The DHL Western Province Under-21 team recorded a resounding 53-26 win over the Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, as they moved to the top of the log in the process.
A dominant Province U21 side ran in seven tries at Ellis Park, as they picked up their fifth win of the season in easily their most impressive performance of 2013.
Inside centre Kyle Lombard scored a try double, whilst flyhalf Dillyn Leyds missed just one conversion (from seven) and also kicked an additional two penalty goals.
Leyds, filling in for Tim Swiel in the No.10 jersey, directed play nicely from the flyhalf position and forwards Jurie van Vuuren (lock), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (flank) and Eital Bredenkamp (replacement flank) all stood out for the WP Under-21s.
The WP Under-21s led 27-14 at half-time, through three tries, before powerful loosehead prop Oliver Kebble secured the four-try bonus point early in the second half.
Lombard collected his second try afterwards, before Bredenkamp and scrumhalf Godlen Masimla wrapped WP’s scoring sequence on the day – despite Province having lost the likes of captain Josh Katzen, prop Entienne Swanepoel, No.8 Rayn Smid and inside centre Kobus van Wyk to injury.
“It was a pleasing win for us,” said WP Under-21 coach John Dobson. “It’s always nice to pick up five points away from home, but it also came against a quality Lions team which made it even more pleasing (for us).
“Hopefully the injuries sustained by Josh, Entienne, Rayn and Kobus are not too serious, but we’re very happy to be on top of the log at the halfway mark of the season,” added Dobson.
“We still have some tough games ahead of us this season, most notably to the Sharks and the Bulls away, but it all starts again for us next weekend – at home – against the Free State Cheetahs who beat us back in Round One.”
The DHL WP Under-21 scorers:
Tries: Katzen, Van Wyk, Lombard 2, Kebble, Bredenkamp, Masimla
Cons: Leyds 6
Pens: Leyds 2
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team (v Lions): 15 Craig Barry, 14 Chevandre van Schoor, 13 Kobus van Wyk, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Dillyn Leyds, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Josh Katzen (captain), 5 Jean Kleyn, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Cobus Nel, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Jean Nel, 21 JP Lewis, 22 John-Ben Kotze.
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
