Western Province defeated SWD 17-3 on day three of the U13 Craven Week at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira in White River.
WP started strongly to lead 12-0 after eight minutes, courtesy of a try apiece from ouside centre Luke Burger and tighthead prop Nizaar Nazier. Scrumhalf Jack Cloete added one conversion. SWD, who scored impressive victories on the first two days of the tournament, couldn't breach WP's defensive wall and only landed a penalty before the break to trail 12-3. WP didn't have it all their own way in the second stanza, but managed to extended their advantage with another five-pointer when blindside flank Armand Maritz crashed over to seal their third win in as many matches.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal returned to winning ways with a 33-0 demolition of the Golden Lions. In a dominant first-half display, a brace of tries by prop Kaleb Thomas and one from No 8 Kwanele Khumalo pushed KZN out to a healthy 21-0 lead. The team from Durban scored two more tries in the second half.
Elsewhere, Free State ended the tournament winless, after they slumped to a 31-14 defeat against hosts, the Pumas. The young Cheetahs opened the scoring through loosehead prop Oratile Botlhoko, before the Pumas scored two tries in quick succession to lead 12-7 at half-time. They continued to exert pressure on Free State's tryline in the second half and eventually crashed over for two more scores. Free State did get into double figures with a second five-pointer late in the match, but not without conceding again in the final minute of the match.
In other results, the Blue Bulls beat Border Country Districs 29-0; the Leopards defeated Border 27-15; inside centre Kian Fransman held his nerve to kick the winning conversion after a last-minute try, to help Namibia edge Zimbabwe 14-13; Eastern Province were 31-12 victors over the Limpopo Blue Bulls; Boland beat the Valke 18-15; and earlier in the day, the Griffons blanked out Griquas 18-0.
Western Province (17) – Tries: Luke Burger, Nizaar Nazier, Armand Maritz. Conversion: Jack Cloete.
SWD (3) – Penalty: Cameron Sharp.
KwaZulu-Natal (33) – Tries: Kaleb Thomas (2), Kwanele Khumalo, Ethan Matkovich, Khwezi Mbongwa. Conversions: Mathew Halstead (4).
Golden Lions (0)
Pumas (31) – Tries: Hardus Rothman (2), Nico Liversage, Christiaan Van Der Merwe, Jacques Marais. Conversions: Alec Vermaak (3).
Free State (14) – Tries: Oratile Botlhoko, Niocolaas Cohen. Conversions: Du Toit Fourie (2).
Blue Bulls (29) – Tries: Chris Schoombee, Stephan Spies, Kyle Meadows, Zandre Du Toit (2). Conversions: Jooste Nel (2)
Border CD (0)
Leopards (27) – Tries: Tiro Tsoana, Jandre Wilken, De-Andre Du Preez. Conversions: Theuns Steyn (3). Penalties: Steyn (2).
Border (15) – Tries: Latica Nela (2), Lwanga Bongco.
Namibia (14) – Tries: Arnu Gouws, Diaan Vermeulen. Conversions: Kian Fransman.
Zimbabwe (13) – Tries: Kudza Maringa, Munashe Maisera. Penalty: Milton Manyangadze.
Eastern Province (31) – Tries: Ethan Liberty, Kuhle Desha, Aliswa Mapuma, Larquin Goliath, Siviwe Zondani. Conversions: Daniel Smith (2), Lathita Nqebe.
Limpopo Blue Bulls (12) – Tries: Renzo Du Plessis, Pieter Vorster. Conversion: Juan Smith.
Boland (18) – Tries: Michael Williams, Jan Jeremias De Villiers Fourie. Conversion: Curwin Gertse. Penalties: Gertse, Nazero Cleophas.
Valke (15) – Tries: Keagan Balfour, Thabiso Motaung. Conversion: Kyle Benadie. Penalty: Benadie.
Griffons (18) – Tries: Calla Pienaar, Karabo Moahlodi. Conversion: Du Toit Van Huyssteen. Penalties: Du Toit Van Huyssteen (2).
Griquas (0)
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images
