They came, they saw, and they very nearly conquered. The Griffons produced a stunning first-half performance to race into a commanding 23-7 lead over Western Province XV on day two of the U18 FNB Craven Week 2026, only to be overhauled by a relentless Cape side who eventually ran out 52-33 winners at Grey High School.
But the 19-point margin flatters the victors. This was a proper contest, a genuine arm-wrestle where the Griffons showed they belong on the big stage. Racing to a 16-point halftime advantage through scintillating wide play and clinical finishing, the Northern Free State outfit had WP XV rattled and scrambling for answers.
The Cape side’s class eventually told in a brutal second-half onslaught, but Griffons coach and players will leave the encounter with their reputations enhanced. They took the fight to one of the tournament’s strongest sides and, for 35 glorious minutes, looked like pulling off a famous upset.
Griffons dominate early exchanges
The Griffons came out with a clear gameplan: get the ball wide, use their pace on the edges, and back their skills. Three minutes in, they struck first with a penalty to lead 3-0, and that was just the appetiser.
In the 17th minute, they found space to extend their lead to 10-0, and the warning signs were flashing for WP XV. Three minutes later, the Griffons exposed the Cape defence again, having absolute joy in the wider channels. Another try in space made it 17-0, and suddenly this match had turned into a potential upset special.
WP XV needed to respond, and they finally did in the 24th minute. Showing patience when getting into the Griffons’ 22, they worked through phases before swinging the ball wide to find space. At 17-7, they’d stemmed the bleeding.
But the Griffons weren’t done. Two penalties in quick succession, pushed the lead back out to 23-7. The Northern Free State side were dominating territory, winning the penalty count, and executing their wide game to perfection.
On the stroke of halftime, WP XV grabbed a crucial try. Staying patient in the 22-metre area, hard running around the corner finally breached the Griffons’ defence. At 23-14, the halftime scoreline suggested a contest still in the balance, but the Griffons had been the better side for 35 minutes.
Second half: WP XV turn the screw
The Cape coaching staff clearly delivered a stern message at the break because WP XV emerged transformed. Five minutes into the second half, they chipped away at the Griffons’ lead with another try to make it 23-21. The nine-point cushion had evaporated, and suddenly the Griffons were hanging on.
Five minutes later, WP XV grabbed another. Patient play created space out wide, and they crossed to take the lead for the first time in the match at 26-23. The comeback was complete, and momentum had swung decisively.
Griffons refuse to fold
Lesser teams would have crumbled. Not the Griffons. In the 50th minute, WP XV appeared to have seized control with an inch-perfect cross kick that went to hand, extending their lead to 33-23. The match looked over.
But four minutes later, the Griffons hit back. Creating space on the edges once again, they used their pace to devastating effect and crossed the line to cut the deficit to 33-29. With 16 minutes remaining, the upset was still on.
The dam wall bursts
WP XV’s quality finally told. In the 58th minute, they hit a hard line through the middle of the Griffons’ defence, punching through tired bodies to score and make it 40-29. The 11-point gap felt more comfortable.
Three minutes later, they grabbed another as the dam wall threatened to burst completely. At 45-29, WP XV were pulling clear with just nine minutes remaining.
The Griffons, to their eternal credit, showed they still had fight left. In the 64th minute, they produced another moment of magic on the outside. That scary pace caused problems all afternoon, and they found the tryline again to make it 45-33. Hope flickered briefly.
But there was to be no final twist. WP XV scored at the death to confirm a 52-33 final scoreline that, while comprehensive on paper, doesn’t tell the full story of a Griffons side that held their own against a very good WP XV outfit for long periods.
The Griffons can hold their heads high after this performance. Racing to a 23-7 lead against a side of WP XV’s calibre takes quality, courage, and clinical execution. Their wide game was superb in the first half, their pace on the outside caused constant problems, and their refusal to surrender, even when trailing by 16 points late on, showed tremendous character.
For WP XV, this was a valuable lesson in grinding out results when not playing well. They were second-best for 35 minutes, found themselves in a genuine scrap, but eventually their superior fitness and depth told. Scoring 38 second-half points, including 19 unanswered in the final 12 minutes, showed their ability to finish strong.
The Griffons held their own against a very good WP XV side. They didn’t win, but they earned respect. At Craven Week, sometimes that’s worth just as much.
