Golden Lions crowned unofficial champions of the Academy Week
The Golden Lions beat Western Province by 29-20 in the main match of the Academy Week at Jeppe in Johannesburg to be crowned unofficial champions.
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The home team outclassed Western Province in the first-half, scoring three tries while WP’s only points came off the boot of their flyhalf from Paarl Boys’ High, Marno Pretorius.
It took only a minute from the first kickoff for the Lions to strike when Timi Oluwule, their speedster winger from King Edward VII, scored his first try of the day.
Mehlomakulu was in on the action later again when he picked up a loose ball in his own 22-meter area and put on the after-burners to outpace everyone and run the length of the field for his second try.
Despite having an uncharacteristically difficult kicking day, the Lions’ star fly-half from King Edward VII, Vusi Moyo, did well to maintain his composure and continued to contribute by carrying the ball well and being rock-solid on defence.
He also set up the second try for the Lions after a strong run up the field allowed Jade Muller, their fullback from Noordheuwel, to round off in the corner.
Their third try was created through a magnificent offload by their hooker from Noordheuwel, Jaundre Schoeman, who controlled the ball excellently in contact to put his flanker from Helpmekaar, Ulrich Swart, over.
Because none of the tries were converted, Western Province were right back in it early in the second half when their replacement hooker, Christian de Villiers, benefited from a sloppy Lions lineout and pounced for WP’s first try,
This seemed to energize the WP players and it looked like they might be able to launch a comeback, but the Lions’ big prop from Noordheuwel, Martin Nel, knocked the wind out of their attack when he scored ten minutes later, running a beautiful line like a real centre and powered through the last couple of defenders for a beautiful try.
For the Lions, Moyo and his centre and captain from Jeppe, Exauce Kevani, looked exciting whenever they touched the ball.
The ever-reliable Pretorius was a standout player for Western Province, along with the flanker from Wynberg Boys’ High, Aden da Costa, who was one of their top performers throughout the week. Da Costa had the last word for Western Province, scoring in the 69th minute, but it was much too little, too late for his team.
The WP bench seemed more up for it in the second half, and both of their tries were scored by players who came off the bench at halftime.
It is important to note that Western Province had two teams competing at the Craven Week in George, so their Academy team is the third team to be filled out of the province, while most of their competitors were the second choices in their respective unions. This shows the depth of the Western Cape, as they were still one of the favourites coming into the week.
In the curtain-raiser to the final match, the Griffons pulled off a huge upset against the Sharks.
Their midfield-pairing from Trio, Byron Bienas (flyhalf) and Ethan Smith (scrumhalf) were unmissable again, scoring all the Griffons’ points between them.
Their flanker from Voortrekker, Jayden de Jesus, and centre from Witteberg, Kenyon Morat, also had solid games, helping their side beat last year’s champions in a thrilling 15-13 battle.
For the Sharks, Nkulukelo Sithole, the sturdy eighth man from Maritzburg College stood out, but last year’s champions from KZN were simply not ready for the intensity of the Griffons’ attack, playing most of the game in their own half.
The Griquas also managed an unlikely victory, cruising past Eastern Province 32-11 to end their Academy Week campaign unbeaten.
The Diamantveld centre, Simon Liversage, played a huge role in that game, pinning the Eastern Province in their own half with his massive boot and punishing them off the kicking tee.
Scorers:
Golden Lions 29 (15) – Tries: Timi Oluwule (2), Jade Muller, Ulrich Swart, Martin Nel. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Western Province 20 (6) – Tries: Christian de Villiers, Ethan Wilson. Conversions: Marno Pretorius (2). Penalties: Pretorius (2).
Griffons 15 (3) – Tries: Byron Bienas, Ethan Smith. Conversion: Bienas. Penalty: Bienas. Sharks 13 (5) – Tries: Ayabonga Mkhokeli, Cameron Veenstra. Penalty: Akahluwa Boqwana.
Griquas 32 (10) – Tries: Khayalemkosi Maganga, Diwan Muller, De Wet du Plooy, Julius Muzaza. Conversions: Simon Liversage (3). Penalties: Liversage (2). Eastern Province 11 (11) – Try: Kaiden Titus. Penalties: Logan Muller (2).
Valke 32 – Tries: Martin van Wyngaardt, Divan Francis, Gerhardus van Aswegen, Cameron van Wyk, Ryan Smith. Conversions: Van Wyk, Smith. Dropgoal: Benton Giessing. Border Country Districts 3 – Penalty: Esona Xashimba.
