DHL Western Province U19 secured a hard-fought 48-40 victory against the Cell C Sharks U19 at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

DHL Western Province U19 secured a hard-fought 48-40 victory against the Cell C Sharks U19 at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

A late try from replacement flyhalf Damian Willemse was enough to seal the win in what was a thrilling encounter, which saw each team score six tries.

Three of those tries came courtesy of a hat-trick from hooker Matt Wiseman, whilst the Cell C Sharks U19 scored six tries of their own at DHL Newlands.

Both teams got on the scoreboard early on as Wiseman forced his way over for the opening try, before the Cell C Sharks U19 hit back with a try from centre David Schoor to level things up at 7-7.

The visitors then followed that up with a breakaway try from left wing Lunga Mukendi to give them the lead for the first time, and DHL Western Province responded with a penalty from scrumhalf Jondre Williams to reduce the deficit to 14-10.

DHL Western Province were back in front when big No.8 Juarno Augustus burst through and powered over the tryline, and they followed that up soon afterwards with a second try from Wiseman who scored from a driving maul to put them 22-14 up.

But they were not done there as flank Nama Xaba went over for their fourth try before Cell C Sharks U19 hit back with a try from lock Clifford Jacobs just before half-time which made it 29-21 at the break.

DHL Western Province U19 struck first in the second half as Wiseman got over for his hat-trick try from a maul, and they followed that up with a penalty from Williams shortly afterwards to take their lead out to 37-21.

The visitors hit back with two quick tries from replacement Williams Squires, and they took the lead with 15 minutes remaining when scrumhalf Francois de Villiers shot through, but it was all square at 40-40 when Williams slotted another penalty with 15 minutes left to play.

Another Williams penalty gave the hosts a slender lead, and a try in the last minute from replacement flyhalf Damian Willemse sealed the win.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U19:
Tries: Wiseman 3, Augustus, Xaba, Willemse
Cons: Williams 3
Pens: Williams 4

For Cell C Sharks U19:
Tries: Schoor, Mukendi, Jacobs, Squires 2, De Villiers
Cons: Simpson 5

DHL Western Province U19: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Ryan Muller, 13 David Brits, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Tumi Mogoje, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Joa Swart, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jordan Sesink-Clee, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Matt Wiseman, 1 Wikus Groenewald.
Replacements: 16 Shane Farmer, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Johan Visser, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Nico Leonard.

Cell C Sharks U19: 15 Donovan du Randt, 14 Mfundo Ndlovu, 13 James Tedder, 12 David Schoor, 11 Lunga Mukendi, 10 Gareth Simpson, 9 Francois de Villiers, 8 Mthokozisi Ntuli, 7 Cornelius Otto, 6 Andre Coetzee, 5 Andrew Evans, 4 Clifford Jacobs, 3 Khuthazani Mchunu (captain), 2 Samuel Swanepoel, 1 Christopher Klopper.
Replacements: 16 Bubele Gonqa, 17 Jordan Els, 18 Muammir Salie, 19 Marco Koen, 20 Migcobo Bovu, 21 Khail Koetzenberg, 22 William Squires.