The annual Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week is just a month away and there are already some mouthwatering encounters scheduled for the opening two days at Kearsney College.
Last year, Western Province hammered Eastern Province 95 – 0 in the Craven Week’s unofficial final at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. The ‘defending champs’ will kick off their 2016 campaign against neighbours Boland in the opening day’s penultimate clash. The lads in the famous blue and white hoops will once again be among the favourites to win the unofficial title of Craven Week champions this year.
Hosts KwaZulu Natal will play the main game on the opening day against 2015’s beaten finalists Eastern Province. The teams met last year in a nailbiter which was won 23 – 22 by EP.
Perennial powerhouses Free State had a disappointing 2015 campaign and will face a tricky opponent in the Valke in their first match on Day 2. That match will be followed by the highly anticpated Golden Lions vs SWD clash which serves as a curtain raiser to the main game between the Blue Bulls and Border.
The fixtures for the remaining days of the tournament will be drawn up at the end of each day’s play on a strength vs strength basis. The Craven Week will take place over five days with matches being played on July 11, July 12, July 13, July 14 and July 16.
2016 will see the Craven Week run concurrently with the Under-18 Academy Week, which also takes place at Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill.
Fixtures – Coca-Cola Under-18 Craven Week:
Day 1 – Monday 11 July
Griquas CD vs Zimbabwe
Griquas vs Namibia
Griffons vs Pumas
Western Province vs Boland
KZN vs EP
Day 2 – Tuesday 12 July
Limpopo vs Border CD
EP CD vs Leopards
Free State vs Valke
SWD vs Golden Lions
Blue Bulls vs Border
