WP equal Craven Week record with emphatic victory over Eastern Province

KRUGERSDORP. – Western Province equalled the Stadio Craven Week record for the most successive victories at the prestigious tournament with an emphatic victory of 66-14 over Eastern Province on the third day of the 59th annual tournament here.

It was the union’s 14th successive victory since their last defeat back in 2017 at St Stithians College, Johannesburg against the Free State (). It also means that today is 2 532 days since Western Province suffered a defeat at the Craven Week.

The victory over Eastern Province also probably booked their place in Saturday’s main match. This means it will be their seventh appearance in the main match in the last eight tournaments.

Western Province’s Caleb Engelbrecht (winger) and Josh Neill (flanker) scored a brace of tries while they were also awarded two penalty tries in the game. Both penalty tries came in the first half after Eastern Province stopped their maul illegally.

Other star performers for the victorious side were Truspe Schoeman (lock), Quintin Potgieter (eighthman), Oliver Reid (loosehead prop) and Yaqheen Ahmed (flyhalf).

Eastern Province deserves credit as well as they were with their backs against the wall with the scoreline at 0-33. They showed some guts to fight back to make the half-time score read 14-33. Their loosehead prop, Ikechukwe Ukekwe, as well as the flanker, Tapiwe Zhanda, crashing over for tries.

The Valke opened the third day of the Stadio Craven Week with a 36-26 victory over the Leopards. Their right-wing, TK Ngobese, scored a brace of tries and also received the award for Man of the Match.

The Valke’s flanker Zaide-Leigh Rippenaar also produced another noteworthy performance. For the Leopards their flyhalf, Christopher Dennis, is quickly finding his feet at this level.

Dennis showcased his skills providing his backline with quality possession and opportunity while also keeping the Valke guessing.

Scorers: 

Western Province 66 (33) – Tries: Caleb Engelbrecht (2), Josh Neill (2), Penalty Tries (2), Riley Norton, Xabiso Mkiva, Freek de Kock, Markus Muller. Conversion: Viaan Mentoor (4), Yaqheen Ahmed (2). Eastern Province 14 (14) – Try: Ikechukwe Ukekwe, Tapiwa Zhanda. Conversions: Caleb Friskin (2).

Valke 36 (24) – Tries: TK Ngobese (2), Zandré Naudé, Khaya Radebe, Lesego Moitse, Alec Mohlala. Conversions: Sinenhlanhla Ndlovu (3). Leopards 26 (7) – Tries: GJ Steenberg, David Ndala, Christopher Dennis, Francois Dumond. Conversions: Dennis (3).

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Hannes Nienaber

Hannes Nienaber covered schools' rugby in South Africa for Volksblad, Beeld, and Rapport for 11 years. He also created the biggest school rugby website in South Africa - School of Rugby - back in 2007. It eventually morphed into Supersport Schools Plus. He still occasionally milks cows.

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