Border produced their best performance of the Coca-Cola U19  Craven Week, beating Northern Free State 55-8.

Brent Russell in 2002

It was the free Stater’s second heavy defeat after their 44-0  defeat by the Blue Bulls. Border fullback Peter Gibson scored a hat-trick of tries. Northern Free State were first on the board through a try by  wing Rudi van der Westhuizen, but Border centre Bradley  Sparks replied almost immediately with a try, converted by Dru  Nass who later represented the Border Bulldogs at scrum half.

Garrett Perry then slotted a penalty for Northern Free State  to take them into a 10-8 lead at the break. The second half belonged entirely to Border as they started  spreading the ball wide and the slower Free State loose  forwards could not cover the field quickly enough to plug all the  gaps. Eighthman Greg Krause got the first try of the second period  and Gibson got his first and second shortly afterwards, both  converted by Brent Russell. Rusell was later to wear the Springbok jersey. (more…)