Grant Khomo Week Rugby Day 1 featured Game.

The Grant Khomo under 16 Rugby Week kicked off yesterday, Monday 2nd July, at the University of Johannesburg Stadium and runs through until the 5th of July.

I was privileged enough to watch the main game on the first day which featured hosts the Lions against Western Province.  The match was a well contested affair, with the young lads from the Cape edging out the Lions 21 points to 19, thanks largely to fullback Tiaan Swanepoel in the number 22 jersey who slotted a last minute penalty from inside his own half. Swanepoel's tally in the game was 16 points.

The game started tentatively with both sides not giving anything away. Deep into the second half, the score were tied at 6 points a piece until WP gave away two penalties in quick succession to give the Lions a 12-6 lead. Province replied with an uncoverted try through winger Edwill van der Merwe. Province gave away another penalty straight after the kick off which allowed Lions flyhalf Forrest Roos a shot at goal. The subsequent kick hit the post but lock Devon Hansen had the presence of mind to follow up the kick and caught the rebound, catching the WP defenders off guard to score under the posts. Roos slotted the conversion to give the Lions a 19-11 lead which seemed as though it would be enough to see them through.

Tiaan Swanepoel showed big match temperament in the last 5 minutes of the game to score a try which he converted himself and to kick over the high pressure kick at the end to win the game for Province. Nobody could begrudge the Lions a victory, they had majority of the possession and played well but fumbled the ball in the opposition 22 on a few occasions and were guilty of not taking all their opportunities. Western Province defended well for most of the game and did well on the counter attack and tried to run the ball at every chance they had. And in the end proved to have just enough to defeat the hosts.

The size of 16 year-old rugby players amazed me. I didnt rememeber them being that big when I was in school. In the main game quite a few players caught the eye but for the Lions lock Devon Hansen and flanker Jethro de Lange stood out amongst their peers and Tiaan Swanepoel was Western Province's best player on the day.