Griquas trample Limpopo Blue Bulls in a thrilling Craven Week encounter

GRIQUAS bounced back on the fourth day of the Under-18 Craven Week being held in Krugersdorp after they were thumped 52-17 by Western province on day two of the competition.

On Thursday, however, the Griquas had gone back to the drawing board and rugby enthusiasts were treated to an electrifying game when they clashed with the in-form Limpopo Blue Bulls. The highly-anticipated match delivered a spectacle of intense rugby, showcasing both teams’ tenacity and skill, but it was the Griquas’ formidable scrum that posed significant challenges for the Bulls in this game.

Griquas wasted no time in making their mark against the Bulls, seizing the initiative right from the start. Six minutes into the game, they executed a brilliant play, moving the ball fluidly to the winger, who crossed the try line. Despite the try going unconverted, the Griquas established an early 5-0 lead.

The momentum shifted when Griquas were penalised 10 minutes in. A yellow card for being offside and slapping the ball down gave the Bulls a chance to claw back. They capitalised with a penalty kick, narrowing the gap to 5-3.

A short while later, the Bulls managed to get the ball in hand, and, with swift passing sent their winger on his way to score in the corner. Unfortunately for them, the try was not converted, leaving the score at 8-5 in their favour.

Undeterred, Griquas displayed their offensive prowess. Their No.15, Gregan Jansen, found a gap in the Bulls’ defence and dotted down under the posts. The try was converted, giving Griquas a four-point lead, 20 minutes into the game.

Refusing to be outdone, the Bulls’ forwards mounted a determined drive close to the Griquas’ try line, resulting in a try that nudged them ahead by one point. The Bulls pressed their advantage and their No.9 broke through the Griquas defence; he kicked the ball downfield for their winger to score another try. Despite handling errors plaguing both teams, the first half remained tightly contested.

Just before halftime, the Bulls were handed two quick yellow cards for repeated offside offences. Seizing the numerical advantage, the Griquas scored a crucial try under the posts, ending the half with a narrow 19-18 lead.

The second half saw the Griquas come out with renewed vigour. They quickly advanced into the Bulls’ 22-metre area and, after a hard-fought battle, scored another try, extending their lead to 24-18.

The Bulls, struggling with unforced errors and the pressure of being two men down, saw the Griquas take full advantage. Another try by the Griquas winger widened the gap to 29-18.

The Bulls were trying their best to stem the tide, but continued to make mistakes. The Griqua captain, Sylvester Hoffman, capitalised on one such error, scoring a try that pushed the score to 34-18. With 10 minutes to go. Griquas then extended their lead to 43-18 after another converted try.

The Bulls finally found their rhythm and responded with two quick tries, bringing the score to 43-30. However, Griquas’ Gregan Jansen took the wind out of their sails when he intercepted the ball and scored yet another try, further extending the lead to 48-30.

In the final moments, the Bulls capitalised on a Griquas error to score a try, but the Griquas, playing with determination, managed to fend off their efforts. The match concluded with the Griquas emerging victorious, securing an exciting 53-37 win.

This thrilling encounter highlighted the competitive spirit and talent of both teams, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next round of the Under-18 Craven Week.

Earlier in the competition Western Province had dominated Griquas in their clash. The Cape side led 14-8 at halftime but shifted gears in the second half to secure the emphatic win. Centre Markus Muller was a standout, crossing the line twice to contribute to his team’s eight-try tally.

Elsewhere, Boland had secured their second win of the three-round tournament by defeating Border 34-20 on Wednesday. After a closely contested first half, Boland pulled away in the second, scoring five tries. Flyhalf Luan Giliomee was instrumental in the victory, contributing 14 points to Boland’s points haul.

WP also maintained their unbeaten run with an emphatic 66-14 win over Eastern Province (EP). WP dominated from the start, opening with 33 unanswered points. Although EP managed to score two converted tries late in the first half, WP regained control and finished the match with a total of 10 tries.

This victory sets up WP for a chance to finish the tournament unbeaten when they enter the final round on Saturday.

The Valke and the Leopards, meanwhile, kicked off the day with a high-scoring encounter. Despite a spirited effort from the Leopards, who crossed the whitewash on four occasions, the Valke were in control for much of the match and secured a 36-26 victory.

The Sharks also bounced back from a first-round loss, defeating South Western Districts 28-19. Trailing by nine points at halftime, the KwaZulu-Natalians made a strong comeback in the second half, scoring three tries.

Replacement hooker Martin van Wyngaardt Jr. played a crucial role, bagging a brace of tries to help his team secure the win.