Vorster on fire as SWD keep exceptional record against Free State
South Western Districts managed to keep their exceptional record against the Free State at the annual FNB u18 Craven Week intact, with a 35-34 victory on the opening day of the 60th edition in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
The last and only time the Free State was able to beat SWD at the Craven Week was back in 1972. The team from the southern Cape came out on top in the other two encounters before today in 2008 (31-25) and 2022 (29-19).
Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).
It was a blitzkrieg of three tries in five minutes by Tyrese Plaatjies, Kai Pratt and Jade Peterson between the 62nd and the 67th minute that gave SWD the upper hand.
Just two minutes before Plaatjies crossed the tryline, referee Charlwyn Darries showed Free State flyhalf Darius Erwee a yellow card. A minute later, Darries also sent lock Claude Steyn to the sin bin.
Free State could feel a bit hard done by as Plaatjies seemed to have stepped on the touchline in the in-goal area while starting the blitzkrieg. It was not sent for review to the television match official, as Darries probably didn’t believe there was any reason not to award the try.
SWD’s inside centre, Christiaan Vorster, was on fire throughout the match. He was superb on both attack and defence. Other standout players in the victory was Keenan Myners (hooker), Dian Augustyn (lock), Jacobus de Villiers (eighthman) and Reinhardt Viljoen (fullback).
For Free State, their fullback, Lamla Mgedezi, created a couple of opportunities, while Ethan Adams (outside centre) also produced a solid performance.
In the opening match on the first day, Western Province XV proved too strong for the Griffons. The team from the Western Cape won comfortably by 52-6.
The victors scored eight tries with inside centre Iwan Jordaan converting six of them. Lock Gershom Pieters could also feel more than happy with his performance on the day. In the backs, Kunene Gadu showcased his class in the midfield.
Scorers:
South Western Districts 35 (11) – Tries: Anrich Scheffer, Christiaan Vorster, Tyrese Plaatjies, Kai Pratt, Jade Peterson. Conversions: Jandrian Goosen (2). Penalties: Virgil Pockpas (2). Free State 34 (17) – Tries: Darius Erwee, Xander Smit, Claude Steyn, Lamla Mgedezi, O’Ryan Kleyn. Conversions: Darius Erwee (2), Kleyn. Penalty: Erwee.
Western Province XV 52 (24) – Tries: Kunene Gadu, Liam de Villiers, Tristan Joubert, Gershom Pieters, Chadley Davids, Steph van der Merwe, Siphesihle Mbungendlu, Bernardt Schulze. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (6). Griffons 6 (6) – Penalties: Olereko Sebatana (2).
