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Strong start for DHL WP U18 teams in Bloemfontein

PUBLISHED: July 2, 2019


There were big wins for all three DHL Western Province U18 teams in action on the opening day of the U18 SA Rugby Craven Week and SA Rugby Academy Week at Grey College in Bloemfontein.

DHL Western Province U18 started their Craven Week with a 50-24 win against neighbours Boland, while the DHL Western Province Academy side beat the Blue Bulls 73-10 and the DHL Western Province U18 XV beat EP Elephants Country Districts 41-17.

Solid wins were the order of the day in the SA Rugby Craven Week despite a number of matches proving to be close at times, with DHL Western Province, SWD, the NWU Valke and the Bizhub Free State Cheetahs stamping their authority on day one.

The Capetonians, who took top honours in the 2018 edition of the tournament, registered the biggest win of the day as they got the better of Boland for a 50-24 win.

There was a good mix of close encounters and big wins in the SA Rugby Academy Week, but it was again DHL Western Province, who made the strongest statement with their 73-10 victory against the Blue Bulls. With their DHL Western Province XV counterparts also registering a victory, it proved to be a good day for the union, while Boland and the Limpopo Blue Bulls also scored more than 40 points in their wins.

Craven Week half-century against Boland

DHL Western Province gave a strong account of themselves as they powered their way to a 50-24 victory against their Cape neighbours, Boland.

The team’s forwards laid a solid foundation up front, and their backs showed enterprise on attack, while they did well to round off their point-scoring chances. Fullback Kade Wolhuter was in fine form, scoring two tries and five penalties for his 20 points, while No.8 Gideon Van Wyk also crossed the chalk twice.

Such was the high quality of the DHL Western Province display they limited Boland to three points in the first half, but the Winelands’ team fought back strongly with three second-half tries. This, however, not enough to counter their rivals.

U18 SA Rugby Craven Week day-one results (Monday, 1 July):
NWU Valke 43-24 Leopards
Phakisa Pumas 22-43 SWD Eagles
DHL Western Province 50-24 Boland
Bizhub Free State Cheetahs 46-24 Cell C Sharks

Both DHL WP Academy Week teams win

DHL Western Province U18 Academy racked up the biggest score of the day as they ran riot on attack against the Blue Bulls, scoring an impressive 11 tries for a rewarding 73-10 victory. The Capetonians were in hot form, cutting through the defence at will, and they backed this up with fantastic support play.

DHL WP Speedster Dalvon Bradley Blood touched down four times for his team, while Luke Burger earned a brace. With limited possession and no answer for the endless DHL WP attack, the Pretoria side managed only 10 points for their efforts.

Their DHL Western Province XV counterparts also showed their class against EP Elephants CD as they secured a comprehensive 41-17 victory thanks to their seven tries to three. The first half was competitive as the Cape side led 19-12, but they broke away after play resumed, with prop Wiaan Schmidt and scrumhalf Brandon Jafta each dotting down twice.

SA Rugby Academy Week day-one results (Monday, 1 July):

Free State Cheetahs 38-41 Cell C Sharks
Border CD 17-20 Pumas CD
Cell C Sharks CD 24-27 Leopards
DHL Western Province 73-10 Blue Bulls
EP Elephants CD 17-41 DHL Western Province XV
Old Mutual Zimbabwe 29-45 Boland
EP Elephants 24-47 Limpopo Blue Bulls

U18 SA Rugby Craven Week day-two fixtures (Tuesday, 2 July):

09h30 – Griquas v Unitrans Limpopo Blue Bulls (A Field)
11h00 – Assupol Blue Bulls XV v Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions XV (A Field)
12h30 – EP Elephants v Thepa Trading Griffons (A Field)
14h00 – Assupol Blue Bulls v Border (A Field)
15h30 – Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions v DHL Western Province XV (A Field)

U18 SA Rugby Academy Week day-two fixtures (Tuesday, 2 July):

08h00 – SWD Eagles v Border (A Field)
08h00 – Griquas CD v SA LSEN XV (B Field)
09h20 – Phakisa Pumas v SA LSEN (B Field)
10h40 – Blue Bulls XV v Thepa Trading Griffons CD (B Field)
12h00 – Thepa Trading Griffons v Griquas (B Field)
13h20 – Namibia v Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions Academy XV (B Field)
14h40 – Valke v Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions Academy (B Field)