Western Province crowned the unofficial champions of the U18 Coca-Cola Academy Week.

Western Province beat KwaZulu-Natal 38-7 in the final game of the U18 Coca-Cola Academy in front of a packed and very partisan crowd at HTS Drosdy in Wellington today.

 Western Province got off to a very good start and immediately put KwaZulu-Natal under pressure. It did not take long before Province’s wing Andre Manuel broke through the KZN defence to score the first try of the game.

 Province found themselves back on their opponents’ tryline directly from the kickoff, and with the defence  in tatters, Michael Meyer ran through the centre field defence and broke 4 tackles to score their second try.

 Up to this point KwaZulu-Natal had only touched the ball to restart the game. Province’s dominance was complete.

 Once again the Cape side broke easily through the KwaZulu-Natal defence with a quick backline move that finished close to the right hand corner. Province lock, Sybrand Du Toit, was in close support of his backs, and he dug the ball out and went over for his team’s 3^rd try.

 The Sharks finally got some possession and took the game into the Western Province half. This brought about a slight pause in the scoring. WP regrouped and seemed to take a breather. This did not last long and they scored again in the 30^th minute through Calvin Nel. This was the last try of the first half and Province went into the break 24-0 up.

 The second half started the same as the first, with KwaZulu-Natal missing tackles and Western Province easily breaking through to score through yet another try this time through their prop Edward Marais.

 Hayden Tharratt scored a consolation try for KwaZulu-Natal in the 46^th minute.

 Province brought on most of their bench for the rest of the game and it did not stop the scoring Taigh Schoor ran in their last try in the 66^th minute to round off a game of complete dominance.

 The other unbeaten teams this week were the Gauteng Lions, Boland XV and Blue Valke.

 Boland  23 Golden Lions 31, Pumas 26 Griffons  23,  SWD 44 EP CD 26, Free State 57 Namibia 34,  Blue Bulls 7 Eastern Province 7, Boland XV 23 Red Valke 8, Griffons CD 15 Golden Lions XV 53, Griquas 23 Blue Valke 44, KwaZulu-Natal CD 5 Pumas CD 17, Border CD 0 Leopards 76,  Border 41 Limpopo Blue Bulls 10, SA LSEN 27 Griquas CD 41.

Ends.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

Western Province wins the 'unofficial final' of the 2014 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week

For the second year in succession Western Province (WP) beat the Blue Bulls 24 – 11 in the Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo ‘unofficial’ final rugby match that took place at the Tshwane University of Technology today.

“We are all very excited with the win, but I have to say it has been a stressful two days,” said manager, Frikkie Coetzer.  “Our game against the Golden Lions was perhaps the hardest game of the tournament as they are physically strong and came at us with no respite.  But we managed to beat them.  Today’s game was perhaps not as physically challenging, but the Blue Bulls play a good tactical game.  We had to change our game plan to introduce a combination of both strength and tactics, which worked in our favour in the end.”

This win means that Western Province has completed a Coca-Cola Youth Rugby Week treble following the Western Province U13’s successfully defended their Under 13          Coca-Cola Craven Week title last week and the Under 18 Coca-Cola Academy Week that has just finished in Worcester, Western Cape.

WP was first to get on the score sheet as flyhalf Damian Willemse scored a try in the 17^th minute. Gianni Lombard converted to bring the lead to the 2013 Grant Khomo title holders 7 – 0.

Western Province wing Benjamin Momberg scored another try for Western Province two minutes later that Gianni Lombard converted and the score moved to 14 – 0 to Western Province.

The Blue Bulls got on the score sheet through a penalty from Ruan de Swardt and at the break WP led 14 – 3.

It looked like Blue Bulls were coming back into the game when Western Province conceded a penalty that Ruan De Swardt slotted to bring Western Province’s lead down to 8.

However Western Province was tight on defense and countered well off the Blue Bulls kicks. Gianni Lombard and the Western Province backline were slick and fluid in their play. WP constantly kept the ball in their possession making it difficult for the Bulls to attack.

Western Province 8^th man delivered a try for his team in the 37^th minute to extend his teams lead to 15 followed by Gianni Lombard’s conversion.

Western Province continued to press on relentlessly and were awarded with a try as Jade Fortune dotted down. The match heated up as the Bulls’ Gerald Lowe was sin binned, and Damian Willemse for WP followed him. The Bulls were finally awarded a try as Luke Fortuin scored with one minute left on the clock.

Western Province proved too strong for the Bulls team to win the U16 Grant Khomo Unofficial final 26 -11.

RESULTS:

Boland 10 vs EP 24

Zimbabwe 22  vs Namibia 34

Griquas 41 vs Border 0

KZN 34 vs Griffons 24

Blue Bulls XV 20  vs Valke  15

Border 27 vs Leopards 22

Golden Lions 22  vs Free State 27

Pumas 14  vs SWD 31

Griquas CD 12 vs Limpopo Blue Bulls 21

WP 24 vs Blue Bulls 11.

Boland welcomes the U18 Coca-Cola Academy Week

The Under-18 Coca-Cola Academy Week kicked off at HTS Drosdy in Worcester on Monday, and the rugby supporters of the Boland region were out in force to support it.

Dr Ivan Meyer, the provincial minister of finance for the Western Cape, was among them and he said it was great seeing so many spectators from Boland, and from the rest of the country, showing a spirit of togetherness and respect for each other and for the game.

“Boland has a great rugby history and it’s good that this has been recognised in allowing the region to host this week,” he said. “Bringing people together at a sporting event like the U18 Coca-Cola Academy Week builds a good spirit and promotes an active healthy living in the community,” he said.

Meyer hopes the tournament will create long lasting memories and allow the players to make friends from all over the country that live the game.

“A tournament like this cannot succeed without good solid logistical support and project management from the local organization committee, SARU and Coca-Cola South Africa,” Meyer said. “People do not understand what it takes to organize a tournament of this size and SARU are very strict about the minimum requirements that need to be adhered to, to get people to organize a tournament like this takes people from different backgrounds to work together for a common cause.”

The Western Cape government is grateful to Coca-Cola and SA Rugby for what they are doing for the region though this tournament.

Meyer’s thoughts are echoed in Coca-Cola’s objectives as Fetsi Mbele, Coca-Cola South Africa Marketing Assets Manager, explains, “Not only does the Under-18 Coca-Cola Academy Week unearth talented youngsters and bind people from all over the country through rugby, it also promotes  a healthy and active lifestyle through their sport of choice.”

Photo caption from left to right: Johnny Cardoso (Coca-Cola South Africa), Jurie Roux (CEO SARU), Dr. Ivan Meyer (Provincial minister of finance for the Western Cape) and Ray Bjierre (Peninsula Beverages Company General Manager)

Ends.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 15 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

Seven unbeaten teams after day 2 of the U18 Coca-Cola Academy Week

Western Province, the Golden Lions, KwaZulu-Natal, Boland XV, Eastern Province Country Districts, Blue Valke and Limpopo Blue Bulls all go into the rest day on Wednesday at the U18 Coca-Cola Academy Week held in HTS Drosdty in Worcester with two wins out of two..

The Blue Bulls, following their epic win over Boland on day one, were once again were involved in a titanic clash against a Western Cape Team but this time they came up short 17-8 against the powerful Western Province lineup.

Unlike yesterday where Western Province convincingly beat the Cheetahs, all did not go Western Province’s their way against the Blue Bulls. The Bulls defense was hard to crack and the heroes of the day was the Province defensive line.

The Blue Bulls attacked at every opportunity, and put their bodies on the line but WP had an answer to everything they threw at them and responded on the scoreboard where it hurt the most.

Western Province scored two unconverted tries in the first half through Calvin Nel and Michael Meyer to a penalty from the Blue Bulls Flyhalf Hendrik Mulder.

The second half was a closer battle with both teams having a lot of chances and exchanging tries through Mujaahid van der Hoven for Western Province and Carlo de Nysschen from the Blue Bulls.

Another team that proved that they could have a chance to play in the title game on Thursday was the Golden Lions who beat powerful Border 27-22. After dominating territory and possession for the first 30 minutes of the game, Lions outside centre, Sibusiso Mngomezulu, got a yellow card and that allowed Border to keep the scores close and flatter themselves.

The Lions scored tries through Hacjivah Dayimani, Ntobeko Mkhwanazi, Tapiwa Mangwana and Tiaan Schutte. For Border. Bubule Gongqa, Bulela Sotyelelwa and Jason Owen Bantom crossed the line.

The last game of the day was expected to be a close affair between KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Province but the KZN team upped a gear from yesterday’s performance to win 61-12.

The Natalians dominated all aspects of the game and never allowed EP to show the class that they displayed when they beat South Western Districts on the opening day.

Other big winners on the day were Eastern Province Country Districts who beat the Red Valke 19-7, Namibia who beat the Griffons CD 20-12, and the hosts, Boland, who proved that they are a very good team despite going down go WP yesterday, by beating the Pumas 24-13,

Results Day 2

Western Province 17 Blue Bulls 8, Red Valke 7 EP CD 19, Golden Lions27 Border 22, Griffons CD 12 Namibia 20, Boland 24 Pumas 13, Griquas 29 KwaZulu-Natal CD 12, SWD 17 Griffons 20, Boland XV 16 Griquas CD 0, Limpopo Blue Bulls 23 Free State 19, Golden Lions XV 22 Pumas CD 18, SA LSEN 40 Border CD 0, Blue Valke 16 Leopards 13, KwaZulu-Natal 61 Eastern Province 12.