The powerhouses of SA Schools
rugby are centred in Bloemfontein, and in the Paarl/Stellenbosch region, and
this will be reflected on Thursday when Free State and Western Province meet in
the main game of the Coca-Cola under-16 Grant Khomo Week at the University of
Johannesburg (kickoff 11.45am).
The Free State team has 10 boys
from Grey College in its ranks, while Western Province is packed with players
from Paarl Gimnasium, Paarl Boys' High and Paul Roos Gimnasium.
Some might question if Western Province
and Free State deserve the honour of playing in the week's prestigious
concluding fixture since there are five unbeaten sides in the tournament- the
others being Eastern Province, the Leopards and Zimbabwe. A committee decides
on the fixtures according to the way that the various teams play their games
and try to match the teams up strength on strength. It must be remembered that
there is no real tournament winner.
The ease with which Western
Province dispatched the Blue Bulls on Tuesday must make them favourites for the
main game on Thursday.
They have loads of skill and
pace, particularly in the backs, and a goal-kicker that slots kicks from just
about anywhere. The Bulls simply could not keep up with them and they outscored
them by four tries to one.
The tries were by Veranzi Pipers,
Rudolf Brits, Pieter Jordaan and Edrich Venter. Herschel Jantjies kicked two
penalties and two conversions and Tiaan Swanepoel two penalties and one
conversion.
The Bulls lone try was scored by
Shadeur Mhlanga.
It was heartbreak for the hosts,
the Golden Lions, for the second day in a row, when they surrendered a 15-10
lead over Free State to go down 17-15.
They were ahead against Western
Province on day one, but an injury-time penalty saw Province snatch the victory
away from them.
There was nothing to choose
between the Lions and Free State. Both sides scored two tries, but the Lions
could only convert one of theirs.
The Lions tries were scored by
Justin Bhana and Ralton October. Bhana also kicked a penalty and a conversion.
Lewellyn Hein and Michael Andrade
got tries for Free State. Julian Jordaan
kicked a penalty and two
conversions.
RESULTS
Border 24 Limpopo 19, Griquas 35 Border
Country 6, Boland 23 Pumas 22, Golden Lions XV 21 Namibia 3, Eastern Province 5
KwaZulu-Natal 0, Zimbabwe 18 Griquas Country 14, Free State 17 Golden Lions 15,
Valke 13 Griffons 10, Leopards 18 SWD 16, Western Province 36 Blue Bulls 5.
Thursday's Fixtures
A field - 8am Namibia v Zimbabwe,
9.15am Kwazulu-Natal v Leopards, 10.30 Eastern Province v Boland, 11.45am
Western Province v Free State.
B field - 8am Valke v Border,
9.15am Pumas v Limpopo, 10.30am Golden Lions v Blue Bulls.
C field - 8am Griquas v Griquas
Country, 9.15am Golden Lions XV v Border Country, 10.30am SWD v Griffons.
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