The Eastern Province u/18 rugby team started the Craven Week in sensational fashion at Outeniqua Park in George on Monday, 3 July.
They caused a major upset by beating the highly regarded Free State 26-23 in a thrilling match.
The EP boys had a golden period in the match at the start of the second half when they scored two tries in five minutes.
ICYMI | Eastern Province, Blue Bulls finish Grant Khomo Week on a high
Free State was leading 16-6 at the break but those two converted tries changed the complexion of the match.
The motivated EP boys were suddenly leading 23-16 and extended that lead to 26-16. Free State fought back with a late try but EP did enough for a famous win.
It was a huge team effort to secure victory, but one of the big stars was the loose forward De Wet Fourie (Daniel Pienaar) who was named as the player of the match.
Download the official tournament guide here.
SA Rugby reports that there was more drama
in the third match of the day, with the WP XV giving a more fancied Sharks side
a scare.
The KwaZulu-Natalians
led 22-5 at half-time and appeared to be on course for a massive victory. In
the end, they were made to fight to secure a win against a spirited Cape side –
who scored three tries and 19 points in the second half.
In the final game of
the day, Western Province scored six tries in a convincing 42-12 win against
the South Western Districts.
The Craven Week
action will continue on Tuesday morning, with Griquas tackling the Leopards at
10h30.
Day One Results:
Valke 19 (7) – Tries: Zaid
Rippenaar, Ruduwaan Rogers, Oregopotse Shilbuane. Conversions: Duan du Toit. Boland 26 (19) – Tries: Ricky Lesch, Callum van Staden, Seppie
September, Petrie van Dyk. Conversions: Luan
Giliomee (3).
Free State 23 (16) – Tries: Jean Erasmus, JJ Theron. Conversions: Ian
van der Merwe (2). Penalty goals: Van der Merwe (3). Eastern Province 26 (6) –Tries: Jamain Dampies, Hein Terblanche.
Conversions: Dominic Malgas (2). Penalty goals: Malgas (4).
Sharks 34 (22) – Tries: Siya Ndlozi, Siso France, Campbell Ridi, Luyanda Kunene, Jaco
Williams. Conversions: Chris Horak (3). Penalty goal: Horak. Western Province XV 24 (5) –Tries: HB Odendaal, Enslin Claassen, Torren
February, Juma Amissi. Conversions: Daniel van der Merwe (2).
Western Province 42
(23) – Tries: Cilliers Viljoen, Xola Nyali, Zeke January,
Albe Bester, Gino Cupido, Haashim Pead. Conversions: Kyle Smith (3). Penalty
goals: Smith (2). SWD 12 (7) –Tries: Ashwin Damons, Andrew Stopforth. Conversion:
Elgernon Meyer.
U18 CravenWeek Day Two Fixtures:
10h30: Griquas v
Leopards
12h00: Griffons v Limpopo Blue Bulls
13h30: Golden Lions v Pumas
15h00: Blue Bulls v
Border
