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DHL WP U21 make winning start

PUBLISHED: August 28, 2023


DHL Western Province U21 were forced to work hard for their opening 20-17 bonus point win against Hollywoodbets Sharks U21 at City Park.

Two tries in each half were enough for the home side to take a full five log points in their opening game against the Durbn outfit.

Wings Tom Nel and Duran Koevort both scored in the first half, while the Hollywoodbets U21 side managed a converted try and a penalty to send the teams into the half-time break deadlocked at 10-10.

The visitors went back in front with a try early in the second half, but those were to be their last points as DHL WP U21 fought back to claim the win.

First fullback Luke Burger was put through for the third try by a well-time pass from flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, but with the conversion going wide, they still trailed 17-15.

The final stages saw the visitors’ defence put under enormous pressure and it eventually told as flank Paul de Villiers scored from a maul to put his side in front.

Although there was a nervy finish, that was enough to seal the win at City Park. DHL WP U21 travel up to Pretoria this week to take on Vodacom Bulls U21, who suffered a narrow defeat against Leopards U21.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U21:
Tries:
Nel, Koevort, Burger, De Villiers

DHL WP U21: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Duran Koevort, 13 Meyr Retief, 12 Joshua Boulle, 11 Tom Nel, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (captain), 9 Imad Khan, 8 Armand Maritz, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Reynhardt Crous, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Keagan Blanckenberg, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Edrich Viljoen, 20 Enos Ndiao, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Jared Africa, 23 Damian Markus.