DHL Western Province U19 scored five tries, but went down 39-31 against Cell C Sharks U19 in an entertaining encounter at Brookside on Saturday.

In a match that featured 11 tries, DHL Western Province came up short despite a brave performance against the unbeaten Cell C Sharks U19.

The home side got on the front foot early and the forward pack stamped their authority with a well-worked maul try from hooker Chris Rossouw.

The visitors responded with a try and a penalty to put them 8-5, but they did not have the lead for long as DHL Western Province U19 hit back with two tries.

First it was blindside flank Tonderai Chiwumbutsa who powered his way over for a try between the poles, before scrumhalf Lucky Dlepu sniped over next to a ruck.

The Cell C Sharks U19 scored a second try on the stroke of half-time, but DHL Western Province took a 19-13 lead into the break.

The visitors scored two quick tries early in the second half to take a 27-19 lead before DHL Western Province responded with their fourth try, from wing Angelo Davids who dived over out wide.

However, Cell C Sharks U19 got over for two more tries, although DHL Western Province did get a late consolation with lock Ross Taylor scoring their fifth try at the death.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U19:
Tries: Rossouw, Chiwumbutsa, Dlepu, Davids, Taylor
Cons: Schreuder 2, Coetzer

For Sharks U19:
Tries: Van der Mescht, Mbatha, Richardson, Kunene 2, Staples
Cons: Mbatha 3
Pen: Mohamba

DHL Western Province U19: 15 Quan Eyman, 14 Christian Ambadiang, 13 David Kriel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Christopher Schreuder, 9 Lucky Dlepu, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Tonderai Chiwumbutsa, 6 Bevan Prinsloo, 5 Marcel Theunissen, 4 Ross Taylor, 3 Hugo Pienaar, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Andile Nondwangu, 17 Alexander Mbete, 18 Cameron Moodie, 19 Henco Martins, 20 Nathan Solomons, 21 Gerado Jaars, 22 David Coetzer, 23 Waqar Solaan.