Results | Final Day | LSEN Week 2025
Are underdog stories not the most inspiring ones? Eastern Province beat Western Province in the unofficial final for the second year in a row and was the only side to go unbeaten at the 2025 LSEN Week.
While they might have been regarded as underdogs in 2024, with a second title in succession, they have shed that tag and replaced it with top dogs.
In a tight contest, it was level at 3-3 at halftime and too close to call.
Eastern Province, though, played with a burning desire to repeat as the unofficial champs, and they pulled it off by the smallest of margins – a single point. It was 11-10 when the final whistle blew.
Western Province had given a good account of themselves, but it was Eastern Province who jumped with joy. Their flyhalf Zaynodeen Bennie was named the man of the match.
Free State also ended their tournament on a high note, defeating the Sharks 46-10.
Maluti Hoogland eighthman, Rato Ramanotsi, rampaged his way through the Sharks’ defence for a brace of tries, which helped him earn the man of the match accolade.
The Blue Bulls also made a strong closing statement when they outplayed the Griffons 41-14.
Magalies’ eighthman, Marthinus Bester, bested the defence on two occasions and received the man of the match award.
The Lions were the bigger cat against the Pumas, romping to a 40-5 victory.
Goudwes tighthead prop, Sbongakonke Ngcobo, muscled his way over the line twice to leave no doubt that he was a deserved man of the match.
South Western Districts and the Valke played their hearts out in a dazzling 33-29 victory for the Western Cape side.
Van Kervel blindside flank and SWD captain, Quintin Visser, was a perfect four out of four from the kicking tee, a crucial contribution in a tight game, and was named the man of the match.
Wellington SOS flyhalf, Shagan Philander, once again proved influential in Boland’s narrow 32-28 triumph over the Leopards. He scored a try, a penalty and two conversions to take home the man of the match award.
After the last match, a 23-player SA Special Schools squad was named. It included 13 Eastern Province players, seven from Western Province, two from the Valke, and one Boland representative.
SA Special Schools Squad
1. Liam Allen (Western Province)
2. Jean McEwan (Western Province)
3. Luciano Byneveldt (Eastern Province)
4. Rajh Felix (Eastern Province)
5. Rigen Chigosie (Valke)
6. Shaundre Pienaar (Eastern Province)
7. Chandley Jacobs (Western Province)
8. Jordan Derrocks (Eastern Province)
9. Gavin Armoed (Eastern Province)
10. Yusuf Hannibal (Western Province)
11. Najmee Hajie (Boland)
12. Uvern Adams (Eastern Province)
13. Marcos Lubaco (Western Province)
14. Rylan Hawkins (Eastern Province)
15. Ralton Rhode (Western Province)
16. Andre Barnard (Eastern Province)
17. Liza Tetani (Eastern Province)
18. Ayema Mbotya (Eastern Province)
19. Kaydon Kerspuy (Eastern Province)
20. Siya Mangali (Westen Province)
21. Elario Forbes (Eastern Province)
22. Thinus van Willing (Valke)
23. Zaynodeen Bennie (Eastern Province)
Scorers
Free State 46 (29) – Tries: Ruben van Aswegen (2), Rato Ramanotsi (2), Thabiso Motsoeneng, Nomario Jannetjies, Duncan Montgomery, Obinna Sandys. Conversions: Nomario Jannetjies (2), Ruben van Aswegen; Sharks 10 (5) – Tries: Ayabonga Nqopiso, Hayden Oroschin.
Blue Bulls 41 (22) – Tries: Marthinus Bester (Captain) (2), Blessing Dhlamini, Lefa Nsibane, Reitumetse Mbele, JT Johnston, Sphiwe Mokau. Conversions: Juandre Marias, Reitumetse Mbele, Denzil Coetzee; Griffons 14 (0) – Tries: Nyombe Hlahla, Ricardo Chatwind. Conversions: Nyombe Hlahla (2).
Lions 40 (7) – Tries: Sbongakonke Ngcobo (2), Jeremiah Joshua, Timothy Nortman, Lwazi Dlamini, Donovan Jansen van Vuuren. Conversions: Timothy Nortman (5); Pumas 5 (0) – Tries: Mongezi Qometa.
SWD 33 (21) – Tries: Brendan-junior Kasanya (2), Sakhie Dyani, Wayden Heyns, Ambrace Africa. Conversions: Quintin Visser (Captain) (4); Valke 29 (10) – Tries: Rigen Chigosie (2), Thinus van Willing (2), Liyema Songinzi. Conversions: Ompile Dubase, Pieter le Roux (Captain).
Boland 32 (19) – Tries: Giwaan Isaacs (2), Shagan Philander, Lorenzo Harmse, Gabriel Smith. Conversions: Shagan Philander (2). Penalties: Shagn Philander; Leopards 28 (15) – Tries: Reamogetse Gaje (2), Michael Cloete (2). Conversions: Boeta Johnson. Penalties: Boeta Johnson (2).
Eastern Province 11 (3) – Tries: Kaydon Kerspuy. Penalties: Zaynodeen Bennie (2); Western Province 10 (3) – Tries: Jaydon September. Conversion: Yusuf Hannibal. Penatlies: Yusuf Hannibal.
