HOSTS GET A TASTE OF VICTORY

IT WAS a good day for hosts at the Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week at Hoërskool Diamantveld yesterday, when Griquas cruised to a 38-12 victory against Zimbabwe with their superior attack earning them six tries to two by the visitors.

Such was their dominance, that they led 21-0 at the break and they continued to stamp their authority as the match progressed.

Skipper Muller Du Plessis scored two of his team’s tries, while Zimbabwe’s two were compliments of Gaza Kagande.

Meanwhile, things were on the up and up for Free State, the Blue Bulls, Eastern Province and the Valke as these teams stamped their authority on their opponents in an action-packed second round of the competition to remain the only unbeaten teams going into tomorrow’s final round.

Boland got out of the blocks quickly against Free State to build up a 17-10 lead, but a strong showing by the Bloemfontein outfit saw them fight back to secure an impressive 50-22 victory and the biggest score of the day. The team applied sustained pressure as they managed to navigate their way to the tryline regularly to score seven tries to Boland’s three.

Braces by the Blue Bulls’ Bjorn van Wyk and Lincoln Adams powered their team to a 28-18 victory in a bruising encounter against Border. The Pretoria side’s ability to convert half chances into tries handed them the edge.

Three penalty goals by the Valke, meanwhile, proved to be crucial in their 31-24 victory against the Griffons as both teams scored four tries in a tightly-fought battle..

Eastern Province also continued their winning ways with a 24-14 win against the Pumas after building up an encouraging 17-0 lead at the break. Brandon Wilkie was in fine form for the Port Elizabeth outfit as he scored a try, three conversions and a penalty goal for his 14 points.

A hat-trick by Namibia’s Divan van Vreden and a fine kicking display by Schano van Rooi steered the team to a rewarding 42-6 victory against Border CD and their first win in the competition. Their solid attacking performance saw them take a 28-0 lead at the break before finishing the match with six tries, while the Eastern Cape team had to settle for two penalty goals.

Western Province, meanwhile, bounced back strongly from their defeat on Monday to beat the Golden Lions 38-12 thanks to their physicality and a solid performance all-around. The Capetonians led 17-7 at the break. They maintained their dominant form in the second half to run in five tries to two by their Gauteng counterparts.

SWD overcame a tight first half against the Sharks, in which the teams were tied at 5-5, to dash their way to a 22-12 victory. SWD’s raw pace out wide was too much for the Durbanites which earned them three tries to two by the opposition’s Sali Mlenzana.

The clash between Limpopo and the Leopards was physical, but the Leopards’ ability to capitalise better on their point-scoring chances earned them a 17-10 victory.

The Potchefstroom team was 12-3 up at the break.

The Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week teams will return to the field today for their third round of matches, while their Under-16 counterparts have a break to prepare for the final round of both tournaments tomorrow.

Free State vs Forever Resorts Limpopo; Pumas vs Border CD (B Field)

(B Field)

Leopards vs Griffons Eastern Province vs Sharks Golden Lions vs Valke

SWD vs Boland

Western Province vs Blue Bulls Namibia vs Zimbabwe