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A handful of teams in the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and Coca-Cola Academy Week on Wednesday ensured that they have a chance to stake a claim for a place in the final match of the respective tournaments on Saturday as they remained unbeaten in their penultimate matches at St Stithians College.

The Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions, DHL Western Province, Free State and the Limpopo Blue Bulls finished their second round of matches unbeaten in their respective group in the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week; and DHL Western Province, Eastern Province CD and GWK Griquas respectively in the Coca-Cola Academy Week.

The hosts played to a 13-13 draw against DHL Western Province, who took top honours at the tournament last season, in a thrilling finish to the day’s play, while Free State beat the Pumas 63-41 and the Limpopo Blue Bulls outplayed Border 59-41 in a fantastic day’s action.

In the Coca-Cola Academy Week, meanwhile, DHL Western Province defeated the Sharks 50-36, while Eastern Province CD beat the Valke 34-27 and GWK Griquas registered a 34-19 win against Sharks CD to retain their unbeaten status.

The remaining 10 teams in the flagship tournament and 12 teams in the Coca-Cola Academy Week will take to the field on Thursday in the penultimate round of matches.

U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week

The clash between DHL Western Province and Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions was epic as both sides showed pure determination on attack and defence, which resulted in a tight tussle from the outset.

The Cape side struck first in the opening minute of the clash as Angelo Davids scored in the corner and that proved to be the only points in the first half, as the home team struggled to use their chances and lost several lineout balls.

DHL WP touched down again in the opening exchanges of the second half, through Thaakir Abrahams, but the hosts forced their way back into the clash with two well-worked but unconverted tries by David Cary and Tino Swanepoel to level the scores at 10-10. Kennedy Mpeku for the home team and Quan Eymann for the Capetonians traded penalty goals which saw them tied at 13-13 in the dying minutes, and with neither team able to add to their score, this proved to be the end result.

The clash between Free State and the Pumas was gripping as the Bloemfontein side build up an encouraging 21-8 lead, but a yellow card in the 22nd minute paved the way for the Pumas to fight back strongly and close the gap 21-20 going into the break.
Free State retained possession and applied pressure on attack in the second half, while the Pumas’ balanced performance kept them in the game early in the third quarter. The Mpumalanga side’s efforts, however, were not enough to stop the Free State from making their presence felt and they increased their try tally to nine, while they limited the Pumas to six for the 63-41.

The third day of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week got off to an exciting start as the Tshepa Trading Griffons ran circles around Border CD from start to end for an emphatic 80-5 victory. Such was their dominance, they were 53-0 up at the break, and then built on this in the second half to earn an impressive 14 tries. Three players in the Welkom side scored hat-tricks, namely Verlyn Van Vollenhoven, Truimp Boloyi and Andrew Kota, while Kota also slotted over four conversions for a personal.

Boland made the most of GWK Griquas CD’s mistakes in the first half to work their way to a 32-21 victory as they scored five tries to the opposition’s three. Boland ran in four tries in the first half and limited GWK Griquas CD to one for a 27-7 lead, and this laid the foundation for their victory, as they leaked two converted tries in the second half. This comeback, however, was too little too late.

A staggering 100 points and two hat-tricks were scored in the clash between the Limpopo Blue Bulls and Border as both teams ran hard on attack and took advantage of the porous defence. The strong Limpopo forwards stamped their authority up-front, which allowed the team to build up a 35-20 lead, and they increased their points tally to 59 points in the second half. Border centre Siphamandla Matsinya also made a good contribution to his team’s score as he scored three of their tries.

Coca-Cola Academy Week

DHL Western Province dominated their clash against the Sharks from the outset as their forwards and backs combined well to control proceedings. They earned the rewards early in the match as they led 26-3 at the break, and they continued to apply pressure in the second half to earn 50 points in the match. The Sharks fought back in the second half and managed to score 33 points, but this was not enough to cancel out the effective performance by the Western Cape side.

A dominant second-half showing by the Limpopo Blue Bulls allowed them to cruise to a comprehensive 64-17 victory against GWK Griquas CD. The first half was competitive as the Limpopo side took a 26-17 lead, but they tightened up their defence after the break and denied the GWK Griquas CD from adding to their score.

They backed this up with a solid attacking display to increase their try tally to 10 for the match, while flyhalf William Thulare and winger Moketla Mamabolo made a big contribution with two tries and seven conversions, and a hat-trick respectively.

GWK Griquas’ ability to capitalise on their point-scoring chances in the second half combined with their solid defence also earned them 34-19 victory against Sharks CD. The teams were closely matched in the first half, with the Kimberley side taking a narrow 24-19 lead, and they continued to make their presence on attack as the game progressed, while they shut out the KwaZulu-Natal side on defence. This performance allowed them outscore the Sharks CD six tries to three for the win.

A strong start by Boland, meanwhile, set them up for a 28-15 victory against the Tshepa Trading Griffons, as they ran in three first-half tries to a converted try and penalty goal by the Welkom side for a 23-10 lead. In a tight second half, each side was only able to score a try, but this was enough for the Western Cape team to seal the victory.

SWD broke away in the second half of their clash against Eastern Province to score seven tries to five by the opposition. The George side took a 24-17 lead, and continued to make their presence felt in the second half, with No 8 Hannes Gous scoring a brace for his team, which steered them to victory.

Eastern Province CD delivered a firm performance against the Valke in a competitive match in which they scored six tries to five by the Kempton Park side for their 34-27 victory. The sides were closely matched on attack and defence, but the Eastern Cape side’s ability to make the most of their point-scoring chances sealed the victory for them.

The second-last round of matches at the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and Coca-Cola Academy Week will be contested on Thursday, with all the teams having Friday off to rest. The final round of matches will be played on Saturday.

Nkosikhona Masuku from the Golden Lions has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 3 of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment. Nkosikhona was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield after he had a huge game in the scrum often dominating the Western Province scrum all match, culminating in an attacking scrum where he managed to force his opposing prop into a mistake and giving away a penalty in front of the posts.

“We had a scrum that we had to win so I dug deep and managed to win the scrum and a penalty for my team. It is a great experience being the Hero of the Day and I hope that it will inspire others to do their best to achieve their goals,” said Nkosikhona

“It was a tough game and there were quite a few heroic moments from both teams. Nkosikhona however stood out and was very impressive as he dug deep and gave everything for his team at scrum time. His effort resulted in a penalty that put his team in the lead for the first time in the match,” said Victor Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to Nkosikhona for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 3. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. Not all heroes are identified by a flashy moment, some heroes are quiet and inspire others with their actions, Nkosikhona is one of those quiet heroes. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a long and successful career in rugby for him.”

Na 70 minute van klipharde rugby was daar niks tussen die Westelike Provinsie en die Goue Leeus in die hoofwedstryd van die derde dag van die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole op St Stithians College se Baytopp-veld in Johannesburg te kies nie. Die wedstryd het met die telling op 13-elk geëindig. 

Die bepalingskomitee sit met ‘n tameletjie oor wie Saterdag in die hoofwedstryd van vandag se spanne sal speel. Die Streeptruie is die verdedigende nie-amptelike kampioen, terwyl die Goue Leeus die gasheer van vanjaar se toernooi is. Albei die feite sal onder debat kom wanneer die bepalingskomitee na afloop van more se spel bymekaarkom. 

Die Vrystaat is boonop een van slegs twee spanne wat vandag in aksie was wat met ‘n vlekkelose rekord op vanjaar se toernooi spog. Hy is ook met 21 drieë die span wat vanjaar die meeste kere die doellyn oorkruis het. In die vervloë dae van die Cravenweek was die spanne wat die mees opwindende rugby gespeel het, met ‘n plek in die hoofwedstryd beloon. 

Maar terug by die WP en Leeus se kragmeting. Die Streeptruie se twee vleuels, Angelo Davids en Thaakir Abrahams, het hul span se twee drieë in onderskeidelik die eerste minute van die wedstryd en die tweede helfte gedruk. Davids het in die hoek oorgeduik in die eerste minuut van die wedstryd. Dit was ook die verskil tussen die twee spanne in die eerste helfte. Die rustydtelling was 5-0 in die Streeptruie se guns.

Abrahams het na minder as 30 sekondes na die afskop vir die tweede helfte sy span se voorsprong verdubbel. Die Leeus se vleuel David Cary het sy span se rekening in dieselfde hoek as Davids geopen. Die Leeus het sake gelyk getrek na die haker, Morne Brandon, met ‘n duikslag omgekeerde besit bewerkstellig het. Die flank Franco Schutte het die losbal deurgeskop en opgepik om Tino Swanepoel weg te sit.

Toe die Leeus se heelagter, Kennedy Mpeku, in die 60ste minuut na goeie skrumwerk deur die voorryman Nkosikhona Masuku ‘n strafdoel oorklits het dit geblyk dat die tuisspan die wedstryd kan deurhak. Mpeku het deurgans goeie spel gelewer, maar sy stelskopwerk het gelol.

WP se kaptein en heelagter, Muller du Plessis, het sy span se twee doelskoppe skeef gekorrel. Die span se losskakel, Quan Eymann, het in die 64ste minuut ‘n strafdoel reg voor die pale oorgeklits om sake gelyk te trek.

Die stryd op die losbal tussen Vian Fourie (WP) en Mark Snyman (Leeus) was fel. Fourie het sonder twyfel die sake by die afbreekpunte in die eerste helfte beheer. Snyman het egter in die tweede helfte sterker by die aspek tot vore getree.   

Puntemakers: 

Westelike Provinsie 13 (5) – Drieë: Angelo Davids, Thaakir Abrahams. Strafdoel: Quan Eymann Goue Leeus 13 (0) – Drieë: David Cary, Tino Swanepoel. Strafdoel: Mpeku.

Die Vrystaat het sy onoorwonne status op vanjaar se 54ste Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole op St Stithians College behou deur die Pumas met 63-41 kaf te draf. Die span van Bloemfontein het teen ‘n hoë spoed weggevlieg en teen die 12de minuut ‘n voorsprong van 21-3 opgebou.

Die wenspan se haastige vleuel Janco van Heyningen is in die 22ste minuut deur die skeidsregter, Stephan Geldenhuys, vir tien minute koelkas toe gestuur. Die Pumas het toe terruggeveg en die Vrystaat het met slegs ‘n voorsprong van ‘n enkele punt met die telling op 21-20 gaan rus. 

Die spanne was in ‘n wipplankstryd in die tweede helfte gewikkel voordat die Vrystaat uiteindelik die wedstryd weggeneem het. Die Pumas kon nooit die voortou neem nie, maar het nog ‘n verdere twee keer ‘n agterstand uitgewis om slegs met ‘n enkele punt agter te loop.

Die Vrystaat se losskakel, Christopher Schreuder, het al nege van sy span se drieë verdoel. Hy het self ook een van die drieë gedruk vir ‘n persoonlike bydrae van 23 punte in die sege. 

Voorlangs het die flank Marcel Theunissen een van sy beste vertonings tot dusver vanjaar op ‘n rugbyveld opgedis, terwyl die haker, Varkie Greyling, sy span op die voorvoet met sy inklimspel in die vastelos. 

Hoewel daar kommer was oor of die Vrystaat se kaptein en senter, Rikus Pretorius, dalk die wedstryd weens ‘n besering kon misloop, het hy agterlangs ‘n hele paar keer vrae aan die Pumas se verdediging gevra. Die Vrystaters se beste agterspeler op die dag was eger sy heelagter, David Kriel. 

Dit het elke keer ‘n hele paar verdedigers geneem om Kriel te stuit. Hy het na hy nie meer veld kon wen nie ook ‘n hele paar keer die bal in die duikslag uitgegee.

Puntemakers:

Vrystaat 63 (21) – Drieë: Rikus Pretorius (2), Ruhann Greyling (2), Marcel Theunissen, Arno Nieuwoudt, Keaton Swarts, Janco van Heyningen, Teboho Rampai. Doelskoppe: Christopher Schreuder (9). Pumas 41 (20) – Drieë: Teboho Mosia (2), Prince Nkabinde, Tiaan de Beer, Stephan van der Bank, Thabiso Mkwebane. Doelskoppe: Van der Bank (4). Strafdoel: Van der Bank. 

Four Junior Springboks, Wandisile Simelane, Jeanluc Cilliers, Reinhardt Nothnagel and Len Massyn have been contracted by the Lions Rugby Company (Pty) Ltd.

Rudolf Straeuli, CEO, emphasised that “we aim to develop players and keep key junior players in the system. That is vital to our succession plan.”

Other key players from the winning Currie Cup teams in 2016 have also renewed their contracts ensuring sustainability throughout the junior and senior procurement, namely:

Bradley Thain, Eddie Fouché, HP van Schoor, Jan-Louis la Grange, Len Massyn, Leo Kruger, Reinhard Nothnagel, Siya Masuku, Tyreeq February.

To secure top Under 19 players for 2018 has also been a key objective for the Lions Rugby Company. Bart Schoeman, Manager of the High Performance, elaborate: “Ensuring the signing of top players from our local schools have been the main aim this year. Only after signing “home-grown” players in key positions did we go out to fill the gaps with the next best”.

“We have a few negotiations still outstanding but are proud to welcome the following players to the Lions Rugby family,” he said.

Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cristen van Niekerk, Dameon Venter, David Cary, Ewan Visser, Gerrit Visser, Giovanne Snyman, Jonathan Viljoen, JW Meades, Keagan Glade, Kennedy Mpeku, Mark Snyman, Michael Goodal, Nkosikhona Masuku, Ruben Kotze, Tinus Combrinck, Travis Gordon, Ulrich Maritz, Wihan de Beer, Yanga Hlalu.

Die Limpopo Blou Bulle het hulle beste sege op die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoerskole behaal sedert hy in 2010 vir SWD met 26-20 in Welkom verslaan het. Die harde manne van die Verre Noord het vir Grens in ‘n wedstryd waarin verdediging tweede viool moes speel met 59-41 verslaan. 

Die wedstryd het 100 punte opgelewer, maar dit was dalk liewer meestal te danke aan swak verdediging as vernuf op die aanval gewees. Die kragmeting het in totaal 15 drieë opgelewer.

Limpopo het teen rustyd reeds ‘n gerieflike voorsprong van 35-20 geniet. Die span se vleuel Kamogelo Motloa het ‘n driekuns aan drieë behaal. 

Grens se buitesenter, Siphamandla Matsinya, het heelwat bresse in Limpopo se verdediging gevind en ook drie keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Die verloorspan se heelagter, Jason Raubenheimer, het ook twee keer ‘n draai agter die doellyn gaan maak. Raubenheimer het reeds ‘n kontrak met die Sharks en het ook al die Suid-Afrikaanse o.19-krieketspan verteenwoordig. 

Puntemakers: 

Limpopo Blou Bulle 59 (35) – Drieë: Kamogelo Motloa (3), Vincent Roos (2), Noko Malatji, Renier Gerber, Nyiko Ntlemo, Ali Sefole. Doelskoppe: Reece Wynne (7). Grens 41 (20) – Drieë: Siphamandla Matsinya (3), Jason Raubenheimer (2), Jarred du Plessis. Doelskoppe: David Coetzer (4). Strafdoel: Coetzer.  

Boland het ‘n sege van 32-21 oor Griekwa-platteland op die derde dag van die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole op St Stithians College se Baytopp-veld in Johannesburg behaal. 

Die Wynboere het teen rustyd ‘n gerieflike voorsprong van 27-7 opgebou. Die plattelanders vanuit die Noord-Kaap het egter veggees getoon en in die tweede helfte teruggeveg. 

Die verloorspan se vleuel Sebastiaan Jobb was in sy rooi broek en kouse as gevolg van sy status as Coca-Cola se Held van die Dag na sy vertoning op die eerste dag in die Goudstad weer een van sy span se staatmakers.

Hy was veral op die dekverdediging vir sy span goud werd. Die leerling van Duineveld het ook op die aanval opgeduik asof hy losskakel, vleuel, senter en heelagter gespeel het.

Die span se agtsteman, Nakkie Duvenhage, het twee keer die doellyn oorgesteek. Boland se sterspeler was sy losskakel, Shaun Baxter. Boland se vleuel, Rene Lucas, is vir sy goeie spel ook met twee drieë beloon.  

Puntemakers

Boland 32 (27) – Drieë: Rune Lucas (2), PJ Boltman, Johan Geldenhuys, Lloyd April. Doelskoppe: Clint Buys (2). Strafdoel: Buys. Griekwa-platteland 21 (7) – Drieë: Nakkie Duvenhage (2), Sebastiaan Jobb. Doelskoppe: Iwan Lombard (3).

Drie spelers van die Griffons het driekunste in hul span se slagting van 80-5 oor Grens-platteland op die derde dag van die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoërskole op St Stithians College se Baytopp-veld in Johannesburg behaal. Die helagter, Andrew Kota, vleuel Triumph Baloyi en senter Virlyn van Vollenhoven het elk drie keer ‘n draai agter die doellyn gaan maak. 

Die Perses het teen rustyd reeds ‘n voorsprong van 53-0 opgebou. Die Perses het besluit om van hulle doelskoppe nie waar te neem nie wat die slagting selfs nog groter sou maak. Van die Griffons se 14 drieë het die span slegs vyf verdoel. 

Grens-platteland het laas in 2007 ‘n wedstryd op die toernooi gewen toe hy sy grootboet, Grens, met 30-19 op die laaste dag in Stellenbosch verslaan het. Die span kon sedert hy in 1994 oorspronklik as Transkei aan die toernooi begin deelneem het nog net vier keer die soete smaak van ‘n sege proe. 

Die verloorspan het wel meer durf in die tweede helfte ten toon gestel en is met ‘n drie daarvoor deur sy slot Luzuko Mpepo beloon. 

Puntemakers: 

Griffons 80 (53) – Drieë: Andrew Kota (3), Triumph Baloyi (3), Virlyn van Vollenhoven (3), Francois Klopper, Dillon Minnaar, Brandon Botha, Keith van Aswegen, Francois Maree. Doelskoppe: Kota (4), Baloyi. Grens-platteland 5 (0) – Drie: Luzuko Mpepo.

Dian Bleuler from South Western Districts has been named the Coca-Cola Hero of the day for day 2 of the U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week.

The prestigious Coca-Cola Hero of the Day award is presented on each day of the tournament in recognition of a game changing ‘hero’ moment. Dian was selected for the award by a Coca-Cola appointed panel of rugby experts, led by Springbok legend Victor Matfield after he scored two tries and was involved in a third try where he touched the ball twice in the same movement.

‘It is a great privilege to be the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day in this year’s Coca-Cola Craven Week,’ said Dian.

“You first have to do your basics right and then be able to finish it off and Dian did just that. He scrummed hard and was influential in the set pieces and then found himself in position to score two tries and assist his team mates in another, that takes a very good player to do that and that is why he is our Hero of the Day Today,” said Victor Matfield.

Phindi Phiri, Coca-Cola South Africa’s Marketing Assets Manager, “Congratulations to Dian for being chosen as the Coca-Cola Hero of the Day for day 2. The Coca-Cola Craven Week is where South Africa’s best, up and coming rugby players are identified – this is where heroes are made. For players like Dian this is hopefully just the beginning of a long and successful career in rugby.”

KwaZulu-Natal het die Blou Bulle van die veld af in die eerste helfte gespeel om met 53-33 oor die Blou Bulle in die hoofwedstryd van die tweede dag van die Coca-Cola Cravenweek vir hoerskole koning te kraai.

Die Piesangboere was met slegs twee minute se spel oor in die eerste helfte met die telling op 38-0 in hul guns stewig oppad op die Ligbloues hul grootste loesing nog ooit op die gesogte toernooi toe te dien. 

KwaZulu-Natal se flank Dylan Kruger is kort daarna deur die skeidsregter, Pieter Maritz, met ‘n rooikaart van die veld gestuur na hy glo met sy kop in losgemaal met ‘n ander speler kontak gemaak het.

Die Blou Bulle se heelagter, Deigo Appollis, het kort na die rooikaart gaan druk om sy span so tikkie hoop te gee voor die afrigters hard sou praat met rustyd.

Die Ligbloues het in die tweede helfte goed teruggeveg en toe sy losskakel, Ulrich Maritz, in die 51ste minuut oorgelip het die span slegs ‘n agterstand van tien punte (28-38) gehad.

Die Piesangboere se voorspelers het die spreekwoordelike klavier geskuif, terwyl hulle agterhoede die note bespeel het. Dit was veral die vaskopstut, Keynan Knox, wat met sy inklimspel beindruk het. Hy het duikslae op die dekverdediging gemaak, terwyl dit ‘n paar manne gevat het om hom plat te trek wanneer hy die bal onder die arm vasgknyp hert. 

Hy het egter heelwat hulp van sy kaptein en agtsteman, Pepsi Buthelezi, slot Edward Laubscher en haker, Fezokuhle Mbatha, in die fisieke dele van die spel gekry om die Bulle se karnuffel. Die slot JJ van der Mescht het sy oomblikke gehad, maar daar skort gewis nog werk aan sy fiksheid.

Puntemakers: 

 KwaZulu-Natal 53 (38) – Driee: Dylan Richardson, Pepsi Buthelezi, Sanele Nohamba, Dylan Pretorius, Cham Zondeki, Conan le Fleur, Rynardt Jonker, Siyanda Cele. Doelskoppe: Nohamba (5). Strafdoel: Nohamba. Blou Bulle 33 (5) – Driee: Diego Appollis (2), Jaco Labuschagne, Zach Briel, Ulrich Maritz. Doelskoppe: Maritz (4).