EP v SWD in Academy ‘Final’

After two exciting days of rugby, the organisers of the U18 Academy Week have drawn up the final list of fixtures pitting strength vs strength with Eastern Province and South Western Districts competing in the unofficial final.

The Academy Week is often incorrectly labelled as a ‘B’ week and while it does run in the shadow of the Craven Week, the talent and skill on offer is often on a parallel if not superior to that seen at the Craven Week. 2013 has once again been no different with some superb rugby being played by all teams. Credit must also go to the organisers who have done a good job in arranging evenly contested matches over the first two days. The final day is where things get interesting as having had a good look at all the teams, the organisers pit strength vs strength with the highlight being the ‘final’ being contested between the unbeaten Eastern Province and South Western Districts.

EP have had a relatively easier path to the ‘final’ than SWD. Day 1 saw the men in red and black annihilate the Blue Valke 66 -5 before staging an impressive second half comeback to beat KZN 24 – 17 on Tuesday. Flyhalf Darren Domingo’s accurate boot has been crucial to the team’s success as has the tireless work of flanker Johan van Niekerk.

SWD have had a tough road to unofficial final having faced the Golden Lions and Western Province. The men from the Southern Cape succeeded in both fixtures thanks to strong showings in the latter stages of each match. Players to have impressed for SWD thus far have been centre JT Jackson and lock Hendri Storm.

DAY 3, THURSDAY 04 JULY