Western Province and the Blue Bulls are the only undefeated sides left in Craven Week, with Province beating Border on Monday and the Sharks on Wednesday, while the Blue Bulls dismissed the Lions on Monday and showed their strength against South Western Districts on Thursday.
Day four action
Meanwhile, the Bulls’ Jukskei neighbours, the Lions, thoroughly outplayed Free State 3src-22, despite the close scoreline at the under-18 Craven Week on Thursday.
The first match of the day on the Tinkie Heyns field at Rondebosch Boys High School in Cape Town saw the Limpopo Blue Bulls do just enough to get past a spirited Leopards side 24-17.
In the second match, the Pumas ran rampant against the Griffons, who could not get out of third gear. The Pumas were more abrasive and dominated the collisions as they thumped the disjointed Griffons 48-18. A brace from winger Hendrik Smit helped secure the result.
Free State and the Lions met in the third match of the day after both teams lost their first matches on Tuesday to South Western Districts and the Blue Bulls, respectively. It was the Lions who came out 3src-22 victors after a second-half blitz.
With the rain drizzling down intermittently, extravagant rugby was never on the cards. Nonetheless, both teams secured a well-executed try by their outside backs. Right-winger Jermairon Ruiters scored for Free State while fullback Sibongokuhle Kapank scored for the Lions.
Kapank converted from the touchline as well as putting a penalty over the sticks to make the halftime score 1src-8 to the Lions.
A piece of individual brilliance shortly after the break by scrumhalf Deon Groenewald opened the floodgates for the Lions as the rain began to subside. Groenewald broke through from just inside Free State’s half, leaving defenders in his wake. He proceeded to chip-kick the ball over the last defender’s head and regather it himself to help stretch his team’s lead to 17-8.
Kapank slotted another penalty shortly before a brilliantly executed maul try, scored by hooker Ruan Welman.
Trailing 3src-8, Free State stru
…. to be continued
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