THE TOP TEAMS ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGE AT THE COCA-COLA UNDER 13 CRAVEN WEEK

Western Province and the Blue Bulls continued their march towards a place in the prestigious main game of the 2012 Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week with good wins over the Leopards and Border, respectively, on the second day’s play in Bloemfontein yesterday.

They are two of just five sides who have come through the first two days unbeaten and barring disaster on Thursday, they should meet in the week's unofficial final on Friday.

Western Province beat the Pumas 36-5 on Monday and then beat the Leopards 45-0 on Tuesday.

Their eighthman, Zakareeya Sallie, got a hat-trick of tries and is emerging as one of the most impressive players on view this week. Vian Fourie got two touchdowns, with Jermaine Claasen and Louwrens Kasselman scoring one try each.

Henry Chamberlain added five conversions.

The Blue Bulls were 31-6 winners over Eastern Province on day one and they beat Border 34-10 on day two.

Blue Bulls eighthman Dylan Nysschen also scored three tries. The others were by Charles Goedhals, Johan Mulder and Nicky Janse Van Rensburg. Goedhals and Werner Nel kicked a conversion apiece.

The other teams two come through the first two days unbeaten were the Valke, who beat KwaZulu-Natal on day one and Border yesterday; SWD, who beat Free State and Limpopo; and Griquas who had victories over Namibia and Border Country Districts.

Free State's disappointing week continued. They lost to SWD on day one and were well beaten by KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, going down 26-12. The Golden Lions went down to Eastern Province on day 2, making it two losses out of two for them as well.

Yusuf Jackson, SA Rugby's manager of youth teams and amateur events, has been at the week running an eye over proceedings and he says he is very satisfied with what he has seen.

"Grey College is one of our great rugby institutions and it has been an experience for these young players to run out onto this field," he says. "The facilities here and the organisation of the event have been second to none."

As far as the standard of play is concerned, Jackson says he is more than satisfied with what he has seen. "The teams took some time to settle on day one, and the icy conditions did not help. But day two saw some sparkling rugby and it showed again how much talent we have in this country."

“All Coca-Cola Youth Weeks, of which there are four, are aimed at identifying and nurturing talent within South Africa,” said Coca-Cola SA Marketing Asset Manager, Craig Van Niekerk.  “Seeing players progress through the various Coca-Cola Rugby Youth Weeks is amazing and we are proud to be the sponsor to make this transition possible.”

Wednesday is a rest day at the week. Thursday’s clashes between The Blue Bulls and SWD and Western Province and the Valke are semifinals in all but name, with the winners likely to get the nod for the week’s concluding fixture on Friday.

Thursday's Fixtures.

9.30am Free State v Zimbabwe, 10.20am Pumas v Namibia, 11.10am Border Country v Golden Lions, 12pm Border v Leopards, 12.50pm Griffons v Limpopo, 1.40pm Boland v Eastern Province, 2.30pm Griquas v KwaZulu-Natal, 3.20pm Blue Bulls v SWD, 4.10pm Western Province v Valke.

Results

Eastern Province 12 Golden Lions 7, Griffons 15 Pumas 3, SWD 15 Limpopo 0, Griquas 10 Border Country 0, Valke 8 Boland 7, Western Province 36 Leopards 5, Namibia 36 Zimbabwe 5, KwaZulu-Natal 26 Free State 12.