Western Province and Eastern Province claimed crucial derby wins on the fourth day of the U18 Craven Week at Hoërskool Middelburg.
WP maintained their perfect record at this week’s tournament after downing the Sharks High Schools on Thursday, while EP proved too strong for Border in the Eastern Cape derby.
Earlier on Thursday, the Valke and Griquas secured their first wins of the competition when they beat Boland and the Leopards, respectively.
Fiercely contested
The first quarter of the coastal derby was fiercely contested, with the Sharks stretching the WP defence and wing Jadrian Afrikaner touching down for a hard-earned try.
WP hit back with tries by centre Markus Muller and prop Matthew van der Merwe, while flyhalf Ethan van Biljon slotted a penalty goal on the stroke of half-time to boost his team’s lead to 11 points.
WP continued to dominate after the break, and went on to finish with six tries in an emphatic 45-13 win, with the impressive Muller bagging a brace.
After losing 41-10 to the Sharks earlier this week, EP made a statement when they put three early tries past Border in the Eastern Cape derby. Flyhalf Tristan Kemp kicked three conversions and three penalty goals to steer his side to a convincing 30-12 victory.
The game between the Valke and Boland was in the balance at half-time, before the boys from the East Rand shifted through the gears in the second stanza to secure a convincing 35-19 win.
Meanwhile, Griquas bounced back from their recent loss to Border to down the Leopards 46-34, with flyhalf Aidan Gadeija scoring two tries and four conversions.
The last round of the U18 Craven Week will be staged at Hoërskool Middelburg on Saturday, with WP taking on South Western Districts in the final match of the tournament.
Craven Week day four results
Boland 19-35 Valke
Griquas 46-34 Leopards
Border 12-30 Eastern Province
Western Province 45-13 Sharks
Day five fixtures – Saturday, 12 July
A-field
EP vs Blue Bulls – 09:00
Golden Lions vs WP XV – 10:15
Sharks vs Free State – 11:30
WP vs SWD – 12:45
B-field
Boland vs Griffons – 09:00
Limpopo vs Leopards – 10:15
Griquas vs Valke – 11:30
Border vs Pumas – 12:45
Any future Springboks from what you’ve seen and read from this year’s Craven Week?
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