Get Newsletter

U21: WP hit the front

Western Province were rewarded for their consistency in the Under-21 provincial championship this past weekend as they climbed to the top of the log and gained a valuable four-point lead over the chasing teams.

Victories for Free State and the Sharks also allowed them to close the gap between themselves and the Blue Bulls, resulting in only one point separating the second-placed Pretoria side and fourth-placed Free State.

In an exciting round of matches, Western Province thumped the Golden Lions 53-26 at Ellis Park, Free State defeated the Leopards 40-29 in Bloemfontein and the Sharks registered a narrow 19-15 victory against the Blue Bulls in Durban.

Golden Lions 26-53 Western Province

At Ellis Park, the Golden Lions put up a brave fight against Western Province in the first half as they scored two tries to the visitors’ three. Penalties at crucial times allowed Western Province flyhalf Dillyn Leyds to nudge his team ahead on the scoreboard, which left the Lions with a lot of work to do in the second half.

Western Province continued their impressive form in the second half though as they ran in another two tries for their bonus point. The Lions held on and also secured their bonus point try before the visitors ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes.

Justin Benn and Frederik Nel crossed the try-line to take their try tally for the match to seven. Leyds’ influence was particularly impressive with the player dictating play well and contributing 16 points with the boot.

Scorers:

For the Golden Lions:

Tries: Smith, Martinus, Nel 2

Cons: Schmidt 3

For Western Province:

Tries: Nel, Katzen, Benn, Van Wyk, Lombard 2, Kebble

Cons: Leyds 6

Pens: Leyds 2

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Marais Schmidt, 14 Peter-John Walters, 13 Jacques Jehan Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Damian Courtney Engledoe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Vian van der Watt, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Stephan de Wit, 6 Albertus Stephanus Smith, 5 Fabian Booysen, 4 Ruan Christov Venter, 3 Nico Visser du Plessis, 2 Mark Pretorius (captain), 1 Henri Boshoff.

Replacements: 16 Rikus van Niekerk, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Lourens Erasmus, 19 David Jacobus Oosthuizen, 20 Ruan Janse van Rensburg, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Gideon Johannes Meiring.

Western Province: 15 Craig Barry, 14 Chevandre Conwin van Schoor, 13 Kobus van Wyk, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 6 Joshua Katzen (captain), 5 Jean Kleyn,4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Jacobus Christoffel Etienne Swanepoel, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Oliver Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Cobus Nel, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Frederik Jean Nel, 21 JP Lewis, 22 Johnny Kotze.

Free State 40-29 Leopards

In Bloemfontein, a strong first-half performance set the Free State up for their fourth victory of the season. So dominant was the Bloemfontein side, they scored four tries in 25 minutes to add to two early penalties by fullback Marco Mason and to take a convincing 30-10 lead at the break.

However, the balance of power shifted in the second half as the Leopards tightened up their defence and stepped up their urgency on attack, which limited Free State to only 10 points in the half.

The Leopards, meanwhile, crossed the chalk three times in the last 23 minutes to secure their bonus point try. Unfortunately for the visitors, their efforts were not enough to undo the damage in the first half.

Scorers:

For Free State:

Tries: Greyling 2, Dolo 2, Tom, Griesel

Cons: Mason 2

Pens: Mason 2

For the Leopards:

Tries: Buys 2, Smith, Gilbert

Cons: Gilbert 3

Pen: Gilbert

Teams:

Free State: 15 Marco Mason, 14 Maputha Dolo, 13 Franscois Pretorius, 12 Niel Marais (captain), 11 Jan Jonathan Stephanus de Klerk, 10 Noel Marx, 9 Stephen Griesel, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Henco Greyling, 5 Neil Claassen, 4 Wikus Davis, 3 Philip Rudolf Botha, 2 Wickus Deysel, 1 Chase Wayne Morison.

Replacements: 16 Ockert du Toit, 17 Ignis Nagel, 18 Philip du Preez, 19 Jacob Nicolaas Olivier Immelman, 20 Kay-Kay Hlongwane, 21 Pieter Gerhard Morton, 22 Sethu Tom.

Leopards: 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Eugene Pettit, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Marnus Tack, 11 Tiaan Loots, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Jaco Grobler, 8 Jaco Buys, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Jaco Jordaan, 5 Neil Loftus Morrison, 4 Ettienne Smith, 3 Cayle Denner, 2 Armandt Stoman, 1 Arno Ebersohn (captain).

Replacements: 16 Jandre Conradie, 17 Thokoza Ndlela, 18 Erno Nagy, 19 Johannes Jakobus Andries Coetzee, 20 Ryno Smith, 21 Sarel Johannes Petrus Smith, 22 Jacobus Johannes du Plessis.

Sharks 19-15 Blue Bulls

In Durban, the Sharks overturned a 15-6 half-time deficit to cause an upset against the Blue Bulls. The clash started off tightly with the teams exchanging penalties as they both battled to breach the defence. The Bulls, however, capitalised on two try-scoring chances late in the half, which handed them the lead going into the break.

The Sharks fought back strongly by producing quality performances on attack and defence to take charge of the match. This earned them two tries by Kotaro Matsushima and Stefan Ungerer, while Robert du Preez slotted over his third penalty to seal the victory.

Scorers:

For the Sharks:

Tries: Matsushima, Ungerer

Pens: Du Preez 3

For the Blue Bulls:

Tries: Swanepoel, Kleinsmith

Con: Pollard

Pen: Pollard

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Sean Robinson, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Alcino Marchiano Izaacs, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Wade Dean Elliot, 6 Dylan Mike Nel, 5 Joseph Stephanus Theuns Lewies, 4 Wiehan Hay, 3 Nico van Dyk, 2 Franco Marais (captain), 1 Allan Dell.

Replacements: 16 Gregory Bauer, 17 Marne Coetzee, 18 Lungisa Oscar Zamile Mlaba, 19 Murray Bondesio, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Duncan Campbell, 22 Garath Robert Meikle.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Jade Kyle Stighling, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jermaine Fabian Kleinsmith, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Nardus van der Walt, 7 Roelof Smit, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Johannes Casper Kirsten, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.

Replacements: 16 Jason Thomas, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 Irne Philip Herbst, 19 Jakobus Ferdinand Horn, 20 Kefentse Seshego Mahlo, 21 Christopher Bosch, 22 Malcolm Theo.

Under-21 provincial championship log (under headings played, won, lost, drew, points for, points against, points difference, tries for, tries against, loss bonus, tries bonus, points):

Group A

Western Province: 6 – 5 – 1 – 0 – 196 – 83 – 113 – 25 – 10 – 1 – 3 – 24

Blue Bulls: 6 – 4 – 2 – 0 – 212 – 111 – 101 – 27 – 11 – 1 – 3 – 20

Sharks: 6 – 4 – 2 – 0 – 190 – 133 57 – 25 – 18 – 1 – 3 – 20

Free State: 6 – 4 – 2 – 0 – 167 – 159 – 8 – 21 – 20 – 0 – 3 – 19

Golden Lions: 6 – 3 – 3 – 0 – 162 – 160 – 2 – 20 – 16 – 2 – 2 – 16

Leopards: 6 – 1 – 5 – 0 – 123 – 257 – -134 – 14 – 35 – 1 – 1 – 6

Border: 6 – 0 – 6 – 0 – 113 – 260 – -147 – 16 – 38 – 0 – 1 – 1   

Top points scorers:

65 – Marais Schmidt (Golden Lions – one try, 15 conversions, 10 penalties)

58 – Tim Swiel (Western Province – one try, 13 conversions, eight penalties, one drop-goal)

52 – Robert du Preez (Sharks – two tries, 12 conversions, six penalties)

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment