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DHL WP U21 hold off Free State at City Park

PUBLISHED: September 8, 2018


DHL Western Province U21 came back in the second half to claim a tense 30-27 victory against Free State U21 at City Park on Saturday.

Having trailed 15-3 at half-time, DHL Western Province U21 came back strongly in the second half and then showed good character to close the game out under pressure and make it two wins from two this season.

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The teams exchanged penalties early on, but it would be the visitors with the wind at their backs who scored the only two tries of the first half.

That saw them take a 15-3 advantage into the half-time break, but DHL Western Province U21 struck back early in the second half, with No.8 Zain Davids pouncing on a loose ball to race away and score.

The conversion from scrumhalf Jondre Williams reduced the deficit to 15-10 and it was not long before the home side had the lead, with replacement hooker Daniel Jooste scoring from a driving maul.

DHL Western Province U21 had the wind at their backs and all the momentum as the ball was sent wide to Tristan Leyds who glided through for the third try.

The visitors hit back with two quick tries, which handed them a 27-24 advantage with 15 minutes left, but DHL Western Province took the lead back with two penalties from the boot of flyhalf Jordan Chait which sealed the three-point win.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province U21:
Tries: Davids, Jooste, Leyds
Cons: Williams 3
Pens: Williams, Chait 2

DHL Western Province U21: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Nico Leonard, 13 David Brits, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Jordan Chait, 9 Jondre Williams, 8 Zain Davids, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Jordan Sesink Clee, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Jooste, 17 Carlu Sadie, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Pieter Swanepoel, 20 Labib Kannemeyer, 21 Cornel Smit, 22 Tristan Leyds.