Western Province and Eastern Province claimed victories on Saturday to bring the curtain down on the 2023 Craven Week at Outeniqua Park in George.
WP proved too strong for the Blue Bulls in the final match of the tournament, which was played in wet and heavy underfoot conditions. The Capetonians scored five tries in their 29-5 victory, and finished the annual tournament unbeaten for the second consecutive year.
Earlier in the day, EP beat the Sharks 33-22 to record their third win of the competition. Wing Maurice Willemse scored a hat-trick for the Durbanites, but in the end, the boys from the Eastern Cape dotted down five times.
CRAVEN WEEK: Bulls down Lions in derby thriller
Meanwhile, Free State claimed a 40-21 win against the Golden Lions to end their week on a high. Lock Marno Stopforth scored two of their six tries, while flyhalf Ian van der Merwe finished with a haul of 15 points.
The Leopards put nine tries and 51 points past the Limpopo Blue Bulls, with winger Lebogang Wageng crossing the line four times. Griffons flyhalf Ronaldo Kiewet scored a hat-trick against Border, but couldn’t prevent a 29-20 loss.
Final day results:
Valke 29 (21) – Tries: Michael Devy, AJ Roux, Jeandre Jacobs, Oregopotse Shilubane. Conversions: Duan du Toit (3). Penalty goal: Du Toit.
Griquas 14 (7) – Tries: Heinrich Nel, Emlyhn Jacobs. Conversions: Elridge Jack (2).
SWD 27 (15) – Tries: Therlow Prins, Jay-Jay Daters (2), Brendan Gouws. Conversions: JT Strydom, Elgernon Meyer. Penalty goal: Strydom.
WP XV 26 (14) – Tries: Bibo Makwedini, Juma Amissi, Samuel Badenhorst, JT George. Conversions Leejay Petersen (3).
Limpopo Blue Bulls 26 (7) – Tries: Driekus Du Plessis, Andrew Steamer, Pule Sebolao (2). Conversion: Waldie Haasbroek, Byron Hendricks (2).
Leopards 51 (28) – Tries: Hennoh Visser, Hanre Venter, David Ndala, Adriaan Liebenberg, Lebogang Wageng (4), Junior Kuhn. Conversions: Leonard Bevan (3).
Golden Lions 21 (14) – Tries: Jamaal Feldman, Ceano Everson, Rynhardt van Der Linden. Conversions: Daylon Myners (2), JT Kapank.
Free State 40 (14) – Tries: Jean Erasmus, Marno Stopforth (2), JJ Theron, Ian van der Merwe, Benito Goeda. Conversions: Van der Merwe (5).
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.
Sharks 22 (19) – Tries: Mauri Willemse (3). Conversions: Chris Horak (2), Penalty goal: Horak.
EP 33 (26) – Tries: Beast Booi, Dempers Meyer, Fish Booysen, Sino Brawen, Achumile Mnandi. Conversions: Dominic Malgas (4).
Griffons 20 (10) – Tries: Ronaldo Kiewet (3). Andi Mentz.
Border 29 (24) – Tries: Jordan Luck, Bubbles Mtshini, Landile Gidi, Lwanele Gaba, Jed Stone. Conversions: Daniel Larkan (2)
WP 29 (29) – Tries: Albie Bester, Penalty try, Gino Cupido, Scott Nel, JC Mars. Conversion: Kyle Smith.
Blue Bulls 5 (0) – Try: Shaun Schürmann.
Visit our Facebook page and Predict the correct score of the Rugby Championship clash between the Springboks and Wallabies at Loftus and you will win R5000!
*You must be registered on the https://t.co/R5hJmsklIg website.
*Predictions must be made before kickoff. pic.twitter.com/1USShG02Ca— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 7, 2023
Photo: SA Rugby website