EP reigns supreme at U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week
Eastern Province emerged as the unofficial u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week champions for 2014 after beating SWD 25-7 in final game.
The momentum of the u.18 Coca-Cola Craven Week built up and took place on Saturday, June 19 at the Technical High School in Middelburg.
Tradition demands that there is no real winner of the Craven Week, the honour of playing in the final game on the main field on the last day is supposed to go to the two teams that played the most attractive rugby in the first four days.
There’s no doubt that, on that basis, Eastern Province (EP) are worthy unofficial champions. They scored some spectacular tries and, in the process beat the Blue Bulls, Free State and SWD, three teams that have dominated the week through the years.
In the final game they scored three good tries, two of them in the first half, and they led 20-0 at half time. They could only add one second half try, but SWD were well beaten by then.
EP has played in several finals in recent years, but this is he first time they have won it since 1977, when they beat Western Province. In 1994 they drew with Border in the last game of the week.
In the main curtain-raiser the Blue Bulls beat KwaZulu-Natal 36-15. They outplayed the young Sharks in every department and showed that, if they had not gone down to EP by a single point in their opening fixture, they might have been worthy participants in the main game.
Western Province saved their best performance for last, outplaying Free State to win 37-29.
The Golden Lions ended off what was a disappointing week with a good win over the hosts, the Pumas. They raced to an early lead and led 39-10, before the Pumas staged a comeback and closed the gap to 39-24 in end.
The Northern Free State Griffons were the only other side, apart from Eastern Province to win all three matches. They beat the Leopards 44-24 on Saturday.
Vir nog U18 Craven Week fotos, volg die skakel.
