Loose forwards Rikus Bothma and Christo van der Merwe scored five tries between them as the DHL Western Province Under-21 team claimed a third win of 2015, at Profert Olën Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday.

The DHL WP U21s, losing finalists in 2014, beat the Leopards Under-21s by 40-24, after leading by 21-10 at half-time – handing them a second win on the road and a second bonus point victory of the 2015 Absa Provincial Under-21 season.

Skipper Bothma opened his team’s account in the ninth minute, before Van der Merwe – who scored a hat-trick of tries – was yellow carded in the 15th minute.

Bothma scored his second shortly before the 20th minute, with Van der Merwe opening his account in the 30th minute.

A second Van der Merwe score, two minutes after half-time, secured the bonus point for the Robbie Fleck-coached DHL WP Under-21s, as they streched their lead to 26-10.

Speedster Leolin Zas crossed in the 49th minute, before Van der Merwe completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute – flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis missing just one conversion on the day.

The DHL WP Under-21s, who are on second place on the Absa Provincial Under-21 log after five weeks of action, will host the Free State Cheetahs U21s at DHL Newlands next Saturday afternoon (kick-off 12h45).

The scorers:

For Leopards Under-21:
Tries: Nel, Nela, Briers
Cons: Hugo 3
Pen: Hugo

For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Tries: Bothma 2, Van der Merwe 3, Zas

Cons: J du Plessis 5

The teams:

Leopards Under-21: 15 Myburgh Briers, 14 Elden Schoeman, 13 Jaco Hayward, 12 Gene Willemse, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Schalk Hugo, 9 Johannes Nel, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 7 Estehan Visagie, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 DJ Putter, 3 Roan Grobbelaar, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Jaco Botha.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Dreyer, 17 Zander Schlemmer, 18 Rudolph Van Deventer, 19 Stephan Malan, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Akhona Nela, 22 Andries du Plooy.

DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (vice-captain), 9 SP Ferreira, 8 Rikus Bothma (captain), 7 Christo van der Merwe, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Johannes Momsen, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Martin Wipplinger, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Devon Nash, 19 Luke van der Smit, 20 Jason Marcus, 21 Ryno Eksteen, 22 Sibahle Maxwane.

Referee: Ben Crouse