The Coca-Cola under-18 Craven Week celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in Polokwane, home of the Limpopo Blue Bulls rugby union.
The Coca-Cola under-18 Craven Week celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in Polokwane, home of the Limpopo Blue Bulls rugby union.
The week moves around the country every year and has been hosted in some of the biggest modern stadiums, but somehow the spirit of the week and the original intention of its founder, Dr Danie Craven, come across best in one of the smaller city centres.
The decision to hold the tournament at the old Peter Mokaba stadium instead of in the modern World Cup behemoth next door was a good call.
The smaller grounds make for a more intimate atmosphere.
For many players this tournament represents one of the most significant moments in their lives, as some of them are the cream of the crop in South African rugby and could go on to achieve higher honours in future.
The Coca-Cola Craven Week in Polokwane on Monday. Grahamstown pupils representing the EP Country Districts (EP CD) side at the U18 Craven Week are Graemians Gordon-Wayne Plaatjies, Siphosethu Pinini and Xhanti Sandi; and Thomas Filmer, Tyler Paul, Sintu Manjezi (captain), Stuart Stopforth, Jason Baggot, Robert Ball and David Murray of St Andrew’s College.
George Lamani from Nathaniel Nyaluza Secondary School is the EP CD team manager, while Allan Miles from St Andrew’s is the head coach.
Eastern Province Country Districts beat the Northwest Leopards 35-10 on Tuesday. Three of the EP CD tries were scored by Grahamstown players, with Plaatjies scoring the first try of the match in the 17th minute.
Also scoring for EP CD were Ball and captain Manjezi.
In their second match which took place yesterday afternoon, EP CD met Griffons head-on but lost the game 20-26. Ball crossed the try line in the final minute of the game.
Manjezi had a magnificent game in the line-outs, impressing commentators with his line-out jumping.
