Western Province scored 11 tries as they thrashed the Pumas 72-10 in the last game of the first day of the U18 Craven Week in Paarl on Monday. THEO GARRUN reports.
While it was a pleasing spectacle for the home crowd that shoe-horned into the quaint Brug Street ground at Paarl Boys’ High, it was too one-sided to qualify as a good Craven Week match and one has to question the wisdom of matching these two sides in the day’s showpiece game.
The result will in all likelihood see the hosts matched against the Golden Lions in their second encounter on Wednesday and they may rue the ease with which they won this one. The Lions were impressive in downing Eastern Province 46-25.
REPORT: Lions win Craven Week thriller
That said, Province scored some spectacular tries, four of them by centre Dawid Kellerman, who on this display must be in the running for the SA Schools team that will be announced after the week.
The Pumas tackled manfully and they have one or two sharp steppers among their backs, but they were taken apart by the Province pack and a big score was always on the cards.
The Pumas scored an amazing try of their own, started behind their own tryline and finished on the other end by centre Siphesishle Mthethwa, but that was their only highlight of the afternoon.
Province were already 36-10 up at the break and they added another five tries in the second half to make it as emphatic as you get.
Flyhalf Jean Mostert scored two tries and was named Man of the Match, while fullback Darren Hendricks was full of tricky running and kicked six conversions.
The Province forwards were so dominant that it’s difficult to single out performers, but loose forward Evan Roos scored two tries and was prominent with the ball in hand.
Western Province – Tries: Jean Mostert (2), Stravino Jacobs, David Kellerman (4), Evan Roos (2), Romeo Mtimba, Jason Alexander. Conversions: Darren Hendricks (6), Mostert. Penalty: Jacobs.
Pumas – Try: Siphesishle Mthethwa. Conversion: Coenraad Visser. Penalty: Visser.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
