DHL Western Province’s unbeaten Under-16 and Under-18 youth teams picked up Day Two victories in the 2014 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo and Academy Week tournaments on Tuesday.
The unbeaten DHL Western Province Under-16 Grant Khomo Week team staged a strong second-half comeback against the Golden Lions for a deserved 24-11 victory and the Griffons pipped Boland 24-23, whilst hosts the Blue Bulls registered an encouraging 23-10 victory against the Free State.
teststarter
The Province U16s fought back from 0-11 down at half-time, scoring 24 unanswered points via three tries, three conversions and one penalty goal. Zimbabwe and the Blue Bulls XV also registered back-to-back victories in the Academy Week, but they will face tough competition for places in the final match of the tournament which is often referred to as the unofficial final.
The Under-16 players will have Wednesday off to recover from the opening two rounds, with the final day’s play being hosted on Thursday.
In the Academy Week, meanwhile, the DHL Western Province Under-18 team made it two from two in Worcester with a hard-fought 17-8 win over the Bulls.
The Golden Lions, Namibia and Eastern Province Country Districts all scored good wins as well in a day that saw two red cards being handed out.
KZN destroyed Eastern Province in the final match of the day, scoring at will and nailing their colours to the flag to play in the main match on Thursday, when all teams will play their third and final matches. Wednesday is also a day off for the Under-18 Academy Week sides.
MATCH DETAILS – TUESDAY, JULY 8:
DHL Western Province 24 (0) Lions Under-16s 11 (11) – Under-16 Grant Khomo Week
DHL Western Province had to work hard for their victory against the Golden Lions after trailing 0-11 at the break as the Lions retained possession in the opposition’s half and kicked the ball into space behind Western Province from their own half.
They supported this with a solid defensive effort, which left the Cape side scoreless in the first half. But Province fought back with intent in the second half and managed to find the gaps in the Lions defence.
Flank and captain Athi Magwala – the official Man of the Match – scored two of their three tries, while fullback Gianni Lombard added to the score with three conversions and a penalty.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province Under-16: Tries: Athi Magwala (2), Benjamin Momberg. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (3). Penalty: Gianni Lombard.
Golden Lions: Try: Cameron Burke. Penalties: Wandisile Simelane (2).
DHL Western Province 17 (10) Blue Bulls 8 (3) – Under-18 Academy Week
DHL Western Province outplayed the Blue Bulls in broken play and in the line-outs, but also defended like Trojans in their win over their traditional foe.
Both teams have exciting and quick backs and used them well, but in the end it was a huge tackle by midfielder Taigh Schoor on the massive Blue Bulls lock Brenden Verster – with the tryline begging – that typified the coastal team’s effort.
A close match by two of the best teams at the week was eventually determined by the better use of scoring opportunities and team work. Three tries to one – in WP’s favour – also tells its own story.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province Under-18: Tries: Calvin Nell, Michael Meyer, Mujaahid van der Hoven. Conversion: Nell
Blue Bulls: Try: Carlo De Nysschen. Penalty: Hendrik Mulder.300-209