Lions show strength in junior ranks

THE Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions and Blue Bulls took top honours in the u-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week and Coca-Cola Academy weeks in an exciting finish to the SA Rugby Youth Week series at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, on July 22.

The Craven Week was held from July 17 to July 22.

The Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions defeated the Sharks 45-18 in a thrilling final match in the u-18 Coca-Cola Craven week, while the Blue Bulls outplayed DHL Western Province 49-37 in the main match in the Coca-Cola Academy week.

In stark contrast to the opening four days’ play in the tournaments, the other matches proved to be close, which kept fans gripping their seats throughout the day.

The Bidvest Waltons Golden Lions got the final match of the u-18 Coca-Cola Craven week off to a strong start as winger Tino Swanepoel navigated his way to the try-line in the ninth minute. But the Sharks hit back soon after with scrum-half Sanele Nohamba slotting over a penalty goal, which they backed up with two tries in two minutes by Conan Le Fleur and Cham Zondeki respectively. The teams exchanged penalty goals soon after, through centre Kennedy Mpeku and Nohamba, which pushed the Sharks 18-11 ahead going into half-time.

The hosts bounced back with intent in the second half when flanker Franco Schutte crashed over the try-line two minutes after play resumed and the successful conversion saw them level the scores. Both sides had opportunities in the following minutes, which they were unable to capitalise on. A subsequent penalty goal by Mpeku and back-to-back tries in two minutes by winger David Cary and flanker Mark Snyman, however, earned them a 17-point cushion with twelve minutes left on the clock. This fuelled their motivation as Mpeku inflicted further damage with a penalty, while flanker PJ Jacobs forced his way over the try-line on the stroke of fulltime for a rewarding 45-18 victory.

In the Coca-Cola Academy Week the Blue Bulls overcame a hard-fought first half against DHL Western Province for a 49-37 victory and the honours as the top team in the competition. Blue Bulls centre Edmund Ludik played a key role in the team’s performance with his try, four conversions and two penalty goals. The Pretoria side scored seven tries to the Capetonians’ five in a fantastic North-South derby. The victory saw the Blue Bulls finish the tournament unbeaten.

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