WP clinches coastal thriller at FNB u18 Craven Week

Western Province edged out the Sharks on the third day of the FNB u18 Craven Week in Gqeberha, while the Leopards, Eastern Province, and Free State were also among the winners at Grey High School on Wednesday.

Day three of the FNB u18 Craven Week witnessed several tight contests, with three of the four matches decided by 12 points or fewer.

WP and Free State claimed victories to extend their winning runs in the tournament, while the hosts and the Leopards registered their first victories of the week.

The coastal derby staged on the Kolisi Field lived up to the hype, with the Sharks taking a slender five-point lead into the break. The KwaZulu-Natalians troubled WP at the set pieces and breakdowns after half-time, and converted that dominance into a 15-point lead.

WP fought back to reduce the deficit in the dying stages, and the Sharks conceded two yellow cards in quick succession. With full-time approaching, a third Sharks player was sent to the sin bin, and WP fullback Achmat Behardien kicked a penalty goal to clinch a dramatic 24-22 win.

Earlier in the day, Free State scored three late tries to claim a 38-26 win over South Western Districts. Fullback Lamla Mgedezi scored a brace for the Cheetahs, while flyhalf Samson Lackay contributed 13 points.

Boland and EP enjoyed a similarly tight battle, although the hosts took control of the contest in the second half, with scrumhalf Luke Doyle scoring a try in the 64th minute to extend his team’s lead to eight points. Boland scored a converted try at the death, but EP hung on for a 32-31 victory.

The Leopards recorded the biggest win of the day when they thumped the Limpopo Blue Bulls 57-14. Outside centre Marques Jantjies scored a hat-trick for the North West side while flyhalf Ricardo Enos slotted six conversions.

The FNB U18 Craven Week continues at Grey High on Thursday, with the Griffons fronting up to the Valke at 10:00, and the Golden Lions tackling the Western Province XV in the big match later in the day.

FNB U18 Craven Week results – day three (Wednesday, 8 July):

Western Province 24 (7) – Tries: Jean Dreyer (2), Penalty Try. Conversions: Achmat Behardien (2). Penalty: Behardien. Sharks 22 (12) – Tries: Theo Boshoff (2), Lwazi Mbepe. Conversions: Alex Jankowitz, Dominic du Toit. Penalty: Du Toit.

Free State 38 (19) – Tries: Lamla Mgedezi (2), Jonathan Drysdale, AJ Hendriks, Eddie Mabena, Samson Lackay. Conversions: Lackay (4). South Western Districts 26 (19) – Tries: Moeshaan Mortlock, Fagon Hendricks, Adrian Smith, Jacobus de Villiers. Conversions: Tylor Marais (3).

Eastern Province 32 (17) – Tries: Akho Tanjeni, Niel September, Erin Nelson, Micah Wessels, Luke Doyle. Conversions: Nathan Trytsman, Tristan Kemp. Penalty: Kemp. Boland 31 (17) – Tries: Anzio Brinkhuis, Jaydan van Niekerk, Anwill Jacobs, JP Lotriet, Simamkele Lahlekile. Conversions: Van Niekerk (2), Ekstraal.

Leopards 57 (31) – Tries: Marques Jantjies (3), De Wet Grobler, Karabelo Kgamanyana, Fanie Linde, Wian du Preez, Junaid Stevens, Tiaan de Kock. Conversions: Ricardo Enos (6). Limpopo Blue Bulls 14 (7) – Tries: Juan Dreyer (2). Conversions: Juan Randell (2).

FNB U18 Craven Week fixtures – day four (Thursday, 9 July):

10:00: Griffons v Valke
11:45: Border v Pumas
13:30: Blue Bulls v Griquas
15:30: Golden Lions v Western Province XV

Issued by SA Rugby Communications