DHL Western Province U21 claimed the national U21 title with an impressive 48-41 win against Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 in the final at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
It was an inspired performance from Head Coach Jerome Paarwater’s team as they ran in five tries to seal the win and lift the trophy.
After some tense opening exchanges which saw both teams look to assert physical dominance, the Pretoria side opened the scoring as scrumhalf Embrose Papier got over for the opening try which was confirmed by the TMO after the ball had bounced off a player’s face.
DHL Western Province U21 hit back immediately as a well-worked backline move saw scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies score under the poles to level the score.
Papier went over for his second try on the 20 minute mark and DHL Western Province U21 responded with a penalty from flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel to reduce the deficit to 14-10.
DHL Western Province U21 took the lead for the first time in the game when centre David Brits intercepted and got a pass away to wing Duncan Saal, who showed impressive strength to power his way over for the try.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 went back in front with a try in the corner, but DHL Western Province U21 hit back with a try from centre David Brits.
A penalty on the stroke of half-time from Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 saw the teams go into the half-time break deadlocked at 22-22.
DHL Western Province U21 made a bright start to the second half as a drop-goal from Swanepoel was followed up by a try from big Juarno Augustus and another drop-goal from Jantjies.
Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 responded with Papier’s hat-trick try, but Swanepoel would kick another penalty to make it 38-27 with 25 minutes left to play.
Swanepoel added another penalty to give them a 14-point buffer before Saal pounced on a loose ball and raced away for his second try.
Vodacom Blue Bulls U21 scored two late tries, but they were little more than a consolation as DHL Western Province U21 claimed the title.
The scorers:
For DHL WP U21:
Tries: Jantjies, Saal 2, Brits, Augustus
Cons: Swanepoel 4
Pens: Swanepoel 2
DGs: Swanepoel, Jantjies
DHL Western Province U21: 15 Joshua Vermeulen, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 David Brits, 12 Michaine Fick, 11 Edwill van Der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 6 Daniel Maree, 5 Ruben de Villiers, 4 Eddie Zandberg, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Percy Mngadi, 1 Wikus Groenewald.
Replacements: 16 Nico Peyper, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Brendon Esterhuizen, 19 Nama Xaba, 20 Paul de Wet, 21 Jordan Chait, 22 Cornel Smit.