Boland 39-20 Leopards: Craven Week 2026 Day 1

Monday, 6 July 2026

Boland beat Leopards 39-20 in a stunning second-half comeback at FNB U18 Craven Week 2026 at Grey High School in Gqeberha on 6 July.

Boland 39-20 Leopards: Craven Week 2026, Day 1

Boland overturned a ten-point half-time deficit to beat Leopards 39-20 on the opening day of FNB U18 Craven Week 2026 at Grey High School in Gqeberha, delivering one of the day's most dramatic turnarounds across all the fields.

Leopards started with real intent. A converted try put them 7-0 up inside the opening exchanges, and a penalty soon after stretched the advantage to thirteen. Boland clawed one back through the boot before the break, but at 3-13 down, the Western Cape side had serious work to do. Leopards looked composed, organised, and very much in control.

The second half told a completely different story. Boland came out transformed and crossed for a try almost immediately, converting to close the gap to three. The momentum was unmistakable. Within minutes, they crossed again and added the conversion to edge in front for the first time, 17-13. The Drostdy-heavy squad — twelve of the 23-man group come from that single school in Worcester — began to impose themselves up front, and a third try in the period, converted, pushed Boland out to 29-13 and seemed to settle the contest.

Leopards refused to fold. Their Rustenburg contingent, eight strong in the squad, found something and replied with a converted try of their own to make it 29-20. For a moment, the game crackled with possibility. But Boland steadied. A penalty extended the lead to twelve, and then a fourth try — converted — put the result beyond doubt. Full-time: Boland 39-20.

Five tries to two tells you everything about where the game was won and lost. Boland were poor in the first half and brilliant in the second. Leopards were the better side before the break and will be frustrated they couldn't hold their grip.

For Boland, the bonus-point win is an outstanding start and places them firmly in the mix at the top of the standings. Leopards, meanwhile, must regroup quickly — there is no margin for error if they want to stay in contention for the title matches by Friday.