DHL Western Province showed their 2015 Absa Under-21 Provincial title intentions with a well-deserved win over the previously unbeaten Xerox Golden Lions at City Park on Saturday, with DHL WP’s U19s also claiming a crucial victory.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls (39-20) overcame the EP Kings in Port Elizabeth and the Cell C Sharks had too much firepower for the Leopards, beating them 46-24 in Durban in the other weekend clash.
In the Under-19 Absa Currie Cup Provincial Championship, the DHL Western Province U19s edged past the Xerox Golden Lions, while the Cell C Sharks remain winless, after being beaten in Durban by the Leopards.
In other clashes around the country, the EP Kings toppled another big name, this time the Vodacom Blue Bulls. The victory mean that the Kings are leading the log with four wins in four matches.
ABSA UNDER-21 PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND FOUR:
DHL Western Province 24 (21) Xerox Golden Lions 19 (5)
Three first half tries laid the foundation to the DHL Western Province win over the Xerox Golden Lions in a match played at City Park in Cape Town.
The home side scored their first try in the second minute, but the visitors struck back immediately with a five pointer of their own. DHL WP then added two more as they gained ascendency.
The second half saw the Golden Lions fighting back and a late try by Cyle Brink had them in touch of an unlikely victory.
Province, however, held on for a good – and deserved – win.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province. Tries: Christo van der Merwe, Justin Phillips, Leolin Zas. Conversions: Jean-Luc Du Plessis (3). Penalty: Du Plessis.
Golden Lions. Tries: Cyle Brink (2), Gerdus van der Walt. Conversion: Brandan Hewitt, Ramone Samuels.
Cell C Sharks 46 (20) Leopards 24 (3)
Nine tries in Durban confirmed the entertainment value of the match between the Cell C Sharks and Leopards, with the home side scoring six of those as they finally found the rhythm they were looking for earlier in the season.
The first half proved to be a hard-fought session, with the first of the tries only being scored after half an hour of play. The home side kept the scoreboard ticking though through the accurate boot of flyhalf Innocent Radebe.
The second half rained tries as the Sharks started to dominate, but the Leopards refused to lie down, resulting in a good match-up.
Scorers:
Sharks. Tries: Alrin Eksteen, Ayron Schramm, Innocent Radebe, Khulu Marwana, Lotter Pretorius, Marius Louw. Conversions: Radebe (4), Rowan Gouws. Penalties: Radebe (2).
Leopards. Tries: Dalen Goliath, Elden Schoeman (2). Conversions: Schalk Hugo (3). Penalty: Schalk Hugo.
EP Kings 20 (6) Vodacom Blue Bulls 39 (7)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls delivered a strong second-half performance in the Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday to beat EP Kings 39-20.
The home side started strong and a yellow card early in the half did not do the Blue Bulls any favours. The visitors gradually wore the EP side down and in the end scored a solid, but hard-working win.
The Kings remains winless, but will be happy with the competitive match they produced.
Scorers:
EP Kings. Tries: Lindelwe Zungu, Tyler Paul. Conversions: Malcolm Jaer, Simon Bolze. Penalties: Simon Bolze.
Vodacom Blue Bulls. Tries: Marco van Staden (2), Marquit September (2), Matjikinyane Molapo. Conversions: Joshua Stander (2), Kobus Marais (2). Penalties: Kobus Marais (2).
* In the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship, the EP Kings continued their good start in the competition, this time beating the Vodacom Blue Bulls 24-15 after toppling DHL Western Province last weekend.
DHL Western Province – who went down on the road to the Kings in Port Elizabeth last weekend – got back on the horse quickly by beating the Xerox Golden Lions in Cape Town and the Leopards secured a great away win over the Cell C Sharks in Durban.
ABSA UNDER-19 PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND FOUR:
DHL Western Province 32 (27) Xerox Golden Lions 27 (3)
Scorers:
DHL Western Province. Tries: Duncan Saal, Eduan Keyter, Gerard Pieterse, Jaco Willemse, Ruan Brits. Conversions: Aidynn Cupido (2). Penalty: Cupido.
Golden Lions. Tries: James Venter (2), Juandre Michau, Nazo Nkala. Conversions: Hendrik Mulder (2). Penalty: Curtis Jonas.
Cell C Sharks 37 (22) Leopards 40 (11)
Scorers:
Sharks. Tries: Alwayno Visagie, Bradley Roberts, Morne Joubert, S’busiso Nkosi (2). Conversions: Tristan Tedder (3). Penalties: Tedder (2).
Leopards. Tries: Barend Janse van Rensburg, Bhekisa Shongwe, Henry Searle, Siyabonga Masuku, Tapiwa Mafura, Zweli Silaule. Conversions: Siyabonga Masuku (2). Penalty: Masuki. Drop-goal: Masuku.
EP Kings 24 (10) Vodacom Blue Bulls 15 (15)
Scorers:
EP Kings. Tries: Athi Mayinje, Junior Pokomela. Conversion: Michael Brink (1). Penalties: Brink (4).
Vodacom Blue Bulls. Tries: Sam Mitchell, Divan Rossouw. Conversion: Tinus de Beer. Penalty: De Beer.
