DHL Western Province and the Golden Lions will compete for overall bragging rights in the unofficial final of the 2013 Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week in Polokwane on Saturday (15h15).
Province claimed a brilliant 30-6 win over the Blue Bulls on Day Three (on Wednesday), having, on Monday, opened their 2013 Craven Week account with a 40-24 triumph over the Pumas.
Now the WP boys will go head-to-head with the Golden Lions – who are also unbeaten after two matches – in Saturday’s finale to South Africa’s annual schoolboy rugby showpiece, the 50th edition of this prestigious event.
WP coach Hein Kriek told wprugby.com on Thursday: “We will give our best on Saturday – the players are really looking forward to the match!”
Meanwhile, DHL Western Province captain Rikus Bothma and scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies were both cleared to play on Saturday, after being cited on Wednesday for dangerous tackles, which saw them yellow-carded within minutes of each other against the Bulls. (See a photo gallery HERE!)
If Province beat the Lions on Saturday, they will join the DHL WP Under-13 and Under-16 teams as the unofficial champions of their respective youth weeks this season.
The WP Under-18 Academy Week team lost just one match last week – against eventual champs, SWD – whilst the WP U18 LSEN team and the Under-18 Girls Sevens side finished their respective competitions unbeaten and the U16 Girls are currently two from two in their national week in Oudtshoorn.
* The Lions on Thursday produced a thrilling 20-19 victory on Thursday to secure their ‘final’ spot against Western Province. The victory marked their second of the week, a feat only four teams achieved; DHL WP, Border and Zimbabwe.
SWD also showed their class in a thrilling fourth day’s action as they thumped Eastern Province 40-14 after running in an impressive six tries to show their character after going down 34-27 against the Lions on Tuesday.
The competing 20 teams will enjoy a relaxing day off on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s final matches at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Coca-Cola Craven Week results (Day Four):
Golden Lions 20 Free State 19
Eastern Province 14 SWD 40
Griffons 26 EP CD 20
Valke 44 Griquas CD 24
Leopards 64 Border CD 0
Coca-Cola Craven Week, Day Five fixtures (July 13):
A FIELD:
09h15: Zimbabwe v Namibia
10h45: Border v KwaZulu-Natal
12h15: Blue Bulls v SWD
13h45: Free State v Pumas
15h15: Western Province v Lions
B FIELD:
09h15: Limpopo v EP CD
10h45: Griffons v Boland
12h15: Eastern Province v Valke
C FIELD:
09h15: Border CD v Griquas
10h45: Griquas CD v Leopards
