DHL Western Province U19 secured their place in the SA Rugby U19 Championship Final with a 30-15 victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19 at City Park on Friday.
DHL Western Province U19 secured their place in the SA Rugby U19 Championship Final with a 30-15 victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19 at City Park on Friday.
This semifinal victory comes on the back of a dominant season which saw coach Nazeem Adams’ team top the standings with 10 wins from their 12 games in the league phase of the campaign
Playing in their third consecutive semifinal, DHL Western Province U19 showed good composure to hold off some early pressure from the visitors before running away from them in fine style, scoring four tries in the process.
The hosts made a positive start to the game, as they enjoyed the majority of possession and took the ball deep into opposition territory.
Both teams showed great resolve on defence in a scoreless opening 20 minutes, with DHL Western Province pulling the only penalty attempt wide.
Instead it would be the visitors to open the scoring, as their flyhalf Justin Taylor slotted a penalty, but they would not have that lead for long as DHL Western Province U19 responded with two tries from Juarno Augustus before half-time.
After a series of powerful mauls the ball was given to the big No.8 who steamrolled his way over, and that was followed up soon afterwards by a similar effort which gave the home side a 12-3 advantage at the break.
DHL Western Province U19 struck first in the second half as Williams kicked an early penalty, but the Free State side would hit back with a try as outside centre Kurt Eybers collected a chip kick to make it 15-8.
The home side responded with a well-worked try which was finished in the corner by outside centre David Brits, and they followed that up soon afterwards with a try from his midfield partner Cornel Smit.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19 managed a late consolation try from left wing Marnus Boshoff, but it was not enough to avoid defeat as DHL Western Province U19 booked their place in the final next week.
The scorers:
For DHL WP U19:
Tries: Augustus 2, Brits, Smit
Cons: Williams 2
Pens: Williams, Van der Bank
For Free State U19:
Tries: Eybers, Boshoff
Con: Schutte
Pen: Taylor
DHL Western Province U19: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ryan Muller, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Matt Wiseman, 1 Ricky Nwagbara.
Replacements: 16 Shane Farmer, 17 Roux Swart, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Joa Swart, 20 Zain Davids, 21 Brandon Salomo, 22 Adriaan van der Bank, 23 Troy Payne.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs U19: 15 Jarik van der Walt, 14 Ruan Henning, 13 Kurt Eybers, 12 Dawid Snyman, 11 Marnus Boshoff, 10 Justin Taylor, 9 Ettiene Becker, 8 Albertus de Bod, 7 Jurie Burger, 6 George Rossouw (captain), 5 Ewan Coetzee, 4 Sibabalo Qoma, 3 Kwenzohule Blose, 2 Abri Coetzee, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Kanya Gela, 18 Warren Brits, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 Christiaan Schutte, 21 William Eybers, 22 Kobus Lombard, 23 Helgard Meyer.