DHL Western Province U19 held on for a hard-fought 23-18 victory against the Xerox Golden Lions U19 at City Park on Saturday.

DHL Western Province U19 held on for a hard-fought 23-18 victory against the Xerox Golden Lions U19 at City Park on Saturday.

It was the second consecutive win of the season for DHL Western Province U19, following their win against Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19 in Bloemfontein last week.

The hosts struck first as scrumhalf Jondre Williams capped off a period of pressure by darting over and then converting his own try, which was followed up shortly afterwards with a penalty to put them 10-0 up.

DHL Western Province U19 showed good commitment on defence to hold out under ressure from the visitors and Williams was on target with a second penalty on the 20 minute mark to take the lead out to 13-0.

The Xerox Golden Lions U19 got on the scoreboard with a try from inside centre Wayne Van der Bank which was converted by fullback Jean-Luc Cilliers, but the home side hit back with a try of their own from right wing Nico Leonard which gave them a 20-7 advantage at the half-hour mark.

DHL Western Province U19 were reduced to 14 men when lock Jordan Sesink-Clee was shown a yellow card for a cynical infringement, which resulted in a penalty for Cilliers to make it 20-10 at the half-time break.

The visitors were first to strike in the second half with another Cilliers penalty, and they tested the home team’s defence in a period of prssure, but it would be DHL Western Province to score next with a penalty from Williams giving them a 23-13 advantage with 10 minutes left to play.

The Xerox Golden Lions had the final say with a late try from replacement Xander Crause, but DHL Western Province U19 held out for a hard-fought victory in the end.
The scorers:

For DHL WP U19:
Tries: Williams, Leonard
Cons: Williams 2
Pens: Williams 3

For Xerox Golden Lions U19:
Tries: Van der Bank, Crause
Con: Cilliers
Pens: Cilliers 2
Teams:

DHL Western Province U19: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Tumi Mogoje, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Thomas Meyer, 6 Kuyenzeka Xaba (captain), 5 Jordan Sesink-Clee, 4 Imraan Andrews, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Matt Wiseman, 1 Ricky Nwagbara.
Replacements: 16 Etienne van Dyk, 17 Roux Swart, 18 Justin Theys, 19 Joa Swart, 20 Shaine Orderson, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Troy Payne, 23 Ryan Muller.

Xerox Golden Lions U19: 15 Jean-Luc Cilliers, 14 Tyreeq February, 13 Jan-Louis la Grange, 12 Wayne Van der Bank, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Bader-Werner Pretorius, 9 Bradley Thain, 8 Leon Massyn, 7 Edwin Jansen, 6 Christoffel Steynberg (captain), 5 Reinhard Northnagel, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Chergin Fillies, 2 Hendrick van Schoor, 1 Leo Kruger.
Replacements: 16 Justin Brandon, 17 Niell Bezuidenhout, 18 Rouxbann Baumann, 19 Tiaan Venter, 20 Patrick Wait, 21 Divan Henning, 22 Xander Crause, 23 Siyabonga Kalishwayo.