Nazeem Adams’s table-topping DHL Western Province Under-19 team made it six from six at the halfway stage of the 2014 Absa Provincial Under-19 season, as they claimed a 24-22 win over the Golden Lions U19s at DHL Newlands.
The result means that the DHL Western Province Under-19 team has now opened up a gap of five points at the halfway point of the season – ahead of the second-placed Blue Bulls – and they remain as the only unbeaten outfit too.
The DHL WP Under-19s led by 17-8 at half-time but had to withstand a ferocious second-half onslaught by the Lions, who have won just once this season but were chasing a victory to get back into the Top Four.
Province’s first-half tries went to fullback Adriaan Carelse, early in the match, and flanker Charlton Jonas, with deadeye flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg converting both tries and adding a penalty goal.
The second half began with a try to right-wing Dewald Naude, which Stapelberg again converted, but then Province were forced to defend for the most of the second period.
Impressive centre Dan du Plessis came close in the left-hand corner of the Jan Pickard Stand, in search of his team’s bonus point try as time began to wound down, but the Lions finished with two converted tries to make it a tense conclusion.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province Under-19:
Tries: Carelse, Jonas, Naude
Cons: Stapelberg 3
Pens: Stapelberg
For Golden Lions Under-19:
Tries: Erasmus, Malherbe, Solomons
Cons: Campbell 2
Pen: Engelbrecht
The teams:
DHL Western Province Under-19: 15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Dewald Naude, 13 Ryan Oosthuizen, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Grant Hermanus, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Rikus Bothma (captain), 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Charlton Jonas, 5 Floris Pelser, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Francois van der Merwe, 2 Paul-Martin Wipplinger, 1 Kyle Whyte.
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 Mihlali Mtongana, 18 Lebohang Mdakane, 19 Ruan du Preez, 20 Dian Koen, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Joel Heugh.
Xerox Golden Lions Under-19: 15 Kobus Engelbrecht, 14 Johan Mitchell, 13 Xander Cronje, 12 Gerdus van der Walt, 11 Jade Solomons, 10 James Campbell, 9 Johan Esterhuizen, 8 Arne van Rensburg, 7 Marnus Erasmus, 6 Dylan Vlok, 5 Matthew le Roux, 4 Estian Enslin, 3 Roelof Diedericks, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Marius Greyvensteyn.
Replacements: 16 Cecil-John Conradie, 17 Arnout Malherbe, 18 Clinton Theron, 19 Marco Holmes, 20 George-Lee Erasmus, 21 Ronald Brown, 22 Godfrey Ramaboea, 23 Dwayne Pienaar.
Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza