Under-13 Craven Week 2007 Results - Day 1
The Under-13 Craven Week kicked off at Hoerskool Monument in Krugersdorp on Monday.
Day 1 Results
Blue Bulls vs Griquas, 20-0
Border Country Districts vs Namibia, 13-5
Griffons vs Zimbabwe, 17-10
Boland vs Leopards, 18-12
Limpopo vs Border, 17-15
Golden Lions vs South Western Districts, 10-3
Eastern Province vs Pumas, 6-5
Valke vs Free State, 16-12
Western Province vs KwaZulu Natal, 7-5
Fixtures for Tuesday, 3 July
09.30: Leopards vs Griquas
10.20: Border Country Districts vs Griffons
11.10: Zimbabwe vs Namibia
12.0:0: Free State vs Border
12.50: South Western Districts vs Limpopo
13.40: Golden Lions vs Boland
14.30: Blue Bulls vs Valke
15.20: KwaZulu Natal vs Pumas
16.10: Western Province vs Eastern Province
Border Country Districts vs Namibia, 13-5
Border Country Districts started the tournament with a bang beating Namibia convincingly in this year's curtain raiser.
It took the winning team only three minutes to open their score sheet when right-wing, Lutho Boyana, went over for the first try of the tournament. Flyhalf Xolile Pali missed the conversion, but the early breakthrough rattled Namibia initially.
Despite this blow Namibia managed to keep Border Country Districts at bay for the rest of the first half.
In the 25th minute the Border Express Boyana scored his second try of the match. Fortunately for the Namibians the conversion attempt missed the target yet again.
Namibia struck back in 28th minute when the outside centre Le-Roy Losper crashed over for his team's only try. Fullback Ethan Beukes could not add another two points to their tally.
Pali finished off his team's victory with a penalty in the 35th minute.
Griffons vs Zimbabwe, 17-10
Even though the Zimbabweans gave the Griffons a run for their money, the team from the Northern Free State, upped the ante to taste victory.
The Griffons ran in two tries in the first half to lead 12-0 at the break.
Zimbabwe came back hard in the second half when the flank Warren Ganye crashed over for his team's first try. Andre Odendaal missed the conversion.
For the Griffons the right wing Odwa Dingani score the last of his team's three tries.
In the 38th minute Clive Zvandasara scored a consolation try for Zimbabwe, but it was too little, too late.
Limpopo vs Border, 17-15
Limpopo managed to pull the match through courtesy of flyhalf Johannes Marais's excellent goal kicking display.
Marais converted both tries of right wing Peter Masego and scored another penalty to put the game out of Border's reach.
In the first half both teams battled to break through the defence, but Masego broke the drought in the 22nd minute. In the 36th minute the young speedster crossed the try line again.
Border's tries came courtesy of Andries Jonker and Siphamandla Zilani. The losing team's only penalty was slotted by Trevor Stander early in the first half.
Boland vs Leopards , 18-12
Boland almost paid the penalty for being complacent when the Leopards fought back in the second half to stay within striking distance. Despite the fact that both teams scored two tries apiece, Boland won the battle of the boot.
The highlight of the match was undoubtedly the delightful touch by the Boland flyhalf Brendan Olivier who slotted through a drop goal from 25m metres out, to the big crowd's delight.
Boland "won" the first half 12-0 thanks to tries by Kurtley du Plessis and Phillip Jacobs. The fullback David de Villiers Stiffer converted one to leave the Leopards shell shocked.
The Leopards' blitzkrieg in the secondly half was introduced when the scrumhalf Christoff Venter crossed the line in the 25th minute. Zybrand Lombaard scored his team's second try, but fortunately for the Boland their lapse in concentration did not come at price.
Falcons vs Free State, 16-12
The Falcons caused the first upset of the week when they defeated the strong Free State side.
Free State ran in two tries to one, but the superb kicking performance of the Falcons' eighthman, Jan Heimricks Viljoen, shifted the game in the Red Devils' favour. Taking into account that the elements, especially the strong wind which played around with the goalkickers' performances Viljoen's hundred percent record was really impressive.
Free State powerhouse and tighthead prop, De Ville Piek (78kg, 1.76m), scored both his teams tries, but his hard work was made undone by Viljoen's sterling kicking performance.
Blue Bulls vs Griquas, 20-0
If this were a tennis match the men in blue won their opening encounter in this year's Week in straight sets.
Donovan Grobler, strong running outside centre of the Bulls, had an exceptional game. His sniping runs were also rewarded with a try. The team from North of the Jukskeiriver scored four (Jonathan Makkink, Grobler, Lukas Gouws, Armand de Beer) unanswered tries, but the score could have been much higher if the fullback and captain Jean-Gerbrand Schoeman had packed in his kicking boots. He missed all four conversions.
The Pretoria-based team played constructive 15man-rugby, and deserved to win the match, but Griquas deserve a pat on the back for their gutsy performance.
Western Province vs KwaZulu Natal, 7-5
This was a fiercly contested match that could have gone either way.
Despite the result all eyes were on the Western Province flyhalf, Jean Luc du Plessis, son of the legendary Springbok wing, Carel.
Both teams defended like tigers and there was very little to choose between the two coastal teams. Province flank, Luthando Manase, was deservedly crowned as the man of the match. But the Banana Boys could have changed the outcome if their goalkicking had been a bit more accurate.
Eastern Province vs Pumas, 6-5
If tries alone won matches then the Pumas would have won their match yesterday against Eastern Province. But unfortunately the scoreboard at the end of the match is the only thing that counts.
Flyhalf, Pieter Jordaan, won the match for his team with two well struck penalties respectively in the 5th and 20th minute, but the only try of the game came in the last minute when flank, Christoffel Ludeke, crossed the goal line. Pieter Wolmerans missed the conversion.
Golden Lions vs South Western Districts, 10-3
Despite the fact that the match was closely contested, the host province could have had a bigger lead at half-time if they had been able to finish off promising movements.
The brightest star was undoubtedly the Golden Lions captain Janrij Dorfling, who had the rugby guru's buzzing with his work rate and physical presence.
Even though the game was not a try fest, the Golden Lions showed who was the king of the jungle. The ploy by the Golden Lions to play all their reserves luckily did not backfire.
Reports from Anthony Mackaiser
Teams
Blue Bulls: Nico Steenkamp (Constantiapark), Ruan Brink (Stephanus Roos), Lukas Gouws (Stephanus Roos), Jean Droste (Akasia), Riekert van Vuuren (Akasia), Pule Lebese (Babina Phuthi), Stefan Koen (Hennopspark), JD Makkink (Bakenkop), Louis Venter (Villieria), Vincent de Beer (Hermanstad), Marcus Kleinbooi (Queenswood), Thabo Phiri (Kokotla), Donovan Grobler (Stephanus Roos), Jabu Khanyile (Thakgalang), Jean-Gerbrand Schoeman (Rooihuiskraal), MC Venter (Olienpark), Gordon Titus (Fleur), Henrie (Menlopark), hago (Lynnwood), Odie Gaegane (Danie Malan), Dumisane Ndala (Meetseng), Given Mabaso (Tsaroga Poka), Curtley Diedericks (Danie Malan)
Boland: Wesley Adonis, Le-Aan Adonis, Courtney Barends, Kurtley du Plessis, Dawie Dyason, Andre Hansen, Phillip Jacobs, Joe-Lee Jafta, Damien Kordom, Andre Loubser, Marius Louw, Chad McKay, Brandon Meyer, Floris Mostert, Brendan Olivier, Oliver Regue, Nathan Smith, David Stofberg, Loek van der Merwe, Vincent van Niekerk, Jan-Christiaan van Reenen, Emile Williams
Border Country Districts: Asiphokuhle Bodlisa, Lutho Boyana, Onco Canga, Mandulo Dwakaza, Sandisile Gladile, Eric Jakuja, Sbongiseni Jamda, Lufefe Jiki, Zolisa Jula, Samkelo Libana, Aphiwe Lose, Sibulele Magqibelo, Msimelelo Majokweni, Melikhaya Melane, Siphenathi Mvimbi, Sikhulule Ndzo, Sihle Ngcani, Masibulele Ngcawe, Athenkosi Ntelezi, Sakheke Ntozakhe, Anele Nzimankulu, Xolile Pali, Okuhle Sifile