Bulls and coastal teams draw first blood at U16 Grant Khomo Week

The Bulls, Sharks and both Western Province teams claimed valuable wins on day one of the FNB U16 Grant Khomo Week staged at St Alban’s College in Pretoria on Monday.

The opening day of the U16 tournament witnessed a number of tight contests, with Border, the Valke, South Western Districts, Griffons and Griquas among the teams that went on to secure victories.

The Bulls began their home campaign with a clinical performance, scoring four tries in a 32-13 win over Boland.

Outside centre Dandre Brink crossed the line twice for the hosts.

The battle between the Sharks and Golden Lions yielded 79 points and 11 tries, with the KwaZulu-Natalians going on to secure a 44-35 victory.

Fullback Rosco Williams scored a hat-trick for the Sharks, while inside centre Blessing Manoreng did the same for the Lions.

A far tighter contest between the Western Province XV and the Pumas was decided by inside centre Divan Meyer, who kicked three conversions and three penalty goals to steer the WP XV to a 30-27 win.

Zimbabwe put on a show in the first fixture of the day, scoring 11 tries in a resounding 71-3 win over Border Country Districts.

Inside centre Denzel Nyambo scored a hat-trick for the Zimbabweans, while scrumhalf Gray van der Merwe slotted eight conversions.

The Valke fought back from a first-half deficit to beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls 24-15, while the Griffons also managed to edge Namibia 32-24, after trailing by two at the break.

In the final two matches of the day, Western Province claimed an emphatic 55-22 win over Free State – with Luca Orgill (centre) scoring a brace for the men in blue and white hoops – while Griquas cracked on to beat the Iqhawe XV 50-14, after the scores were level at the halftime.

FNB U16 GRANT KHOMO WEEK DAY ONE RESULTS (MONDAY 30 JUNE)

Zimbabwe 71 (36) Border Country Districts 3 (3)

Border 26 (19) Leopards 22 (5)

Valke 24 (5) Limpopo Blue Bulls 15 (12)

South Western Districts 27 (15) Eastern Province 10 (5)

Griffons 32 (15) Namibia 24 (17)

Sharks 44 (27) Golden Lions 35 (21)

Western Province XV 30 (17) Pumas 27 (15)

Bulls 32 (15) Boland 13 (3)

Western Province 55 (24) Free State 22 (10)

Iqhawe XV 14 (14) Griquas 50 (14)