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DHL WP crowned U19 champions

PUBLISHED: October 25, 2014


DHL Western Province are the champions of the 2014 Absa Provincial Under-19 competition, after defeating the Blue Bulls Under-19s by 33-26 in an exciting final at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

The DHL WP Under-19s trailed by 23-26 with just eight minutes left on the clock, a long-range Ernst Stapelberg penalty goal drawing the scores level at 26-26 with five minutes remaining.

No.6 flank Christo van der Merwe then scored a breakaway try with four minutes left and the hosts managed to hold on for a famous victory – repeating their trophy success of 2012 (when they beat the Bulls in Durban).

Stapelberg, as he has done all season, was the hero for his team with a points-haul of 18, with the DHL WP U19 tries being scored by fullback Khanyo Ngcukana (first half), prop Francois van der Merwe (second half) and namesake Christo – which turned out to be the winning score.

The DHL WP U19s led 16-12 at half-time, with a try just after half-time by tighthead prop Francois van der Merwe stretching their lead to 23-12.

The Bulls staged a good comeback during the second half, eventually taking the lead in the final ten minutes, but the hosts showed remarkable resilience to claw their way back into this hard-fought encounter.

It has been a long, tough season for the DHL Western Province Under-19s, who, after a tough injury run during the middle part of the season finished third in the league phase of the competition.

However, they travelled to Bloemfontein and beat the Free State U19s in their semifinal clash before returning home this week to defeat the Bulls U19s and, once again, be crowned the best Under-19 team in the country.

A pleased DHL WP Under-19 coach Nazeem Adams said afterwards: “I had faith in my team and they had faith in each other.

“I’m a proud coach, but it was a total squad effort this year to get us into the semifinals and to produce these two big performances in the semifinal and final.”

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province Under-19:
Tries: Ngcukana, F van der Merwe, C van der Merwe
Cons: Stapelberg 3
Pens: Stapelberg 4

For Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19:
Tries: Nonkontwana, Linde, Nhlabathi, Human
Cons: Human 3

The teams:

DHL Western Province Under-19: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Grant Hermanus, 13 Heinrich Buhr, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Rikus Bothma (captain), 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Christo van der Merwe, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Francois van der Merwe, 2 Paul-Martin Wipplinger, 1 Frans van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 Lebohang Mdakane, 18 Kyle Whyte, 19 Ruan du Preez, 20 Graham Geldenhuys, 21 Brendon Nell, 22 Jarryd Sage, 23 Adriaan Carelse.

Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Jinx Molapo, 13 Jurie Linde, 12 Adrian Maebane, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Dewald Human, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Abongile Nonkontwana, 6 Francois Steyn, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Matthys Basson, 2 Jan van der Merwe, 1 Njubula Gumede.
Replacements: 16 Vuyo Khatide, 17 Johan van Wyk, 18 Stefaan Grundelingh, 19 Calvon Allison, 20 Menzi Nhlabathi, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Wyatt Murphy, 23 Attie Louw.

Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Ben Crouse
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommestein