WESTERN PROVINCE AND BLUE BULLS EMERGE AS THE BEST TEAMS AT THE 2012 COCA-COLA UNDER 13 CRAVEN WEEK

The 41st Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week ends in Bloemfontein on Friday with the teams from Western Province and the Blue Bulls being given the honour of contesting the week's concluding fixture.

All the Coca-Cola SA Rugby Youth Weeks are strictly festivals, with no overall winners or players of the tournaments being announced.

So, the only prize on offer is a place in the unofficial final - the last game on the last day. There is no doubt that both the Blue Bulls and Western Province richly deserve the honour of playing in the showpiece game of this week.

They are two of only three teams to come through unbeaten over the first three days of play and they played the most effective and attractive rugby on view.

The Blue Bulls turned it on in the second half of a tight game against SWD on Thursday , scoring four tries without reply to win 28 -5.

Their tries were by Jaco Labuschagne (2), Werner Nel, Johan Van Zyl and Juandre Du Piesane. Charles Goedhals kicked three conversions.

Chaunton Prins dotted down for the Young Eagles.

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

Western Province were very impressive in downing the Valke17-0 in the final game of the third day.

They led 5-0 at the break against a very game Valke side, but had too much power for them in the end and they got two more tries in the second half.

The tries were scored by Xolani Masembathe (two) and by eighthman Zakareeyah Sallie, who has been easily the standout player at the week. Henry Chamberlain converted one of the tries.

In their earlier matches Province beat the Pumas and the Leopards, both by 35 points to six.

The other side to win on each of the three opening days was Griquas. They beat KwaZulu-Natal 11-5 on Thursday and have been rewarded with a matchup against the Valke in Friday’s second-last game.

The hosts, Free State, finally got on the winning track with a 34-0 win over Zimbabwe, while the Golden Lions suffered the ignominy of losing to the Border Country Districts and they are banished to the B field tomorrow where they will face the hosts.

“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.”

Results

Free State 34 Zimbabwe 0, Namibia 10 Pumas 7, Border Country Districts 19 Golden Lions 5, Leopards 24 Border 5, Griffons 22 Limpopo 0, Boland 22 Eastern Province 12, Griquas KwaZulu-Natal, Blue Bulls SWD, Western Province 17 Valke 0.

Friday's Fixtures

B Field - 9am Zimbabwe v Pumas, 9.50am Namibia v Border Country Districts, 10.40am Free State v Golden Lions.

A Field – 9am Border v Limpopo, 9.50am KwaZulu-Natal v Eastern Province, 10.40am Griffons v Leopards, 11.30am Boland v SWD, 12.20pm Griquas v Valke, 1.10pm Blues Bulls v Western Province.