Pumas youth teams play with pride at various rugby weeks

The Pumas U18 rugby team lost the three matches they played at the 2023 Craven Week at Outeniqua Park in George from July 3 to 8.

They put up brave fights against the Golden Lions, Border and Boland.

The various Pumas age group teams proudly represented Mpumalanga at their respective youth weeks during the school holidays.

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The Pumas U16 team competed in the Grant Khomo Week at Hoër Landbouskool Boland in Paarl from July 3 to 6.

The young Mpumalanga team scored a convincing 38-10 win in their opening match against Griquas.

The Pumas U13 team took part in the Craven Week at Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg in the first week of the winter holidays.

Both the A and B teams won two of their three matches.

The Pumas were in fine form at the U18 LSN Week in Welkom from June 24 to 27.

They thrashed the Sharks and Griffons, but lost to the Valke.

U18 Craven Week; Outeniqua Park, George; July 3 to 8; half-time score in brackets:
Tuesday July 4
Golden Lions 55 (29)
Tries: Esethu Mnebelele (2), Thandolwethu Biyela, Daylon Myners, Kelvin van Wyk (2), Caleb Lombard (2), Khuti Rasivhaga
Conversions: Myners (3), JT Kapank (2)
Pumas 29 (10)
Tries: Corneluis Lottering, Fumani Chauke, Ryan Venter, Sifiso Nhleko
Conversions: Zander Erasmus (3)
Penalty goal: Erasmus

Thursday July 6
Border 31 (14): Tries: Sandi Msengana, Siya Sakhela, Amani Somana (2)
Conversions: Daniel Larkan (2), Turshaan Hare (2)
Penalty goal: Hare
Pumas 21 (7)
Tries: Tyron Moolman, Corneluis Lottering, Ninja Dladla
Conversions: Zander Erasmus (3)

Saturday July 8
Pumas 24 (14)
Tries: Ryan Venter, Zander Erasmus, Corneluis Lottering
Conversions: Erasmus (2), Lottering
Penalty goal: Lottering
Boland 28 (14)
Tries: Darius Venter, Seppie September, James Daniels, Carick Kustoor
Conversions: Luan Giliomee (3), Thabo Jansen

U18 Academy Week, Jeppe Boys’ High, Johannesburg; July 3 to 6:
Monday July 3
• Pumas 26 – South Western Districts 22
Tuesday July 4
• Pumas 17 – Boland 23
Thursday July 6
• Pumas 28 – Bulls 35

U17 Rhino Week; Izak Steyl Stadium, Vanderbylpark; July 4 to 8.
Pumas 34 – 30 Griquas
Pumas 8-18 Lions
Pumas 15 – 17 Valke

U16 Grant Khomo Week; Hoër Landbouskool Boland, Paarl; July 3 to 6; half-time score in brackets:
• Monday: Pumas 38 (10) – Griquas 10 (10)
• Tuesday: Western Province XV 38 (24) – Pumas 7 (0)
• Thursday: South Western Districts 19 (14) – Pumas 24 (7)

U13 Craven Week; Maritzburg College, Pietermaritzburg; June 26 to 29:
Monday June 26
• Pumas A 12 – Griffons A 10
• Pumas B 36 – Valke B 0
Tuesday June 27
• Pumas A 10 – Boland A 13
• Pumas B 10 – South Western Districts B 12
Thursday June 29
• Pumas A 10 – Border A 7
• Pumas B 38 – Eastern Province B 12

U18 LSN Week; Griffons Rugby Stadium, Welkom; June 24 to 27:
Saturday June 24
• Pumas 29 – Sharks 0
Monday June 26
• Pumas 21 – Valke 44
Tuesday June 27
• Pumas 37 – Griffons 7.