Border 14-54 Pumas: Craven Week 2026 Report

The Pumas dismantled Border with ruthless efficiency at Grey High School on Thursday, running out dominant 54-14 winners in a performance that announced their credentials loudly at FNB U18 Craven Week 2026.

The Lowveld province, built around a core of eight Middelburg boys and six from Nelspruit, were simply too sharp, too structured, and too powerful for a Border side that never found a foothold. The Pumas crossed for the opening try almost immediately and did not look back, their attack cutting clean lines through a Border defence that struggled to cope with the pace of the game.

By the time the whistle sounded for half-time, the Pumas had raced to a staggering 27-0 lead. Five tries in that first half told the full story of Border's afternoon — they were chasing shadows, unable to get hands on a Pumas backline that moved the ball with confidence and purpose. For the Border boys, drawn largely from Dale College, Queen's College, and Selborne, the half-time dressing room was a sobering place.

The second half brought a penalty to extend the Pumas lead to 30 points, then a converted try pushed it to 37-0. That is when Border showed some of the heart that Craven Week always demands. They crossed for a converted try — 7-37 — and briefly gave their supporters something to cheer. To their credit, they came again and added a second converted try late in the half to make it 14-47, showing they were not simply rolling over.

But the Pumas were not finished. Another converted try sealed the result at 54-14, a final scoreline that reflected the gulf in class on the day. Eight tries to two told its own story.

For the Pumas, this is a statement result. A 40-point winning margin at Craven Week draws attention, and rightly so — they look like genuine contenders for top honours this week. For Border, two tries and a converted brace in the second half shows spirit, but the gap to close is considerable. Their campaign continues, and character counts for something.