Western Province fullback Tiaan Swanepoel scored 16 points, including a penalty at the death, to give his side a nailbiting 21-19 victory over the Lions in the main match of the opening day of the Coca-Cola Under-16 Grant Khomo Week hosted by University of Johannesburg.
There were also wins on Monday for Limpopo, EP, Zimbabwe, Free State, Boland, Blue Bulls, Leopards, KZN and Griquas Country Districts.
In the main match, the home side looked to have done enough when they led 19-18 going into the final minute, thanks to a try from lock Devon Henson and 14 points from the boot of flyhalf Forrest Roos, who kicked a conversion, three penalties and a drop goal.
But they didn’t account for fullback Swanepoel, playing in the number 22 jersey, who more than made up for two earlier misses by scoring 10 points in the final minute by way of a converted try and an injury-time penalty that ultimately separated two well-matched sides. The Cape schoolboys’ other points came from a try to right wing Edwill van der Merwe.
In the main curtain-raiser, Limpopo eighthman Hendrik Luüs staked an early claim for the player of the tournament award when he crossed for four tries in his side’s 54-10 victory over Griquas.
Tuesday’s Fixtures – Day 2:
A field: 10h30 – Border vs Limpopo
11h45 – Boland vs Pumas
13h00 – EP vs KZN
14h15 – Free State vs Lions
15h30 – WP vs Blue Bulls
B field: 10h30 – Border CD vs Griquas
11h45 – Lions XV vs Namibia
13h00 – Zimbabwe vs Griquas CD
14h15 – Griffons vs Valke
15h30 – SWD vs Leopards
Monday’s Results – Day 1:
Border CD (19) 22 – Tries: Chuma Matubatuba, Sinegugu Lituka, Thembani Gobodo. Conversions: Lituka, Siphamandla Dubase. Penalty: Phumzile Blom.
Griquas CD (5) 25 – Tries: Ruan Matthews, Ronald Arendse, Martin van den Heever, Erlu Kock. Conversion: Matthews. Penalty: Kylan Griqua.
Pumas (14) 19 – Tries: Ian Truter (2), Armand van Wyk. Conversions: Barend Smit (2).
KZN (3) 22 – Tries: Kwazikwenkosi Khanyile, Jordan Martin, Christopher Bredell. Conversions: Morne Joubert (2). Penalty: Joubert.
Namibia 0
Leopards (3) 20 – Tries: Paseka Maluleke, Brenden Esterhuizen, Almeru van Wyk. Conversion: Hein Claase. Penalty: Claase.
Blue Bulls (10) 17– Tries: Wildon Marsh, Tristan Nel, Sam Mitchell. Conversion: Nel.
Griffons (0) 5 – Try: Gerrie Muller.
Border (8) 15 – Tries: Ettienne Bester, Jerry Danquah. Conversion: Liam McLoughlin. Penalty: McLoughlin.
Boland (3) 23 – Tries: Andre Manuel (2). Conversions: Fabio Afrika, Raylinn Philander. Penalties: Afrika, Philander (2).
Free State (15) 29 – Tries: Jeandre Christian, Julian Jordaan, Lamond Bouwer, Paul de Lange.
Conversions: Jordaan (3). Penalty: Jordaan.
Valke (0) 7 – Try: Petrus van Wyk. Conversion: Bongani Zwane.
Lions XV (10) 18 – Tries: Juan Lemmer (2), Frank Francis. Penalty: Rashard Fuller.
Zimbabwe (10) 21 – Tries: Tawanda Ngosi, Stephen Bhasera. Conversion: Josh Worsley.
Penalties: Worsley (3).
EP (10) 24 – Tries: Keanu Vers, Luigy van Jaarsveld (2). Conversions: Anton Knoetze (2), Jeremy Ward. Penalty: Knoetze.
SWD (3) 18 – Tries: Niven Langdown, John Jackson. Conversion: Jackson. Penalties: Jackson (2).
Griquas (10) 10 – Try: Gerhard Holtzhausen. Conversion: Christiaan van Zyl. Penalty: Van Zyl.
Limpopo (22) 54 – Tries: Hendrik Luüs (4), Marius van der Meulen, Surprise Mathabela, Vukosi Mabuza, Willem Dreyer. Conversions: Arno Maree (4). Penalties: Maree (2).
Lions (6) 19 – Try: Devon Henson. Conversion: Forrest Roos. Penalties: Roos (3). Drop goal: Roos.
WP (6) 21 – Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Tiaan Swanepoel. Conversion: Swanepoel. Penalties: Swanepoel (3).
In Wellington, the Blue Bulls made a strong start at the Coca-Cola National Under- 18 Academy Week on Monday, but SWD Eagles made the biggest splash by beating the more fancied KZN. Free State broke local hearts by beating hosts Boland 28-15.
The Blue Bulls side beat Eastern Province 22-8, with a strong second half showing by the Pretoria team resulting in a convincing win. Scores were tied (3-3) at the break, but a brace by Kyle Leukes and a try by flyhalf Kobus Marais secured the win. Marais also kicked two conversions and a penalty in his man of the match performance.
The Blue Bulls suffered an early setback when Juandr Pitzer dislocated his shoulder, but Kruger proved to be a worthy replacement. Pitzer’s tournament is over though and he will be replaced by Nico Luus for the last two fixtures.
The Eagles won 34-19 and showed that they will be the team to beat at the tournament.
Results on day one:
Limpopo 15, Border 22
Blue Bulls 22, EP 8
SWD 34, KZN 19
WP 33, Golden Lions 11
Boland 15, Free State 28
Pumas 22, Griffons CD 19
Griquas 49, Namibia 24
Griquas CD 14, Boland XV 28
KZN CD 53, Leopards CD 10
EP CD 15, Leopards 10
Rooi Valke 50, SA LSEN 10
Pumas CD 15, Griffons 34
Border CD 0, Blou Valke 49
Tuesday’s fixtures – Day 2:
Boland Stadium
08h30 – Border vs SA LSEN
09h50 – Griffons CD vs Namibia
11h10 – KZN CD vs Griffons
12h30 – Griquas vs Rooi Valke
13h50 – Border vs Pumas
15h10 – SWD vs Blue Bulls
16h30 – WP vs Free State
Boland Stadium B-field
08h30 – Griquas CD vs Leopards CD
09h50 – Limpopo vs Pumas CD
11h10 – EP vs Leopards
12h30 – Boland vs KZN
13h50 – EP CD vs Lions
15h10 – Boland XV vs Blou Valke
