Rampant WP blitz hosts in FNB U18 Girls Week finale

Western Province scored six tries to beat Eastern Province in the final match of the FNB U18 Girls Week tournament at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Friday.

WP – who has the most representation in the historic SA Schools Girls squads announced on Friday – blitzed EP 36-14 on Friday afternoon to claim their third win of the FNB U18 Girls Week.

The Blue Bulls, Boland, Border, Eastern Province XV, Golden Lions, Limpopo Blue Bulls and Valke were also victorious across an action-packed third round.

EP made a promising start to the final match, with wing Chelsea Koeberg crossing the tryline in the seventh minute. WP hit back thereafter, scoring three tries in quick succession to take a commanding 19-7 lead into the break.

The hosts mounted a comeback in the second stanza, before WP centre Endinalo Fihla dotted down for the second time in the match. WP wing Melissa Ndhlovu bagged her second try moments later, as the Cape side rounded off their successful campaign in style.

Earlier in the day, fullback Nonhlanhla Thumbuni scored a brace for the Blue Bulls in their 22-5 win against South Western Districts, while Boland hammered the Leopards 26-0.

The battle between Griquas and the Limpopo Blue Bulls was more closely contested, with the girls from the north rebounding from a 12-point half-time deficit to win 22-19. Replacement Charmaine Seodi scored at the death to clinch the result for her side.

Border scored five tries in their 29-10 win against KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Province XV blanked Free State 17-0, and the Golden Lions proved too strong for the Pumas in a 25-6 victory.

The contest between the Valke and the Griffons went to the wire, with No 8 Lene Joubert scoring a late try to seal the result for the East Rand side.

FNB U18 Girls Week results – day three (Friday)

SWD 5 (5), Blue Bulls 22 (7)

Boland 26 (5), Leopards 0 (0)

Border 29 (29), KwaZulu-Natal 10 (10)

Free State 0 (0), Eastern Province XV 17 (5)

Golden Lions 25 (10), Pumas 6 (0)

Griquas 19 (12), Limpopo Blue Bulls 22 (0)

Valke 17 (7), Griffons 15 (10)

Eastern Province 14 (7), Western Province 36 (19)

The FNB Youth Weeks programme will conclude at Grey High on Saturday, when all 16 male teams compete in the last round of the FNB U18 Craven Week tournament. Western Province will meet Western Province XV in the final game of the competition at 1pm.

FNB U18 Craven Week fixtures – day five (Saturday)

A-field

8.30am: EP v SWD

10am: Free State v Blue Bulls

11.30am: Sharks v Golden Lions

1pm: WP v WP XV

B-field

8.30am: Griquas v Griffons

10am: Boland v Pumas

C-field

8.30am: Valke v Limpopo

10am: Border v Leopards