DHL Western Province U21 finished the league phase of the season in top spot on the standings following their 34-31 bonus-point win against the Leopards U21 at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

DHL Western Province U21 finished the league phase of the season in top spot on the standings following their 34-31 bonus-point win against the Leopards U21 at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

Coach Jerome Paarwater’s team have lost just one game this season, and showed great character to come from behind in the second half to secure the win.

They cannot be caught at the top of the log, and will go into the semifinals as top seeds after a tense win at DHL Newlands.

Two early tries from left wing Elden Schoeman saw Leopards U19 race out to a 14-0 lead, but the home side hit back with a try from skipper Luke Stringer from a driving maul.

The visitors hit back with a third try, as outside centre Kulu Mcuma burst through to score, but DHL Western Province U21 would have the final say in the first half as No.8 Christo van der Merwe forced his way over the tryline from close range, to reduce the deficit to 21-14 at half-time.

The home side were first to strike in the second half, as a patient build-up resulted in left wing Edwill van der Merwe scoring in the corner to make it a two-point game.

They did not have to wait long before they hit the lead for the first time in the match, as flyhalf Aidynn Cupido threw a dummy to go over for the bonus-point try, which put them 26-21 ahead.

Leopards U21 responded with their fourth try which levelled the scores at 26-26, but it was not long before DHL Western Province U21 were back in front as Christo van der Merwe forced his way over for his second try.

Leopards U21 drew level again with a late try in the corner, but a penalty from fullback Dennis Cox would be enough to secure a narrow victory for the home side who finish the league phase of the season on top of the standings.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U21:
Tries: Stringer, C van der Merwe 2, E van der Merwe, Cupido
Cons: Cupido 3
Pen: Cox

For Leopards U21:
Tries: Schoeman 2, Mcuma 2, Bezuidenhout
Cons: Donges 3

DHL Western Province U21: 15 Dennis Cox, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Eduan Keyter, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Aidynn Cupido, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Christo van der Merwe, 7 Mitchell Carstens, 6 Luke Stringer (captain), 5 Eduard Zandberg, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Ruben Terblanche.
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 JP Botha, 18 Kyle Whyte, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Daniel Maree, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Heinrich Buhr.

Leopards U21: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Wilbri Gunter, 13 Kulu Mcuma, 12 Akhona Nela, 11 Elden Schoeman, 10 Marco Donges, 9 Wessel Kuhn, 8 Tiaan Bezuidenhout, 7 Dolf van Deventer, 6 Wessel Steyn, 5 Jaco Swanepoel, 4 Louis Grey, 3 Mogau Maboleka, 2 Ruan Groenewald, 1 Komape Moloto.
Replacements: 16 Jason Crafford, 17 Danie van Wyk, 18 Joshua van Niekerk, 19 Hendrik du Plessis, 20 Garann Kriek, 21 Julian Delicado, 22 Sydney du Plessis.