Forget the arm-wrestle, this was an absolute points fest in Gqeberha. The Free State Cheetahs and Limpopo Blue Bulls served up a breathtaking 107-point thriller on day one of the Craven Week 2026, with the men from Bloemfontein emerging victorious 66-41 in a match that had everything except defence.

Fifteen tries. Twelve conversions. Expansive rugby at breakneck speed. This wasn’t your typical schoolboy arm-wrestle, this was champagne rugby played with reckless abandon, and the neutral supporters at the A-field were treated to an absolute spectacle.

Lamla Mgedezi’s late try sealed the deal for Free State, but the real story was how both sides threw caution to the wind and delivered running rugby that would make the Barbarians blush.

Bulls start hot, Free State roar back

The Limpopo Bulls looked hungry from the opening whistle, though an early try was chalked off in the sixth minute with scores locked at 0-0. But they wouldn’t be denied for long.

The Limpopo side finally broke through in the 13th minute after a well-constructed maul set up a close-range platform. The forwards did the donkey work, and Limpopo had their 7-0 lead. Four minutes later, they doubled down with a slick midfield move that carved the Free State’s defence wide open, strolling under the posts to make it 14-0.

Free State were in trouble, but this is where champions respond. Free State went wide in the 22nd minute, finding space on the edge to get on the scoreboard at 14-7. Just three minutes later, they struck again with another raid down the touchline, levelling the scores at 14-14.

The momentum had swung emphatically. Eddie Mabena grabbed his second try of the afternoon in the 29th minute as Free State picked up the tempo, using quick ball and devastating line breaks to stretch the Bulls’ defence. At 21-14, the Free State had their noses in front.

Limpopo Bulls responded with a powerful carry in the 33rd minute, crashing over to make it 21-19, but Free State had the final say before the break. Another raid out wide in the 35th minute saw them cross for a 28-19 halftime advantage.

Second-half shootout

If the first half was entertaining, the second was absolute chaos in the best possible way.

Free State’s number nine produced a moment of individual brilliance three minutes after the restart, sniping around the ruck to extend the lead to 35-19. The Bulls hit back almost immediately, finding space in the 40th minute to cut it to 35-24, but this Free State side had found another gear.

The Bloemfontein outfit went wide again in the 45th minute, their outside backs running riot to push the score to 42-24. Limpopo refused to go quietly, producing a superb kick-and-chase effort in the 47th minute to make it 42-31 and keep themselves in striking distance.

Free State answered three minutes later with another five-pointer to extend the lead to 47-31. The Bulls kept coming, another excellent contestable kick bearing fruit in the 55th minute as they chased hard to score and narrow the gap to 47-36.

At this point, it was anybody’s game – or so it seemed.

Free state finish strong

Free State had one try disallowed in the 60th minute when a Hail Mary long pass didn’t go to hand but was recovered before the line. The TMO ruled it a knock on, but Free State barely blinked.

Two minutes later, they ran in another beauty to make it 54-36. The dam had well and truly burst. In the 65th minute, ball in hand, the Cheetahs looked unstoppable as they added another to push the score to 61-36.

Limpopo showed great character to grab one more with a cheeky grubber into space that was finished superbly in the 69th minute, making it 61-41. But there was still time for one final Free State flourish.

Lamla Mgedezi capped off a magnificent performance with the final try of the match at the death, bringing up the 66-41 final scoreline and confirming Free State’s dominance in a game that will live long in the memory.

The numbers tell the story

Fifteen tries scored. Both sides committed to running rugby from first whistle to last. This was Craven Week at its finest, young talent expressing themselves with ball in hand, backing their skills, and delivering entertainment by the bucket-load.

Free State’s ability to find space out wide proved the difference. Their backs were electric, consistently stretching the Limpopo Bulls’ defence and capitalising on every half-chance. Eddie Mabena’s brace in the first half set the tone, while Lamla Mgedezi’s late clincher will be the highlight reel moment.

For the Limpopo Bulls, while the scoreboard might sting, there’s plenty to take away from their performance. They scored six tries of their own and showed excellent resilience to keep fighting back.

Limpopo Bulls, despite the defeat, showed they can score from anywhere on the park. Tightening up defensively, particularly out wide, will be the priority before their next outing.