The DHL Western Province Under-21 team began their 2015 Absa Provincial Under-21 season with a 13-17 defeat to the Sharks Under-21s at City Park on Saturday.

Trailing by 0-3 at half-time, the DHL WP U21s, losing finalists in 2014, delivered an improved second-half performance – including a late fightback – only to be denied by just four points in the end.

Flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg kicked four penalty goals and replacement forward Christo van der Merwe crashed over for a late maul but it was just not enough in the end for a team missing Jacques Vermeulen, Luke Stringer, Justin Phillips, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Daniel du Plessis and Grant Hermanus to injuries and Wilco Louw to the senior DHL WP squad.

In the end, however, the boot of Sharks kicker Rowan Gouws, via four penalty goals, was the difference between the two sides, with referee Jaco Pretorius punishing DHL WP – especially at scrum time.

The DHL WP Under-21s have a bye next weekend before taking on the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, July 25. It gives new coach Robbie Fleck an opportunity to work on a few things at training in the next two weeks, as the DHL WP U21s look to get their season on track after a tough start at home.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Try: Van der Merwe
Con: Stapelberg
Pens: Stapelberg 2

For Cell C Sharks Under-21:
Try: O’Niell
Pens: Gouws 4

The teams:

DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Brandon Thomson, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 SP Ferreira, 8 Rikus Bothma (captain), 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Luke van der Smit, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Cornelius van Niekerk, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Martin Wipplinger, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Kyle Whyte, 19 Johannes Momsen, 20 Christo van der Merwe, 21 Jason Marcus, 22 James Verity-Amm.

Sharks Under-21: 15 Kelvin Elder, 14 Nkululeko Mcuma, 13 Nkululeko Marwana, 12 Sandile Kubeka, 11 Marcel Coetzee, 10 Riaan O’Neill, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Ayron Schramm, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Graham Geldenhuys, 5 Jean Drotse, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Chris de Beer (captain), 1 Barend Potgieter.
Replacements: 16 Andrew du Plessis, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Daniel du Preez, 20 Retief Marais, 21 Lotter Pretorious, 22 Sipho Mkhize.

Referee: Jaco Pretorius