Eastern Province shock Free State to their fifth successive Craven Week defeat
GEORGE. – The Free State suffered their record fifth successive defeat at the annual Craven Week when Eastern Province shocked them by 26-23 during the opening day of this year’s tournament at Outeniqua Park.
Eastern Province produced a superb performance in the second half to secure the victory after trailing by 6-16 at the break.
The initial spark was provided by winger Jamiane Dampies from the kick-off as he ran more than 60 metres past the Free State’s defence to score an exceptional try.
It was however the performances of their two loose-forwards De Wet Fourie (eighthman) and Ballo Hlekani (flanker) which kept the fire burning throughout. Fourie was named Man of the Match for his efforts. The duo managed to keep the dangerous JJ Theron (eighthman) at bay during the match.
Theron had to put more effort into the breakdown than usual which restricted the amount of opportunities he had to set-off on his dangerous runs.
Eastern Province’s flyhalf, Dominic Malgas, also played a major role to help secure the victory by keeping the scoreboard ticking over with his boot. He converted both his side’s tries and slotted four penalties. He also asked a couple of difficult questions to the Free Stater’s defence.
The side from Bloemfontein’s best player on the day was Marno Stopforth (flanker).
Free State last victory at the Craven Week was in 2019 in Bloemfontein when they managed to beat Boland on the second day of the tournament by 45-26. The streak of five losses is the most the Free Staters suffered since the inaugural tournament of 1964.
The Free Stater’s last victory over Eastern Province at the tournament was back in 2013 in Polokwane.
Boland kicked-off their 2023-campaign with a 26-19 victory over the Valke in the first match of the 58th edition of the Craven Week. The victorious side’s flanker Matt Ramoa made sure that the SA Schools selectors don’t forget about him with a memorable performance that saw him being named Man of the Match.
Boland’s halfback pairing of Callum van Staden and Luan Giliomee also could feel more than happy with their performances on the day.
For the Valke their wing Oregopotse Shilubane looked dangerous when he received possession.
Scorers:
Eastern Province 26 (6) – Tries: Jamiane Dampies, Hein Terblanche. Conversions: Dominic Malgas (2). Penalties: Malgas (4). Free State 23 (16) – Try: Marno Stopforth, Jean Erasmus. Conversions: Ian van der Merwe (2). Penalties: Van der Merwe (3).
Boland 26 (19) – Tries: Callum van Staden, Brendon September, Rickey Lesch, Petri van Dyk, Conversions: Luan Giliomee (3). Valke 19 (7) – Tries: v Zaide Leigh Dippenaar, Oregopotse Shilubane, Lynghe Pretorius, Conversions: Duan du Toit (2).
