Despite scoring four tries, DHL Western Province U19 went down 33-24 against Free State U19 at City Park on Saturday.

In an entertaining game played in sunny but windy conditions, both teams showed an encouraging willingness to run the ball.

The visitors were playing with the wind in the first half and struck first early on, before DHL Western Province U19 hit back with a try of their own from wing Duran Hoffman, which went unconverted.

The two teams exchanged tries again, with the Free Staters scoring before big lock Ian Kitwanga broke free to score and make it 14-10.

The DHL Western Province defence was being tested as Free State U19 threw wave after wave of attack at them and the pressure eventually told just before half-time to give the vicitors a 21-10 advantage at the break.

The home side were first to score in the second half, with good hands from David Kriel putting David Coetzer over for a try, but Free State U19 hit back with their fourth try to make it 28-17.

The visitors would cross the tryline one more time to secure the win, leaving DHL Western Province U19 with a single bonus point for scoring four tries.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U19:
Tries: Hoffman, Kitwanga, Coetzer, Solaan
Cons: Coetzer 2

DHL Western Province U19: 15 Quan Eyman, 14 Duran Hoffman, 13 David Kriel, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Nevaldo Fleurs, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Lucky Dlepu (captain), 8 Bevan Prinsloo, 7 Tonderai Chiwumbutsa, 6 Henro Meyer, 5 Marcel Theunissen, 4 Ian Kitwanga, 3 Hugo Pienaar, 2 Ru-Hann Greyling, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Chris Rossouw, 17 Alexander Mbete, 18 Joshua du Preez, 19 Jaen-Louis de Lange, 20 Nathan Solomons, 21 Gerado Jaars, 22 David Coetzer, 23 Rikus Pretorius.