Rugby Results from Craven Week Day 2.
Day two of the 2025 Craven Week delivered big names, big moments, and even bigger scorelines as several top-tier teams took the field for the first time. With momentum swinging wildly in the opening clash and margins growing game by game, it was a day packed with drama, dominance, and decisive flair.
Leopards vs Valke opened proceedings with a tense affair that could’ve gone either way. The first half was end-to-end with neither team fully grabbing control. That changed in the 24th minute when Valke’s Davids was sent to the bin for cynical play. Despite the setback, Valke still managed to go into the break with a 7-point lead. The Leopards hit back early in the second, levelling the score and even snatching a narrow lead, but Valke’s resilience saw them surge ahead again. At 29–24 with time ticking down, the win looked secured until against the run of play the Leopards exposed a gap in Valke’s defence and crashed over for a last-gasp try. A draw at 29-all, but Valke will rue missed conversions and a simple penalty that could have sealed it earlier.
Game two Border vs Griquas sparked a new pattern: widening margins and increasingly dominant displays. Border found themselves on the back foot early after a yellow card to a key player, allowing Griquas to take the early lead. Another card later in the half didn’t help their cause, yet somehow Border entered halftime in front and never looked back. The second half was all one-way traffic as Border clicked into gear, running out comfortable 36–17 winners and showing real backbone under pressure.
Then came the fireworks from KZN’s Sharks, who lit up the day’s third match with a blistering display against Eastern Province. The game was barely underway when fullback Zekethelo Siyaya in his much-anticipated debut in the No.15 jersey at this years craven week made his mark. He set up the opening try before adding a couple of his own later. Despite some missed conversions in the first half, the Sharks were up by 10 at the break. But it was the second half where the floodgates truly opened. The Sharks ran riot, adding 28 unanswered points in a devastating burst that left EP reeling. Final score: 41–10 to the men from Natal, who signalled they’re here to challenge anyone.
YouTube highlights of the game below:
And finally, the blue machine, Western Province stormed into action against Boland. While Boland drew first blood with an early penalty, it would be the last time they’d trouble the scorers for a long while. Province responded with a ruthless display of attacking rugby, with captain Josh Niel and Marcus Muller leading the charge on either side of halftime. Try after try followed as Province turned on the style. Boland found a late spark through their No.1, who powered over for a solo effort, but it was purely academic. The final whistle brought an 80–18 rout, a brutal reminder of Province’s depth and danger.
YouTube highlights of the game below:
