du Plessis, Juan Jeggels.

Eastern Province 15 (3) – Tries: Alfondso Isaacs, Masande Mtshali. Conversion: Divan Moss. Penalties: Moss. Blue Bulls 13 (10) – Try: Kerneels Coetzee. Conversion: Riaan Gerber. Penalties: Gerber (2).

Griffons 35 (21) – Tries: Nathan Janse van Rensburg, Conlinn Treurnicht, Thladi Phenyane, Corné Uys, Siyabonga Ngubeni. Conversions: Dendré Aucamp (4), Henro Claassen. Valke 34 (24) – Tries: Riekerd Bornman, Tristan Lombard, Eduard Olivier. Conversions: Olivier (3). Penalties: Olivier (2).

Griqualand West 24 (12) – Tries: Hannes van Blerk, Georgio Farmer, Carlo Louw, Henlo van Niekerk. Conversions: Louw (2). Zimbabwe 17 (10) – Tries: Happias Zhou, Nqobile Manyara, Brendon Marume. Conversion: Zvinoda Chikoto.

Namibia 29 (3) – Tries: Jason Beukes, Naudé Krone, Owen Havanga, Denver Beukes. Conversions: Ethan Koopman (3). Penalty: Koopman. Border Country Districts 6 (3) – Penalties: Aluve Stemela (2).

Pumas XV 32 (20) – Tries: Vuyani Shabalala (2), PJ Maloka, Corné Janse van Rensburg, Christo Nel, Deacon Pretorius. Conversions: Conversion: Nel. Iqhawe XV 26 (14) – Tries: André Truter, Xhanti Wakie, Cullen Smith, Asolule Mfumani. Conversions: Likhona Ntalantala (2), Wessie Odendaal.

 

Western Province started their attempt for a seventh successful title as unofficial champions of the annual u13 Craven Week with a 70-12 thrashing of the Valke of the opening day of the tournament in White River. They already managed to build-up a healthy lead of 39-0 by half-time. 

Their inside centre, David Simon, scored four of his side’s 12 tries. The winger Ben Ntumba also managed to sneak in a hat-trick of tries. Western Province haven’t suffered a defeat in their last 40 outings at the tournament. 

The Golden Lions proved too strong for Border in their clash walking from the pitch as victors by 57-7. Their eighthman, Jamaal Feldman, scoring a hat-trick of tries.

The Limpopo Blue Bulls secured a narrow 27-24 victory over Boland in their opening match. Their eighthman, Liam Santos, crossed the try-line three times in the first half as they’ve managed to build-up a 24-7 lead by the break.

Griqualand West’s lock, Pieter Retief, scored a hat-trick of tries as his team put Zimbabwe to the sword by 31-7. The team from the Northern Cape led our northerly neighbours by 7-5 at the break. 

Scorers: 

Western Province 70 (39) – Tries: David Simon (4), Ben Ntumba (3), Luan Bosman, Riley Norton, Simthandile Mafuya, Ashwin Swarts, Caleb Louw. Conversions: Ashwin Cox (3), Simon (2). Valke 12 (0) – Tries: Luan Ferreira, Jeandré Claassen. Conversion: Claassen. 

Golden Lions 57 (38) – Tries: Jamaal Feldman (3), Handré Maree (2), Tiaan le Roux, Shelton-Ray Primo, JD Hamel, Loewieke Roolvink. Conversions: Primo (5), Maree. Border 7 (0) – Try: Qiqa Qwesha. Conversion: Chad de Beyer.

Sharks 31 (19) – Tries: Nkululeko Sithole (2), Severine Kapotwe, Anele Cele, Aiden Botha. Conversions: Luke Davidson (3). South Western Districts 5 (5) – Try: Erick Steyn. 

Blue Bulls 22 (17) – Tries: Philip du Plessis (2), Luann Olivier (2). Conversion: Ruben Pienaar. Eastern Province 17 (12) – Tries: Marquin Domingo (2), Ethan Adams. Conversion: Adams.

Free State 27 (12) – Tries: Rukudzo Madinga (2), Pieter van der Merwe, Renier Grobler, Carlyle Hawkins. Conversion: Divan Roux. Namibia 7 (7) – Try: Nicholas van der Colff. Conversion: Waldré Kotze.

Limpopo Blue Bulls 27 (24) – Tries: Liam Santos (3), Kebo Maake. Conversions: Andrew Stopforth (2). Penalty: Stopforth. Boland 24 (7) – Tries: Viaan Mentoor (2), Joshua Paddock, Bernard Meyer. Conversions: Dequinne de Bruyn, Mentoor.

Griqualand West 31 (7) – Tries: Pieter Retief (3), Shaw Lourens, Henry Page. Conversions: Ethan van Zyl (3). Zimbabwe 5 (5) – Try: Nokutenda Gunda. 

Griffons 22 (12) – Tries: Jan Coetzee, Lerato Rammile, Rovaun van Niekerk, Hloni Mokotjo. Conversion: Ruben Crous. Pumas 0.

Leopards 19 (12) – Tries: Geoffrey French, Mokgaotsi Mosiane, Christiaan van der Bergh. Conversions: Luandré Pretorius (2). Border Country Districts 14 (0) – Tries: Lisakhanya Mtabhayi, Mbasa Mda. Conversions: Mihlali Fayo (2).

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Rob Ferreira High School in White River will play host to two of the most anticipated Youth Weeks on the SA Rugby calendar for the next week when 38 teams will take to the field in the U13 SA Rugby Craven Week and U16 SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week.

The 14 provincial unions will each have a team in the U13 Craven Week, with Limpopo Blue Bulls and Border Country Districts added in addition to the national teams from Namibia and Zimbabwe to make up an 18-team playing schedule. Teams will play matches on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  

The U16 Grant Khomo Week will see the same teams in action – with a Pumas XV and SA Iqhawe Impi being added to round the number of teams out to 20. They will play matches on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The appearance of the Iqhawe Impi team is a historic first as they play in their first Craven Week. The team is made of players selected from the Carfind.co.za Iqhawe Week for non-traditional rugby schools.

 The Carfind.co.za Iqhawe Week for Under-15 boys has established itself as one of the top development competitions over the past six years, and their inclusion in the tournament will serve as a huge boost for the players and for transformation in South African rugby.

The two tournaments in White River follow a successful hosting of three Youth Weeks last week. 

The Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) Week was completed in Bloemfontein, while the SA Rugby Under-16 and SA Rugby Under-18 Girls Weeks were hosted at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg.

Hosts Phakisa Pumas will play the main match in both the Under-13 Craven Week, where they will face Thepa Trading Griffons, and in the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week, where they front up to Limpopo Blue Bulls.

The Under-13 fixtures for Monday 24 June are (field in brackets):

10h15: Free State Cheetahs v Namibia (A)
11h15: Leopards v Border Country Districts (C)
12h30: Itec Griquas v Old Mutual Zimbabwe (A)
12h30: Itec Blue Bulls v Eastern Province (B)
13h30: SWD v Sharks (C)
14h30: Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions v Border (B)
14h45: Boland v Forever Resorts Limpopo Blue Bulls (A)
15h45: DHL Western Province v ITS Valke (C)
17h00: Phakisa Pumas v Thepa Trading Griffons

The Under-16 fixtures for Monday 24 June are (field in brackets):

09h00: Everest Wealth Pumas XV v SA Iqhawe (A)
11h15: Namibia v Border Country Districts (A)
11h15: Ford Human Griquas v Old Mutual Zimbabwe (B)
12h15: Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions v Leopards
13h30: Falcons v Thepa Trading Griffons (A)
13h30: DHL Western Province v Boland (B)
14h30: Border v Sharks (C)
15h45: Blue Bulls v EP Elephants (A)
15h45: Free State Cheetahs v SWD (B)
18h00: Phakisa Pumas v Limpopo Blue Bulls (A)

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

 

The South African u19 side’s first match of Pakistan’s Winter Tour has started off with a bit of a shaky start.

The u19 side lost the first Youth ODI by 17 runs in Chatsworth against a strong Pakistan team.

This is on the eve of the senior Proteas side’s World Cup match against the same opponents at the home of cricket, Lords.

Pakistan u19 Captain, Roahil Nazir, won the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan openers Haider Ali and Mohammed Ali shared in an opening partnership of 101 runs. Haider Ali went on to top scoring 60 off 52 balls (8  fours) until he was dismissed caught and bowled off the bowling of left-arm spinner Bryce Parsons.

Abbas Afridi also notched up a half century scoring 53 not out off 68 balls and was well aided by Pakistan’s number ten scoring an important 23 down the order. The two put on 69 runs for the ninth wicket taking the score to 229/9 at the end of 50 overs.

Opener Jonathan Bird 40 off 79 balls and South Africa’s number three Luke Beaufort 46 off 87 balls both got starts. The two put on 61 runs together before Bird was run-out. Parsons had a good all-round match and was the pick of the South African bowlers claiming figures of 2/24 in his 10 overs.

Parsons also carried his bat to be 57 not out off 64 balls. Coming in at number four, the South African captain steadied the ship as wickets fell in regular intervals around him.

The South African side kept losing wickets which slowed down the scoring rate and left Parsons with limited partners. The South Africans ended up on 209/9 after their full quota of 50 overs.

Abbas Afridi finished with figures of 2/44 in his 10 overs adding to his earlier performance with the bat which deservingly won him the Player of the Match Award.

The South African u19 side will be hoping to bounce back in the second Youth ODI which is set to take place on the 25th June 2019 at Pietermaritzburg Oval starting at 10:00 am.

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux on Saturday lauded his team’s fighting spirit to claim the bronze medal at the World Rugby U20 Championship after outplaying hosts, Argentina, 41-16 in a strong finish to their campaign at the Racecourse Stadium in Rosario.

The Junior Springboks delivered a strong first-half showing, which saw them score two converted tries and a penalty goal, while they limited the hosts to a penalty goal for an encouraging 17-3 lead.

The second half was dramatic as the home side came out with a bang, scoring back-to-back tries and a penalty goal to reduce their deficit to one point going into fourth quarter. But the SAU20’s showed their class and character to power through for the win as they scored a timely drop goal and three more tries to seal the victory.

Junior Springbok scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba’s try, four conversions and penalty goal earned him 16 points, while winger Thaakir Abrahams scored two of the team’s five tries.

“I am very happy for the players,” said Roux. “It is tough to play five games in a row, so credit to them for finishing the tournament strongly.”

Zooming in on the match, Roux said: “In the second half we made silly mistakes and we couldn’t get our hands on the ball, but we stuck to our guns with our defence. Great defence creates chances and opportunities, and the team did a good job to pounce on that.”

Reflecting on the tournament as a whole, the coach said: “From a results perspective, we wanted to win the trophy, so the lesson we will take from this is that every game is important.

“You cannot slip one, and unfortunately we were not up for it against France. But that said one needs a little bit of luck as well.

“From a player development point of view, however, several players put up their hands and took big strides forward in the last few months, so we will keep an eye on them.”

Nohamba opened up the scoring with a quick snipe at a ruck three minutes into the match, and he added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

Argentina hit back with a penalty goal minutes later after missing an earlier attempt at the posts, and they tried hard to build on this with consistent efforts to breach the SAU20’s tryline using their quick hands, but they were shut out as the visitors’ defence held.

Nohamba inflated the Junior Springboks’ lead with a penalty goal in the second quarter, and Abrahams built on this soon after as he gathered a sharp pass from Rikus Pretorius (centre) who bashed his way through the defence, which handed the team a 17-3 halftime lead.

Argentina came out firing early in the second half with Joaquin De La Vega Mendia and Mateo Carreras scoring back-to-back tries within the first four minutes of play to reduce their deficit to four points.

They added their second penalty goal on the stroke of the fourth quarter, but this was cancelled out soon after as Abrahams put his raw pace to good use on the far side of the field to touch down for his second try, which Nohamba converted.

The team build on this with a drop goal by flyhalf David Coetzer, and two more tries by lock JJ van der Mescht and centre Rikus Pretorius, which saw them seal the 41-16 victory.

Scorers:

Junior Springboks 41 (17) – Tries: Thaakir Abrahams (2), Sanele Nohamba,  JJ van der Mescht, Rikus Pretorius. Conversions: Sanele Nohamba (4), Jaden Hendrikse. Penalty Goal: Sanele Nohamba. Argentina 16 (3) – Tries: Mateo Carreras, Joaquin De La Vega Mendia. Penalty Goals: Joaquin De La Vega Mendia, Nicolas Roger Farias.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

Die Lammergeiers en Rooikatte was saam met die Suid-Vrystaat behoorlik losgelaat op die eerste dag van die jaarlikse VKB-week op Piet Geyer-park in Reitz. Die Lammergeiers het sy aanslag op vanjaar se titel met ‘n klinkende sege van 48-12 oor die Vrystaat Kiewiete afgeskop.

Die span van Noord-Natal het verlede jaar die titel as kampioen met die Luiperds gedeel na die twee spanne in die eindstryd met 22-elk gelykop gespeel het. Die Lammergeiers se flank, Shuvaun Palm, het twee keer oor die doellyn teen die Kiewiete gebars.

Suid-Vrystaat was ook op sy stukke deur die Panthers met 57-0 kaf te draf. Die wenspan het teen rustyd reeds daarin geslaag om ‘n stewige voorsprong van 26-0 op te bou.

Die Rooikatte het Living Ball met 56-0 uit die pad gestamp. Die span se vaskopstut, Anthony Ceronio, het ‘n goeie dag op kantoor beleef en twee keer oor die doellyn geval.

In die hoofwedstryd van die eerste dag was daar nie veel tussen die gasheer, Oos-Vrystaat, en Suid-Natal te kies nie. Die Riemlanders het die wedstryd naelskraaps met 10-8 gewen. Sandveld het die Luiperds met 38-3 verniel met die vindingryke heelagter, Jabulani Mculwani, wat op sy stukke was.

Mculwani het twee van sy aanvalle vanuit die laaste afgerond.

Puntemakers: 

Oos-Vrystaat 10 (0) – Drie: Bongani Mavumbela. Doelskop: Bruwer Potgieter. Strafdoel: Potgieter. Suid-Natal 8 (0) – Drie: Mhlengi Ndlazi. Strafdoel: Duncan Vroom.

Sandveld 38 (17) – Drieë: Jabulani Mculwani (2), Marco Bester, Lemohang Moopela, Daniel Canali. Doelskoppe: Bester (5). Strafdoel: Bester. Luiperds 3 (3) – Strafdoel: Henru van Wyk.

Noord Natal Lammergeiers 48 (29) – Drieë: Shuvaun Palm (2), Siyanda Nthuli, Sithembiso Mthiyane, Prince Sokhela, Amahle Dlamini, Zuzi Mntambo, Marnus Christie. Doelskoppe: Siwela Minenhle (4). Vrystaat Kiewiete 12 (5) – Drieë: Danru Malan, Stephan Weideman. Doelskoppe: Tommie Bloem.

Rooikatte 56 (24) – Drieë: Anthony Ceronio (2), Jadyn Jeanes (2), Thumelo Kabele, Andrew Bezuidenhout, Josh Appelgryn, Zenrich Niemand, Michael Coetzee. Doelskoppe: Delano de Leeuw (2), Jeames (2). Strafdoel: Jeanes. Living Ball 0.

Suid-Vrystaat 57 (26) – Drieë: Janco van Staden, Jesse Issemonger, Hanno Labuschagne, Pieter Grobbelaar, Elwid Kruger, LJ Franzsen, Richard Nolan, Nico Hendrickz. Doelskoppe: Damien Erasmus (4), Van Staden (2). Panthers 0.

Junior Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse has been nominated as one of four players for the World Rugby U20 Championship Breakthrough Player of the Tournament award after a strong contribution to the team’s performance in the international showpiece in Rosario.

Hendrikse will go head-to-head with French flyhalf Louis Carbonel, Argentina centre Juan Pablo Castro and Australian flanker Fraser McReight for the award.

Hendrikse – who turned 19 years-old in March – made his debut for the Junior Springboks in the U20 International Series in the Western Cape in April, and he has been a key figure in the squad since.

He is a product of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development programme, with his selection for the Junior Springbok squad following appearances in the U17 SA Rugby Interprovincial Sevens tournament, U18 SA Rugby Craven Week and the SA Schools team in the AON U18 International Series.

His cool head and calm presence on the field has earned him a starting berth in all four of the team’s World Rugby U20 Championship matches up to now. This skill combined with his good vision, solid goal-kicking and ability to capitalise on try-scoring opportunities has seen him score two tries, seven conversions and four penalty goals for a contribution of 36 points in the competition.

The public can vote for Hendrikse through World Rugby’s Facebook page.

The Breakthrough Player of the Tournament will be announced after the World Rugby U20 Championship final on Saturday, 22 June.

The Junior Springboks will face hosts, Argentina, in the bronze playoff at 18h00 (SA Time) on Saturday, which will be followed by the final between France and Australia at 20h30 (SA Time).

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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