WP looking dangerous on Day 1 of Academy Week
It only took the first half of their opening game at the 2025 Academy Week at Hoërskool Middelburg on Monday for Western Province to establish themselves as early front-runners this year.
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With a solid display in the first half that yielded 28 points, the side from the Cape did enough to eventually see off Free State 33-20 despite a bit of siesta in the second half.
Displaying early intensity, the Province pack set the platform for flyhalf Francois van der Merwe to unleash his dangerous backline, with No. 8, Thandolwethu Sithole of SACS, delivering a standout performance upfront. Sithole had the Free State defenders clutching at thin air on several occasions with his bulldozing runs and deceptive footwork, which earned him a brace of tries, while the dangerous Chadlin Sellidon also caused numerous headaches for the opposition on the attack.
For Free State, openside flanker Henru Erasmus gave his all and kept coming at WP for the full 70 minutes, both with his strong carries and a valiant display on defence.
Redemption was sweet for the Golden Lions XV, as they avenged last year’s loss by beating the Blue Bulls 31-26 in a seesaw battle this time around. The “Welpies” nevertheless still had to deal with Ronan Bastiaanse, who managed to accumulate 21 of his side’s 26 points.
However, spearheaded by the energetic Llewellyn Vermaak and fellow Helpmekaar Kollege representative, Diandro Botha, who were both exceptional in the loose, along with Monument’s Siyabonga Ncube, the Lions were just too good at the end of the day and full value for their five-point victory. They led 16-15 at the break.
Boland kicked off their campaign with a solid 36-26 victory over Border, thanks to braces from fullback Favian Arendse and Hoërskool Porterville’s Nicolai Diedericks. Arendse’s two tries were richly deserved following a relentless attacking performance from the rear.
The Limpopo Blue Bulls achieved a shock 27-24 victory over the hosts, the Pumas. Flyhalf Juan Randall led the way with a great performance from the tee, slotting three conversions and two penalties, and also weighed in with a try for a personal contribution of 17 points. Pumas’ Hanro Terblanche recorded the week’s first hat-trick of tries in a losing cause.
Scorers:
Hoërskool Middelburg B-Field:
Western Province 33 (28) – Tries: Thandolwethu Sithole (2), Lupo Makholiso, Harry Soboil, Luke Kent. Conversions: Francois van der Merwe (4). Free State 20 (8) – Tries: Henru Marais, Tian Fourie, Thristan Maree. Conversion: Samson Lacjay. Penalty: Lacjay.
Golden Lions XV 31 (17) – Tries: Diandro Botha, Siyabonga Ncube, Llewellyn Vermaak, Mkhile Dyakala. Conversions: Daniel Soekoe (4). Penalty: Soekoe. Blue Bulls 26 (16) – Tries: Morné Coetzer, Ronan Bastiaanse. Conversions: Bastiaanse (2). Penalties: Bastiaanse (4).
Boland 36 (21) – Tries: Favian Arendse (2), Nicolai Diedericks (2), Jano van Deventer. Conversions: Van Deventer (4). Penalty: Van Deventer. Border 26 (14) – Tries: Khaka Xoeseni (2), Mivugo Kongela, Mahle Zinto. Conversions: Inganathi Mnunu (3).
Hoërskool Middelburg C-Field:
LSEN XV 16 (8) – Tries: Rigen Chigose, Jean McEwan. Penalties: Yusuf Hannibal (2). Border Country Districts 10 (0) – Tries: Legend Abrahams, Steven Lubowa.
Limpopo Blou Bulle 27 (17) – Tries: Lourens Pieterse, Juan Randall, Jayden Enslin. Conversions: Randall (3). Penalty: Randall (2). Pumas 24 (24) – Tries: Hanro Terblanche (3), Marius Volsoo. Conversions: John Duncan (2).
Zimbabwe 42 (21) – Tries: Julian Nkikavaranda, Sibusiso Sibanda, Tapiwanashe Majuru, Curtis Mashoonganyika, Rukudzo Mayida. Conversions: Rukudzo Mayida (4), Penalties: Mayida (3). Griquas 31 (17) – Tries: Dohan Dege, Amiel Soudens, Johannes Fleming, Hlompo Rooibaadjie. Conversions: JG van Heerden (4). Penalty: Van Heerden.
