Western Province edged the Sharks on the third day of the FNB U18 Craven Week in Gqeberha, while the Leopards, Eastern Province and Free State were also among the winners at Grey High School on Wednesday.
Day three of the FNB U18 Craven Week witnessed several tight contests, with three of the four matches decided by 12 points or fewer.
WP and Free State claimed victories to extend their winning runs in the tournament, while the hosts and Leopards registered their first victories of the week.
The coastal derby staged on the Kolisi Field lived up to the hype, with the Sharks taking a slender five-point lead into the break. The KwaZulu-Natalians troubled WP at the set pieces and breakdowns after half-time, and converted that dominance into a 15-point lead.
WP fought back to reduce the deficit in the dying stages, and the Sharks conceded two yellow cards in quick succession. With full-time approaching, a third Sharks player was sent to the sin bin, and WP fullback Achmat Behardien kicked a penalty goal to clinch a dramatic 24-22 win.
Earlier in the day, Free State scored three late tries to claim a 38-26 win over South Western Districts. Fullback Lamla Mgedezi scored a brace for the Cheetahs, while flyhalf Samson Lackay contributed 13 points.
Boland and EP enjoyed a similarly tight battle, although the hosts took control of the contest in the second half, with scrumhalf Luke Doyle scoring a try in the 64th minute to extend his team's lead to eight points. Boland scored a converted try at the death, but EP hung on for a 32-31 victory.
The Leopards recorded the biggest win of the day when they thumped the Limpopo Blue Bulls 57-14. Outside centre Marques Jantjies scored a hat-trick for the North West side while flyhalf Ricardo Enos slotted six conversions.
The FNB U18 Craven Week continues at Grey High on Thursday, with the Griffons fronting the Valke at 10h00, and the Golden Lions tackling Western Province XV in the big match later in the day.
FNB U18 CRAVEN WEEK DAY 3 RESULTS (Wednesday, 8 July):
Leopards 57 (31) Limpopo Blue Bulls 14 (7)
Boland 31 (17) Eastern Province 32 (17)
Free State 38 (19) South Western Districts 26 (19)
Western Province 24 (7) Sharks 22 (12)
FNB U18 CRAVEN WEEK DAY 4 FIXTURE (Thursday, 9 July):
10h00: Griffons v Valke
11h45: Border v Pumas
13h30: Blue Bulls v Griquas
15h30: Golden Lions v Western Province XV
WP EDGE LIONS ON DAY 2 OF U18 GIRLS WEEK
Western Province, Border and Eastern Province claimed important wins in the second round of the FNB U18 Girls Week tournament at Grey High School in Gqeberha on Wednesday.
WP, EP, the Valke, Griffons and South Western Districts banked their second wins of the tournament on Wednesday, while Border, the Pumas and Griquas rebounded from losses in the opening round on Monday.
WP and the Golden Lions enjoyed a particularly close battle in the final match of the day. The game was in the balance at the death, after the Lions scored a try to reduce the deficit to two points. The ensuing conversion attempt drifted wide, however, and WP hung on for a 12-10 win.
Earlier in the day, the Pumas hammered KwaZulu-Natal 28-0 while Griquas overpowered the Leopards to win 30-5.
Border scored six tries in their 36-0 demolition of the Blue Bulls, with flyhalf Buncwane Komani contributing 11 points to the cause.
Eastern Province delivered a similarly dominant display in their 41-0 rout of Boland, with fullback Chariva Visagie and outside centre Anothando Mbada scoring two tries apiece.
The Valke downed Free State 19-10, SWD edged Eastern Province XV 15-10, and the Griffons fired late to secure a 22-5 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls.
The FNB Youth Weeks action will continue at Grey High on Thursday, when eight male teams compete in the next round of FNB U18 Craven Week staged on the Kolisi Field.
Meanwhile, the FNB U18 Girls Week tournament will conclude at Grey High on Friday.
FNB U18 GIRLS WEEK DAY 2 RESULTS (Wednesday, 8 July):
Pumas 28 (14) KwaZulu-Natal 0 (0)
Griquas 30 (15) Leopards 5 (0)
Border 36 (19) Blue Bulls 0 (0)
Valke 19 (19) Free State 10 (0)
Limpopo Blue Bulls 5 (0) Griffons 22 (12)
Eastern Province 41 (15) Boland 0 (0)
Western Province 12 (7) Golden Lions 10 (5)
SWD 15 (10) Eastern Province XV 10 (5)