{"id":264895,"date":"2025-07-10T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T06:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/?p=264895"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:58:37","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T06:58:37","slug":"unbeaten-streaks-continue-as-top-school-rugby-teams-shine-at-craven-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/unbeaten-streaks-continue-as-top-school-rugby-teams-shine-at-craven-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Unbeaten streaks continue as top school rugby teams shine at Craven Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The third day of action at the prestigious FNB U18 Craven Week delivered spectacular rugby entertainment at Ho\u00ebrskool Middelburg on Wednesday, with South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles and DHL Western Province XV maintaining their perfect tournament records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both powerhouse school rugby teams extended their winning streaks to two victories each, while Free State and Limpopo Blue Bulls bounced back from opening day defeats with stunning comeback performances that had spectators on the edge of their seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SWD Eagles soar past Golden Lions in eight try thriller<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The SWD Eagles produced the performance of the day, dismantling the Golden Lions 54-22 in a dominant display that showcased why they\u2019re considered serious Craven Week 2025 title contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following their nail-biting 35-34 victory over Free State in their tournament opener, the Eagles were in scintillating form, crossing the try line eight times. Star performers Christiaan Vorster and Jacobus de Villiers each contributed two tries to the impressive team total, demonstrating the depth of talent in South African school rugby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Limpopo pulls off miraculous comeback against Griffons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In arguably the most dramatic match of the U18 rugby tournament, Limpopo Blue Bulls completed one of the greatest comebacks in recent Craven Week history, overturning a 19-0 first-quarter deficit to defeat the Griffons 49-44.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hooker Ziahn Lombaard was the hero of the hour, scoring a hat-trick of tries, while fullback Ryno Mienie proved deadly accurate with the boot, slotting seven conversions to guide his team to an unlikely victory that will be remembered for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"SWD
SWD were in great form against the Golden Lions. PHOTO: SA Rugby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Western Province XV maintains momentum with seven try victory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fresh from their comprehensive 52-6 demolition of the Griffons on day two, Western Province XV continued their impressive form with a commanding 45-14 victory over the Pumas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lock Gershom Pieters and replacement forward Caleb Koeberg each grabbed two tries as the Cape Town-based side ran in seven tries total, sending a clear message to their rivals about their championship ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free State responds with statement win over Blue Bulls<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After suffering a heartbreaking one-point loss to SWD on opening day, Free State delivered the perfect response with a convincing 52-33 victory against the Blue Bulls in Wednesday\u2019s final fixture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free State backline was in devastating form, with fullback Lamla Mgedezi crossing for three tries and centre Ethan Adams adding two more. Despite a valiant hat-trick from Blue Bulls centre Thabiso Simelane, Free State\u2019s seven-try haul proved too much for their opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complete day three results (Wednesday, 9 July)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Limpopo Blue Bulls 49 Griffons 44<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • DHL Western Province XV 45 Pumas 14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Free State 52 Blue Bulls 33<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • SWD Eagles 54 Golden Lions 22<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    With several teams now showing their championship credentials, the remaining fixtures at this year\u2019s FNB U18 Craven Week promise to deliver more thrilling school rugby action as South Africa\u2019s brightest young talents battle for supremacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"WP
    Western Province continued their winning streak with a 45-14 victory over the Pumas. PHOTO: SA Rugby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s next at Craven Week 2025<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The high school rugby action continues at Ho\u00ebrskool Middelburg on Thursday: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • 10:00 – Boland vs Valke<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 11:30 – Griquas vs Leopards<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 13:00 – Border vs Eastern Province<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 14:30 – Western Province vs Sharks <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The afternoon clash between Western Province and the Sharks High Schools promises to be a highlight, as both teams look to maintain their strong tournament form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      With several teams now showing their championship credentials, the remaining fixtures at this year\u2019s FNB U18 Craven Week promise to deliver more thrilling school rugby action as South Africa\u2019s brightest young talents battle for supremacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The third day of action at the prestigious FNB U18 Craven Week delivered spectacular rugby entertainment at Ho\u00ebrskool Middelburg on Wednesday, with South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles and DHL Western 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streaks continue as top school rugby teams shine at Craven Week | UD Express (Uitenhage)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Craven Week schools rugby action continues with thrilling matches and standout performances from SWD Eagles and Western Province.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/unbeaten-streaks-continue-as-top-school-rugby-teams-shine-at-craven-week\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Unbeaten streaks continue as top school rugby teams shine at Craven Week\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Craven Week schools rugby action continues with thrilling matches and standout performances from SWD Eagles and Western Province.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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