The DHL Western Province Under-13’s have treated their opponents in their three matches so far as mere speedbumps and will be keen to get going against the Sharks, who scored an impressive win over the Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions on Thursday. Their wins ensured that the two teams were the only undefeated sides in the tournament.

The Under-16 SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week will see the Cape side – who has scored 18 tries and conceded only three – take on the KwaZulu-Natalians, who are also still undefeated, although they played to a draw against SWD on Wednesday.

Thursday’s action at the scenic Rob Ferreira High School marked the third round of the Under-13 SA Rugby Craven Week.

Match summaries:

The day kicked off with a tightly contested affair between Boland and EP Elephants, with the Eastern Cape side winning 13-10.

Influential Boland fullback, Viaan Mentoor, again made a solid impact for the Winelands team, dotting down in the first half and kicking a conversion and penalty goal to hand his team a 10-8 lead at the break.

EP, in turn, kicked a penalty goal and scored a try in opening stanza, but they clinched the win with the only points in the second half compliments of a try by Lezano Leeuskieter.

The ITS Valke and Leopards clash also proved to be a good match-up. The ITS Valke claimed a 22-10 win after leading 12-0 at the break, with a superior team effort earning them the well-deserved victory.

The Leopards were too individualistic, while the Gauteng team used their strengths well. ITS Valke centre, Jean-Dre Claassen, was in good form and scored one of their four tries and kicked a conversion.

Forever Resorts Limpopo Blue Bulls had way too much firepower in their backline for the Phakisa Pumas and won 45-12. The home team had to defend from the start as Limpopo came at them from all angles. Looseforwards, Quintin Stander and Liam Santos, both scored good tries, but the highlight was a hat-trick from winger Nthati Matabane.

The Itec Blue Bulls’ solid defence, meanwhile, proved instrumental in their 14-6 victory against Itec Griquas. It was a hard-fought clash with neither side giving an inch. The Northern Cape side took the lead with two Pieter Retief (lock) penalty goals, which pushed them 6-0 up at the break.

The second half, however, belonged to the Blue Bulls as they found their rhythm on attack. First hooker Steve Stolk crashed over and then No 8 Stephan Pretorius got his name on the scoresheet. As hard as the Itec Griquas tried, there was no way through their opponents’ defence.

The Free State Cheetahs outplayed Border Country Districts 22-5, scoring four tries to one in an entertaining clash. Both sets of wingers were dangerous with ball in hand and that created some exciting backline play. The Free Staters, however, did well to remain composed, while their Eastern Cape counterparts tended to rush things, which proved to be the difference.

DHL Western Province continued their dominance over their foes in White River, skinning SWD 50-7 in an eight-try rout.

The Cape side showed their class with their sheer pace and skill among the outside backs, while their tiresome pack also deserves credit for doing the hard work on the inside.

They scored in the opening minute against SWD as centre Ashwin Swarts sliced through, and they added tries at regular intervals after that. Centre David Simon was again productive, scoring two nice tries and kicking four conversions.

The Sharks scored a convincing 22-5 win over Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions. The KZN side outscored their Gauteng counterparts four tries to one and will feel the score was a true reflection of their efforts. The KwaZulu-Natal team were up 10-0 at the break and continued that strong form into the second half, scoring two more tries, with the Johannesburg side responding only once. Centre Lehlo Ngaka-bless scored a brace.

Thepa Trading Griffons outplayed Border 22-0 in their clash, with a number of good try-scoring opportunities created by both sides. The Welkom outfit are a well-coached team and their forwards dominated proceedings. Thanks to this, No 8 Sandile Manyana managed to dot down twice.

Namibia and Old Mutual Zimbabwe clashed in their international match preceded by both national anthems and it was the coastal side that won 29-14 to claim their first win in White River.

Namibia started strongly and with prop Zander van Wyngaard in hot form, scoring three quick tries to catapult them to a 19-0 lead. A strong run by Zimbabwean winger Gunda Nokutenda, which Tyde Stirrup converted, cut the deficit, with the score at 19-7 at halftime.

A long range penalty goal by flyhalf Waldre Kotze extended the Namibian lead in the second half, and a great run by winger Metarere Kauari stretched their lead further. After that there was no doubt about the winner.

Under-13 SA Rugby Craven Week Day Three results:

EP Elephants 13-10 Boland

ITS Valke 22-10 Leopards

Forever Resorts Limpopo Blue Bulls 45-12 Phakisa Pumas

Itec Blue Bulls 14-6 Itec Griquas

DHL Western Province 50-7 SWD

Sharks 22-5 Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions

Thepa Trading Griffons 22-0 Border

Free State Cheetahs 22-7 Border Country Districts

Namibia 29-14 Old Mutual Zimbabwe

The Under-16 SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week will see the undefeated DHL Western Province and the Sharks playing in the main match on Friday.

The Cape side has been very impressive in White River, scoring 18 tries in two matches and only conceding three, while the Sharks have scored nine tries and conceding five.

SWD - the only other team yet to taste defeat after two draws -will face the Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions in another match that will create some interest.

The traditional international between Namibia and Old Mutual Zimbabwe will also be played with the singing of the respective national anthems preceding the match.

U13 SA Rugby Craven Week final round fixtures (Friday, 28 June):

08h00: Old Mutual Zimbabwe v Border (D Field)

09h00: Namibia v Border Country Districts (D Field)

09h15: Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions v Itec Blue Bulls (A Field)

09h15: Itec Griquas v EP Elephants (B Field)

09h15: Boland v Thepa Trading Griffons (C Field)

11h30: DHL Western Province v Sharks (A Field)

11h30 SWD v Forever Resorts Limpopo Blue Bulls (B Field)

11h30: ITS Valke v Phakisa Pumas (C Field)

11h30: Leopards v Free State Cheetahs (D Field)

Under-16 SA Rugby Grant Khomo Week final round fixtures:

08h00: Free State Cheetahs v EP Elephants (A Field)

08h00: Leopards v Boland (B Field)

08h00: Namibia v Old Mutual Zimbabwe (C Field)

10h00: SA Iqhawe v Border Country Districts (D Field)

10h15: SWD v Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions (A Field)

10h15: Phakisa Pumas v Thepa Trading Griffons (B Field)

10h15: Ford Human Griquas v Everest Wealth Pumas XV (C Field)

12h30: DHL Western Province v Sharks (A Field)

12h30: Blue Bulls v Border (B Field)

12h30: Falcons v Limpopo Blue Bulls (C Field)