DHL Western Province picked up three wins from three games across three different 2014 Coca-Cola Youth Weeks today, at Under-16 and Under-18 level.
The DHL Western Province Under-16 team hammered Border by 61-0 at the 2014 Grant Khomo Week in Pretoria, whilst the DHL WP Under-18 Academy team beat Free State by 43-5 in Worcester.
In other action, meanwhile, the DHL Western Province Under-16 Girls team beat Border 29-5 in Durban.
The Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week started on an exciting note at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria with a series of big wins and a few close encounters keeping spectators entertained on Monday.
The DHL Western Province U16s, the Blue Bulls and the Free State, in particular, established themselves as the early favourites to compete for places in the final match of the tournament on Thursday after encouraging victories in their opening games.
It started off chilly, but it did not take long for the rugby action at the 2014 Coca-Cola Under-18 Academy Week in Worcester to warm up the crowds and players alike.
There were tries aplenty at the rugby fields of the Technical High School Drostdy, with DHL Western Province, Eastern Province and Griquas Country Districts amongst those who warmed to the occasion and score some spectacular tries.
The DHL Western Province Under-18s made their mark against Free State, easily outplaying the Bloemfontein side, while Eastern Province overcame the Pumas in a lively match.
MATCH DETAILS – MONDAY, JULY 7:
DHL Western Province 61 (42) Border 0 – Under-16 Grant Khomo Week
The DHL Western Province forwards and backs combined well in the first match of the day and stamped their authority from the outset against Border, which resulted in an impressive nine tries and a 61-0 victory.
Six of these tries were scored in a strong first-half showing.
The Cape side’s fullback Gianni Lombard was also in fine form with the boot as he slotted over eight conversions to add to his try for a personal tally of 21 points, whilst No.8 Khanya Ncusane – who scored a brace of tries – was rewarded with the official Man of the Match honours.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province Under-16: Tries: Benjamin Momberg (2),
Bernard Swart, Gianni Lombard, Khanya Ncusane (2), Lubello Scott, Wian Van Zyl (2). Conversions: Gianni Lombard (8).
DHL Western Province 43 (17) Free State 5 (0) – Under-18 Academy Week
Province proved far too slick and well-coached for Free State, who had enough possession, but not enough variation to beat the miserly DHL WP defence.
The Free State side wanted to play wide all the time and it made it easy for the WP to push them over the sidelines.
When on attack DHL WP played it down the middle of the field, which resulted in gaps opening up on both sides, which was exploited with some good angled running and support play.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province Under-18: Tries: Carlu Sadie, Danrich Visagie, Michael Meyer, Mitchell Carstens, Mujaahid van der Hoven, Taigh Schoor. Conversions: Cornel Smit (5). Penalty: Rayhaan Lombaard.
Free State: Try: Johan Steyn.
Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week fixtures (Day Two):
TUT A-Field:
10h30: Pumas v Eastern Province
11h45: KwaZulu-Natal v South Western Districts
13h00: Boland v Griffons
14h15: Blue Bulls v Free State
15h30: Western Province v Golden Lions
TUT B-Field:
10h30: Border Country Districts v Leopards
11h45: Blue Bulls XV v Namibia
13h00: Griqualand West Country Districts v Zimbabwe
14h15: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Griqualand West
15h30: Valke v Border