The defending champion DHL Western Province Under-21s have secured first place on the 2014 Absa Provincial Under-21 log – despite still having a game in hand.
The DHL WP U21s were clinical in Bloemfontein on Saturday as they converted a 20-8 half-time lead into a 39-18 win over the Free State Cheetahs Under-21s – their tenth win of the season.
The visitors opened their account in the fifth minute when inspirational captain Eital Bredenkamp crashed over for his 12th try of the season, with Robert du Preez adding the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Free State managed a first-half try of their own, through fullback Henry Immelman, but the boot of Du Preez and a try shortly before half-time, from star centre Johnny Kotze, saw the visitors into a handy 20-8 lead at the break.
Prop John Meyer opened WP’s account in the second half with a 44th-minute try, but FS right-wing Carel-Jan Coetzee cancelled that out soon after, with centre Pieter Jordaan converting and adding a penalty to leave the game poised at 18-27 going into the final quarter.
However, two more Province five-pointers, by fullback EW Viljoen (64th minute – the bonus point try) and Bredenkamp (79th minute – his 13th of the season), put the result beyond doubt as the Men in Blue & White hoops booked their top-of-the-log finish.
The WP U21s will host the Sharks U21s at DHL Newlands next Saturday in their final league match of 2014, but look set to lock horns with the FS U21s in the semifinals on October 11.
The scorers:
For Free State Under-21:
Tries: Immelman, Coetzee
Con: Jordaan
Pens: Jordaan 2
For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Tries: Bredenkamp 2, Kotze, Meyer, Viljoen
Cons: R du Preez 4
Pens: R du Preez 2
The teams:
Free State Under-21: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 13 Stephan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Pieter Jordaan, 11 Donavan Gissing, 10 Ruan Potgieter, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Gerhard Olivier (captain), 7 Steven Meiring, 6 Henco Greyling, 5 Jan Albert Venter, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Hendrik Theron.
Replacements: 16 Marco Klopper, 17 Johan Bannink, 18 Mosoeu Maruping, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Louis Venter, 21 Barend Bornman, 22 Don Mlondobozi.
DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel (vice-captain), 8 Justin Benn, 7 Luke van der Smit, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (captain), 5 Jade Kriel, 4 Carel du Preez, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Michael Kennedy, 1 John Meyer.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Wesley Adonis, 18 Kobus van Dyk, 19 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 20 SP Ferreira, 21 WJ Strydom, 22 Iewan Bartels.
Referee: Rodney Bonaparte
