The Blue Bulls looked like they had the game sewn up when they went into an 11-6 lead halfway through the second half. At that stage they were winning the forward exchanges hands down and were pressurising the Free Staters into numerous uncharacteristic mistakes.
Free State refused to lie down, however and when centre Jan Serfontien took a gap close to halfway and ran through to score eight minutes form the end they led for the first time in the game.
There was still time for the Bulls to aim a shot at goal, which would have levelled the scores. They missed it, however, and Free State carry on unbeaten and a sure bet for Saturday’s main game.
Free State’s other points came via penalties by Arrie Vosloo (two) and Jannie Stumpher.
The Bulls got a try through Thabo Mabuza, Faf Tredoux kicked two penalties.
The most exciting game of the day was the second-last game one, between SWD and the Valke. It was won 34-32 by the Valke in the end, but they only made it safe with a try three minutes from the end after the lead changed hands several times, and SWD were leading at that stage.
The Valke sealed it with another try, on the stroke of full time, to preserve their unbeaten record and lay their claim for a late game on the A field on the final day of the Week.
Ruan Grove scored two tries for the winners, with Jacques Nel, Adrian Oosthuizen and Gerhardus Benade getting the others. Warren Potgieter kicked two penalties and two conversions and Armandt Peens two conversions. Brianta Booysen and Michael Bernhardt score tries for SWD. Du Toit Hattingh kicked three penalties and two conversions.
The third day’s action got going with a 40-17 win by the Eastern Province Country side over the Northwest Leopards.
After a close first half, the floodgates opened in the closing stages and the EP side got two late tries to run up a big score in the end.
Their tries were scored by Juandre Viljoen, Mazel Kiewiets, Naldo Meyer and Ntsikelelo Mlamleli. Mlamleli also kicked two penalties and Willem Venter added a penalty, a drop goal and four conversions. For the Leopards Sias Koen scored two tries and Adriaan Esterhuizen kicked a penalty and two conversions.
The home side, Griquas, bounced back from the disappointment of losing to SWD on the opening day be beating Namibia 53-3. Griquas turned it on in style, scoring seven unanswered tries and showing that they belong in one of the games on the A field on the final day, come Saturday.
Their try-scorers were Granville Adams (2), Adriaan Smit, Curtley Kiewiets, Dawid Minnie, Hermanus Scholtz and Vuyani Maqina. Kobus du Plessis kicked four penalties and three conversions.
Lou Rickerts kicked the sole Namibia penalty.
The Pumas and Boland scored eight tries between them in an exciting game, won 51-26 by the Pumas in the end.
Their tries were by Albertus Smith, Mpumelelo Gina, Phumalani Radebe, Wandile Nkosi and Werner Kok. Jacobus olmerans kicked six penalties and four conversions.
Boland got tries through Ashlon Davids, Gillmore Hector and Jason Kriel (2). Davids kicked two conversions and Anzo Stubbs one.
Thursday’s big game is between the Golden Lions and KwaZulu-Natal. The winner of that game will in all likelihood play in the main game on Saturday against Free State.
Of the 40 years of its existence, Coca-Cola has been part of the week for the past 26, a statistic the company is proud of. “Coca-Cola sponsors tournaments at the highest level and we are fully aware that no country can be successful without a strong development programme in place and Coca-Cola has played a major role in finding Springboks. More than 90 percent of the current squad have competed in one of the Coca-Cola Youth Weeks,” said Zayd Abrahams, Head of Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola South Africa.
Abrahams said further: “But the four weeks we are involved with, namely the Coca-Cola U13, Academy, Under 16 and Under 18 weeks are also about living for a difference and living a healthy lifestyle. These are the messages we also promote throughout each tournament.”
Wednesday’s Results – Eastern Province Country 40 Leopards 17, Griquas 53 Namibia 3, Pumas 51 Boland 26, Valke 39 SWD 23, Free State 14 Blue Bulls 11.
Thursday’s Fixtures - 10am Griquas Country v Border Country, 11.40am Limpopo v Zimbabwe, 1.10pm Eastern Province v Griffons, 2.40pm Western Province v Border, 4.10pm Golden Lions v KwaZulu-Natal.
All pictures courtesy of Gallo Images
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| Carlo Engelbrecht from Pretoria during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between Free State and Bulls |
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| Cornelius Meyer from Boksburg during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between SWD and Falcons |
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| Dewald Dekker from SWD during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between SWD and Falcons |
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| Elrico Fielies from Griqualand West duringthe Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week. Game between EP CD and Leopards |
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| Granville Adams from Griqualand West scores a try the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between Griquas and Namibia |
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| Jason Kriel from Boland during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between Boland and Pumas |
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| Kurtly Appollis from SWD during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between SWD and Falcons |
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| Percy Williams from SWD during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between SWD and Falcons |
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| Stefan Steenberg from Vereeniging during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between SWD and Falcons |
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| Thabo Mabuza from Pretoria during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between Free State and Bulls |
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| Thabo Mabuza from Pretoria scores during day 3 of the Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between Free State and Bulls |
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| Vuyani Maqiuna from Griqualand West. The Coca-Cola Under 18 Craven Week in the game between EP CD and Leopards |
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