The Sharks will meet Free State in the late game of the fourth day of the U18 Craven Week at Paarl Boys’ High on Thursday after winning their opening encounters on Tuesday.

Thursday’s game will effectively be a semi-final, with the winner there going through to face the winner of Wednesday’s clash between hosts Western Province and the Golden Lions in Saturday’s main game – the week’s unofficial final.

REPORT: Sharks too strong for SWD

The Sharks were impressive in downing a big and physical SWD side 46-28 on Tuesday, while Free State trailed the Blue Bulls for a large part of their game before they came through in the second half to win 38-21.

REPORT: Late Free State surge sinks Bulls

Western Province and the Golden Lions also met on the third day of the Craven Week in Johannesburg last year and that game ended in a 13-13 draw. The Lions got the main game nod on the basis that they were the home side.

Wednesday’s fixtures:

11am – Blue Bulls XV vs Limpopo Blue Bulls
12:30pm – Eastern Province vs Pumas
2pm – Border vs Griffons
3:30pm – Western Province vs Golden Lions

Thursday’s fixtures:

9:30am – Leopards vs Griquas
11am – SWD vs Golden Lions XV
12:30pm – Valke vs Western Province XV
2pm – Boland vs Blue Bulls
3:30pm – Free State vs Sharks

Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images