Border beat them all at Craven Week
THE Border Craven Week team put in a brilliant showing at the 2018 Craven Week at Paarl Boys’ High last week, returning home unbeaten – a feat last achieved in 2009.
There was something special about this team, which showed everyone that the smaller unions can be ranked among the best. Border were unlucky not to play in the unofficial final last Saturday, as Western Province and the Sharks, who were also unbeaten, were picked to play the “main” game. Nevertheless, it was a superb effort from the young players who were given the chance to play a bigger union - the Free State Cheetahs - in their last match.
Border started the week like a house on fire, smashing Limpopo 68-17. That win was followed by another massive victory, this time with the Griffons on the receiving end, who were walloped 52-12. Those two score lines warranted them a place in the final as they would have been worthy contenders. In their last match, the team proved why it was one of the best in the Craven Week by beating a much-fancied Cheetahs side 33-17.
Free State started the week as one of the pre-tournament favourites, having 11 players from the unbeaten Grey College in their ranks, but came unstuck against a strong Border team, who had 16 players from Selborne College, three each from Hudson Park and Stirling High and one from Dale College.
Unfortunately, Queen’s College did not have a representative in the team.
Queen’s was, however, well represented in the Border Academy team, with Chumani Gatyeni, Enrique Oranje, Siya Tyulu and Othandowayo Nogqala all making the team. The Academy team had mixed results in the week, winning one match and losing two. They started off on a positive note by beating Leopards 31-18 but narrowly lost 25-22 against the Valke before ending on a sour note, losing 38-17 against the Blue Bulls. The Border Country Districts side managed to win two of their three matches, beating Pumas Country Districts, losing to the Griffons Country Districts before ending with a good win over SA LSEN.