The match between Framesby and Grey is the pick of Saturday’s matches, when inter-school rugby returns to Nelson Mandela Bay.
Many local players represented Eastern Province at the various national Youth Weeks, which were played all around the country during the school holidays.
Provincial teammates are now back at their respective schools and some of them will already take each other on this Saturday in mouthwatering matches.
The clash that stands out is Framesby hosting Grey in Gqeberha. Last year they were involved in a thriller at the Grey field.
Framesby were delighted to win 17–15 and Grey now gets the chance to turn the tables on them. It could well be another nailbiter.
The co-captains of the EP u/18 Craven Week side will be key players in this match: Xanti Pongolo (centre) for Grey, and Sean Vermaak (prop) for the home team.
The last of the Youth Weeks ended last week at Jeppe High in Johannesburg, where the EP u/18 and u/16 girls’ teams were unbeatable.
EP scored the most points and the most tries at the u/18 week, starting sensationally with a massive victory over Free State.
They ran in 15 tries to win the match with the incredible score of 99–5!
The wingers, Lukhanye Lolo and Girly Tembani, had plenty of opportunities to showcase their attacking skills. Lolo scored five tries and Tembani three.
Flyhalf, Micayle Hendricks, also enjoyed herself. She scored 29 of the 99 points, which included a try.
In their second match, EP struggled to get going in the first half against the Limpopo Bulls.
At the break, EP was leading 5–0, but they stepped on the gas in the second half to eventually win comfortably 41–0.
Scrumhalf, Emihle Gobelani, had a particularly good match. She scored three of EP’s seven tries.
Initially this was a two-day tournament like the u/16s, but the organisers decided to use Friday for another round of matches.
EP played against the hosts, the Golden Lions, in the main fixture. EP led 10–0 at the break, and picked up the pace in the second half to win 36–0. Lolo scored two tries this time.
The u/16 team also started their campaign like a house on fire, beating the Limpopo Blue Bulls 34–5 in their first match.
EP scored six tries, three of them by flyhalf, Nadelean Leeuskieter. She also added two conversions, for a personal contribution of 19 points.
The main match on the second day was between EP and the Blue Bulls, and what a tough one this was.
At the break the Bulls were leading 7–5, but the EP girls showed great fighting spirit. The match eventually ended in a 10–10 draw.
Saturday July 13 fixtures
Framesby v Grey, Otto du Plessis v DF Malherbe, Andrew Rabie v Newton Tech, Muir v Brandwag, Daniel Pienaar v Port Rex, Graeme College v Pearson, Bergsig v Despatch, Kingswood v Nico Malan, St Andrews v Marlow.
