Free State dethrone WP
The Free State Cheetahs were crowned Under-18 Craven Week champions for 2010, following their comprehensive 42-21 victory over Western Province in Welkom on Saturday.
The Bloemfontein side held a 22-11 half-time lead, despite WP scoring the first points of the game.
WP fullback Craig Barry dived in at the corner to run in his side's first try of the game in the second minute of play.
The Free Staters then had the chance of adding their first points in the game immediately after the restart after referee Marius van der Westhuizen penalised Province for diving in a ruck. Cheetahs' flyhalf and Player of the Match Johan Goosen, who scored 22 points in the game, missed his first attempt at goal.
WP flyhalf Gavin Hauptfleisch then stretched his side's lead to 8-0 after he kicked his first penalty in the 15th minute, after the Bloemfontein side were penalised for offside play.
Goosen then added Free State's first score (8-3) in the 17th minute when the Capetonians were penalised for using their hands in a ruck. Centre Paul Jordaan then leveled the scores (8-8) when he ran in a brilliant individual try by beating three Western Province defenders in the 25th minute of the game. Goosen added the conversion to hand the Bloemfontein side a 10-8 lead.
Wing Siphosethu Tom then dived in to score Free State's second try of the match immediately after the restart to steer the score to 15-8. WP though clawed their way back via a penalty kick by Hauptfleisch after the referee penalised the Cheetahs for a scrum infringement (15-11).
However, the Free States hit back in the 32nd minute of the game and stretched their lead even further when winger Tom scored his second try of the match. His five-pointer was converted by Goosen (22-11).
After the break, the Grey College flyhalf kicked his second penalty of the game and stretched his side's lead to 25-11 after WP were penalised for diving in a ruck. Hauptfleisch then narrowed the gap by adding his third penalty of the game (25-14).
Free State flank Henco Greyling dived in to score his side's fourth try in the 47th minute of the game before Goosen added the conversion to hand his side a 32-14 lead. The Bloemfontein pivot kicked his third penalty in the 60th minute of the game after the WP hooker was yellow-carded for foul play (35-14).
Goosen, who was the stand out player for the Cheetahs then scored his side's fifth try of the game to stretch the lead to 40-14. He converted his own try to hand the Bloemfontein side a 42-14 lead.
Andreas Dercksen scored a consolation try for Province in the final stages of the match - 42-19 - before his five-pointer was converted by Devon Williams.
However it was the Free State Cheetahs who held out to remain undefeated in the 2010 Under-18 Craven Week with a 42-21 win over WP.
The scorers:
For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Goosen, Jordaan, Tom 2, Greyling
Cons: Goosen 4
Pens: Goosen 3
For Western Province:
Tries: Barry, Dercksen
Con: Williams
Pens: Hauptfleisch 3
The teams:
Western Province: 15 Craig Barry (Paul Roos), 14 JP Lewis (Paul Roos), 13 Tshotsho Mbovane (Paul Roos), 12 Koos van Wyk (Paarl Gim), 11 Heinrich Arendse (Scotsdene), 10 Gavin Hauptfleisch (Paarl Boys' High), 9 Gerhard Jordaan (Boland Landbou), 8 Cobus Smith (Paarl Gim), 7 Sikumbuzo Notshe (Wynberg), 6 Beyers de Villiers (Paarl Boys' High), 5 Braam Steyn (Paul Roos), 4 Rayn Smidt (Rondbosch), 3 P Stemmet (Paul Roos), 2 Stephanus Coetzee (Paarl Boys' High) (captain) 1 Steven Kitshoff (Paul Roos), 16 Jandre Conradie (Paarl Gim), 17 Tshepo Motali (Bishops), 18 Marvin Orie (Tygerberg), 19 Andreas Dercksen (Paul Roos), 20 Chelsin Kolbe (Brackenfell), 21 Errol Jaggers (Paul Roos), 22 L Abrahams (Paarl Boys' High).
Free State: Raymond Rhule (Louis Botha), Innes Keyser (Grey), William Small-Smith (Grey, captain), Paul Jordaan (Grey), JJ van der Walt (Grey), Johan Goosen (Grey), Kevin Luiters (Grey), Niel Jordaan (Grey), Heinrich Douglas (Louis Botha), Henko Greyling (Grey), Cobus Nel (Grey), Gerhard Olivier (Grey), Neethling Fouché (Grey), Anrich Bitzi (Grey), Rudi Fuls (Grey), Armand Stoman (Grey), Rudolph Botha (Grey), Tuso Chalatsi (Louis Botha), Leneve Damons (Grey), KK Hlongwane (Louis Botha), Setho Tom (Grey), Dillon Douglas (Louis Botha).