LIVE | Western Province to face Free State in Craven Week ‘final’
South Africa’s top schoolboys are currently in action at the U18 Craven Week which is being staged at Hoërskool Monument in Krugersdorp.
Note: These fixtures and results are FREE to read
The tournament, which forms part of SA Rugby’s 2024 Youth Weeks programme, will run from 24 to 29 June, with 16 teams competing across the matches played on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Four matches took place on Day One of the tournament, Monday, 24 June, while another four matches were contested on Day Two on Tuesday, 25 June.
The same was the case on Wednesday, 26 June.
Four unbeaten teams
Free State and the Pumas remained unbeaten after claiming important wins on Day 4 on Thursday, 27 June.
Free State and the Pumas – as well as Boland and Western Province – have racked up two wins in as many matches and will take some momentum into the final round of fixtures this Saturday.
The Pumas put 60 points past the Limpopo Blue Bulls on Tuesday and were just as ruthless in the clash with the Griffons on Thursday, where they scored nine tries in a 57-26 victory.
Lock Franko Rossouw touched down twice, while flyhalf Matthew Abbey, the tournament’s leading scorer, contributed 17 points.
After beating the Griffons 57-36 in the first round, Free State had reason to feel confident ahead of their showdown with the Bulls on Thursday afternoon.
The central union scored three tries in the first half, before the Bulls clawed their way back into the game.
However, late touchdowns by fullback Heinz Stockenstrom – who finished with a brace – and No 8 Liam Santos sealed a 34-27 win for Free State.
Earlier in the day, Griquas and the Limpopo Blue Bulls showed their attacking intent in a high-scoring contest that yielded 15 tries overall.
The northerners led 18-12 at half-time, before Griquas lifted their performance in the second stanza and claimed a 53-37 victory.
The Golden Lions rebounded from a narrow loss to the Bulls to edge the WP XV 37-33 on Thursday.
The hosts outscored the Cape side by six tries to five, with replacement backs Cheswill Jooste and Michael Benzien scoring two apiece.
The last day of the tournament will commence with a clash between the Leopards and Limpopo Blue Bulls at 08:00.
WP will face Free State in the final match of the competition at 13:15.
Western Province are the Craven Week defending champions.
Final day Craven Week fixtures – Saturday, 29 June
Leopards v Limpopo Blue Bulls – 08:00
WP XV v Pumas – 09:15
Valke v Griquas – 09:20
Lions v SWD – 10:35
Border v Griffons – 10:40
Bulls v Sharks – 11:55
Boland v Eastern Province – 12:00
Western Province v Free State – 13:15
Day Four results
Griquas 53-37 Limpopo Blue Bulls
Griffons 26-57 Pumas
Golden Lions 37-33 Western Province XV
Blue Bulls 27-34 Free State
Day Three results
Valke 36-26 Leopards
Boland 34-20 Border
SWD 19-28 Sharks
Western Province 66-14 Eastern Province
Day Two results
Western Province XV 52-17 Griquas
Pumas 60-17 Limpopo Bulls
Free State 57-36 Griffons
Blue Bulls 35-34 Golden Lions
Day One results
South Western Districts 41-34 Valke
Boland 41-21 Leopards
Eastern Province 24-14 Border
Western Province 36-26 Sharks
The South African website will update the results as and when they happen