THE 2013 U-13 COCA-COLA YOUTH RUGBY WEEK GOT OFF TO A FANTASTIC START WITH A COUPLE OF SUPRISING RESULTS

The 42 Coca-Cola Under 13 Craven Week for Primary Schools got going in balmy Bela-Bela yesterday and the players responded to the opportunity to show their skills in ideal conditions, away from their icy home environments, by producing some sparkling barefoot rugby.

The two most impressive sides on show on day one appeared in the opening and the closing encounters – the Golden Lions beat Zimbabwe 36-0 in the tournament opener, and KwaZulu-Natal accounted for the hosts, the Limpopo Blue Bulls 33-5 in the final game of the day, to set the bar for the other teams who want to have a say in the stakes for main game honours come Friday.

In between, there were impressive performances from Border, who beat Free State 28-17, and the Blue Bulls who overcame a feisty Boland 19-5.

The Bulls won the main game at last year’s Coca-Cola under-13 Craven Week, so they are the unofficial champions, and they showed on day one that it is not a crown they will be relinquishing readily.

Border trailed 14-17 at halftime against Free State, but scored 14 unanswered points in the second period to announce themselves as serious contenders this year.

The upset of the day was caused by the Leopards, who beat fancied Eastern Province 10-5 in tight affair that saw a titanic forward struggle.

Even tighter was the SWD v Valke clash which ended in a rare pointless draw.

In Tuesday’s action the first day winners face tougher opposition, so the Golden Lions face Border in the main game of the day, while the Blue Bulls take on the Leopards, and KwaZulu-Natal meet Boland.

Wednesday is a rest day, and the teams play their third and fourth games on Thursday and Friday.

Monday’s Results

Golden Lions 36 Zimbabwe 0, Pumas 17 Namibia 0, Border 28 Free State 17, Border Country 5 Griffons 3, SWD 0 Valke 0, Leopards 10 E Province 5, Western Province 31 Griquas 7, Blue Bulls 19 Boland 5, KwaZulu-Natal 33 Limpopo Blue Bulls 5.

Tuesday’s fixtures

9am SWD v Griquas, 9.50am Valke v Limpopo Blue Bulls, 10.40am Pumas v Border Country, 11.30am Free State v Namibia, 12.20pm Griffons v Zimbabwe, 1.10pm KwaZulu-Natal v Boland, 2pm E Province v W Province, 2.50pm Blue Bulls v Leopards, 3.40pm Golden Lions v Border.