The Golden Lions beat KwaZulu-Natal 15-12 on the opening day of the U13 Craven Week at Glenwood High School in Durban on Monday.
The Lions started well, scoring a converted try in the third minute, but KZN fought back to score after 12 minutes. A second Lions try had them in the lead at the break and although Zander van der Merwe scored for the hosts with five minutes to go, a late penalty by Jo Raldo Olivier gave the Lions the win.
In other results, Western Province thrashed Mpumalanga 56-0 in the biggest win of the day, Border battered the Blue Bulls 52-10, the Leopards beat Border Country Districts 37-5, Boland thrashed the Griffons 43-12, Griquas cruised past Zimbabwe 36-12, SWD held on to beat Free State 10-8, Eastern Province saw off the Limpopo Blue Bulls 17-12 and the Valke overcame a plucky Namibian side 13-0.
Golden Lions (15) – Tries: Theo Molaolwa, Wian Steenkamp. Conversion: Jo Raldo Olivier. Penalty: Olivier.
KwaZulu-Natal (12) – Tries: Carlo Miller, Zander van der Merwe. Conversion: Dean Wolhuter.
Western Province (56) – Tries: Dalvon Blood (2), Fabrizio Linnert, Junaid Abrahams (3), Kerwin Stewart (2), Meiring Ebersohn, Mogammad Esau. Conversions: Linnert (2), Stewart.
Pumas (0)
Border (52) – Tries: Chulumanco Mfakadolo, Lawuka Bata (2), Matthew Karelse, Mntungwa Mapantsula, Sipo Javu (2), Tiaan Jonker. Conversions: Rayden Masters (5), Marcello Flemmer.
Blue Bulls (10) – Tries: Lohan Potgieter, Raynard Roets.
Leopard (37) – Tries: Estiaan Schonfeldt (2), Henco van Wyk, Rossouw Karsten (2). Conversions: Schonfeldt (3). Penalties: Schonfeldt (2).
Border (5) – Try: Mzwamazizi Ngalo.
Eastern Province (17) – Tries: Michael Paddock, Yolisa Dladla. Conversions: Paddock (2). Penalty: Paddock.
Limpopo Blue Bulls (12) – Tries: Roy Stewart, Siphiwe Tjale. Conversion: Lucian Simpson.
Valke (13) – Tries: Tiaan Botes, Elliott Asieng. Conversion: Botes. Penalty: Botes.
Namibia (0)
Boland (43) – Tries: Adrian Dirks, Ashwell Kampi, Brian Zake, Christiaan Burger, Eon Solomons, Juan van Zyl, Tyler Bocks. Conversions: Nathan Engelbrecht (2), Conray Maart, Adriaan Engelbrecht.
Griffons (12) – Tries: George Cronje, Niel Janse van Rensburg. Conversion: Dylan Smit.
Griquas (36) – Tries: Bernardes van Staden, Deon le Roux, DM Hohls, Pierich Siebert, Stoney Steenkamp (2). Conversions: Adriaan Horn (3).
Zimbabwe (12) – Tries: Nataizya Chininga (2). Conversion: Tawanda Muyeye.
SWD (10) – Tries: Marno April, Xander Botha.
Free State (8) – Try: Heinrich Killian. Penalty: Obakeng Nketsi.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images