Craven Week Day 3 Results and day 4 Fixtures

Game One – Leopards Dominate Limpopo Blue Bulls in 57-14 Victory

Day Three of Craven Week 2026 kicked off with an entertaining South African school rugby clash between the Limpopo Blue Bulls and the Leopards.

The Blue Bulls made a positive start, opening the scoring through a clever grubber kick that turned the Leopards’ defence around and allowed Dreyer to dive on the ball for the first try of the match.

Despite the early breakthrough, there was little else to celebrate for the Bulls as the Leopards responded in emphatic fashion. They crossed for five unanswered tries, with Jantjies scoring twice and Grobler, Kgamanyna and Linde each adding their names to the scoresheet. A yellow card to Bulls lock Voster further compounded their problems as the Leopards surged into a commanding 31-7 lead at half-time.

Despite their outstanding first-half performance, the second half began with what appeared to be a setback for the Leopards when Dreyer received a red card for a dangerous tackle. However, it did little to halt their momentum. The Leopards added another try before Stevens produced a superb 50-metre finish. They continued to dominate possession and territory and, with five minutes remaining, Jantjies completed his hat-trick while also bringing up the half-century for his side. Tiaan De Kock crossed with the final play of the game before Enos added the conversion to complete a convincing 57-14 victory in the opening Craven Week 2026 Day Three fixture.

Game Two – Eastern Province Edge Boland in Dramatic 32-31 Thriller

The second Craven Week 2026 fixture featured an exciting encounter between Boland and Eastern Province. Boland entered the match unbeaten, while Eastern Province were searching for their first victory after suffering a heavy defeat to Western Province.

After an entertaining opening 30 minutes, the scores were locked at 17-17. Eastern Province spent the closing stages of the first half camped inside Boland’s 22, enjoying an extended advantage while repeatedly testing the defence. Despite several opportunities, they were unable to capitalise, leaving the teams level at the break. Had both sides converted more of their chances from the kicking tee, there may well have been a clear leader at half-time.

Eastern Province began the second half with renewed attacking intent. Wessels crossed from the back of a well-executed driving maul to score the opening points after the restart. Boland responded almost immediately with a powerful maul of their own from inside the Eastern Province 10-metre line before their hooker guided the pack over. Van Niekerk added the conversion to edge Boland two points ahead.

Momentum shifted when Boland received a yellow card, allowing Eastern Province to slot a penalty and reduce the deficit to a single point. The contest remained evenly balanced until the 65th minute when Boland were shown a second yellow card. Eastern Province capitalised on the numerical advantage by scoring a crucial try. Although Boland crossed late to set up a thrilling finish, they fell agonisingly short as Eastern Province secured a dramatic 32-31 victory in one of the most exciting Craven Week 2026 Day Three results.

Game Three – Free State Stay Unbeaten with Hard-Fought Victory over SWD

The third Craven Week 2026 match saw SWD take on an in-form Free State side. Free State were looking to build on their opening-round victory and secure back-to-back wins, while SWD searched for their first success of the tournament.

Free State struck almost immediately, with Mgedezi’s first touch of the ball resulting in the opening try. The lead proved short-lived as SWD earned a penalty five metres from the line. A clever move followed by a powerful driving maul and successful conversion handed SWD a 7-5 advantage.

Growing in confidence, SWD doubled their lead before adding a third try, once again using an effective 15-metre maul with Smith crossing the whitewash.

Free State never looked out of the contest. A late pick-and-go from an undefended ruck reduced the deficit before momentum swung decisively in their favour. They stretched the SWD defence, allowing Mgedezi to score his second try and level the scores at 19-19 heading into half-time.

The second half produced outstanding schoolboy rugby, with both teams attacking from all areas of the field. Neither side could break the deadlock early on before SWD earned another opportunity close to the try line. Their forwards again delivered from a driving maul, allowing captain De Villiers to crash over from close range.

Free State once again found an immediate response to level matters, setting up a thrilling finish. Mgedezi produced one of the moments of Craven Week 2026, chipping ahead before regathering the ball and delivering a perfectly timed pass for Mabena to score. Holding a five-point advantage, Free State grew in confidence before their fly-half rounded off an impressive performance with a superb individual try to secure a convincing 38-26 victory.

Game Four – Western Province Stage Superb Comeback to Defeat Sharks 24-22

The final match of Craven Week 2026 Day Three featured one of the tournament’s most anticipated encounters as the Sharks took on Western Province. Both sides entered the match unbeaten after impressive opening-round victories.

The opening half developed into a fierce arm wrestle, with both teams matching each other’s intensity and physicality. The Sharks made the brighter start through Boshoff, who crossed for the opening try. Western Province responded after sustained pressure eventually produced the equalising score.

The contest remained evenly poised until two minutes before half-time when a soft penalty gifted the Sharks field position inside the Western Province 22. Although they lost the initial lineout, a second opportunity allowed them to execute a clever kick pass that resulted in a try and a valuable five-point lead at the interval.

The Sharks built on that momentum early in the second half by extending their advantage with a penalty goal. Western Province threatened on several occasions, but handling errors prevented them from converting promising attacking opportunities.

An ambitious grubber kick from the Sharks was poorly dealt with by Western Province, allowing the Sharks to regain possession five metres from the try line. The resulting try, together with the successful conversion, stretched the lead to 22-7.

The turning point came shortly afterwards when Sharks replacement Du Toit was shown a yellow card for cynical play following sustained pressure from Western Province on the try line. Minutes later, the Sharks were reduced to 13 players after another yellow card for a deliberate knockdown. The resulting penalty try handed Western Province both momentum and a significant numerical advantage.

Although the Sharks fought bravely to remain in the contest, Western Province continued to create opportunities out wide. Dreyer crossed following a well-worked attacking movement before the Sharks conceded another penalty deep inside their own 22 shortly after the final hooter. Berhardien calmly slotted the penalty to secure a hard-fought 24-22 victory, keeping Western Province unbeaten at Craven Week 2026.

To watch the Craven Week 2026 Day Three highlights, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SCHOOLOFSPORTS

Craven Week 2026 – Day Four Fixtures (Thursday, 9 July 2026)

10:00 – Border vs Griquas

11:45 – Golden Lions vs Valke

13:30 – Sharks vs Griffons

15:15 – Western Province XV vs Pumas

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