The DHL Western Province Under-19 side went down 7-38 to the Free State Cheetahs Under-19s in Bloemfontein on Saturday, but they remain in second place on the log after 11 matches.
The DHL WP U19s will finish their 2014 Absa Provincial league campaign against the Sharks U19s at DHL Newlands next weekend and will seal second spot – and a home semifinal – should they win next Saturday.
In Bloemfontein, however, the Province Under-19s trailed 0-3 after a minute of rugby and conceded two first-half tries within seven minutes of each other to trail 0-17 at half-time.
Left-wing Leolin Zas got one back in the second half for DHL WP, but the hosts managed two more converted tries to condemn the visitors to just their defeat of the season.
The DHL WP Under-19s are likely to meet this selfsame Cheetahs outfit in the semifinals on October 11, with just the venue to be decided in next weekend’s final round of league action.
The scorers:
For Free State Under-19:
Tries: Venter 2, Wiese, Kotzenberg, Gordon
Cons: Swarts 5
Pen: Swarts
For DHL Western Province Under-19:
Try: Zas
Con: Stapelberg
The teams:
Free State Under-19: 15 Darren Baron, 14 Arno van Staden, 13 Tyron Labuschagne, 12 Friedrich Durow, 11 Christiaan Erasmus, 10 Andre Swarts, 9 Tyron Goddard, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Albertus Erasmus, 6 Refuoe Rampeta, 5 Hendri Storm, 4 Johann Grundlingh, 3 Gunthwer Janse van Vuuren, 2 Reinach Venter (captain), 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Gert Kotze, 18 Andries Kriek, 19 Willandre Kotzenberg, 20 Albertus Pretorius, 21 Ali Mgijima, 22 Lorenzo Gordon, 23 Willem Eloff.
DHL Western Province Under-19: 15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Joel Booysen, 13 Jarryd Sage, 12 Ryan Oosthuizen, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Dian Koen, 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Jacques Oosthuizen, 5 Johan Momsen, 4 David Ribbans, 3 Frans van Wyk (captain), 2 Regardt Louw, 1 Kyle Whyte.
Replacements: 16 Hanno Snyman, 17 Lebohang Mdakane, 18 Mihlali Mtongana, 19 Ruan du Preez, 20 Lohann Louw, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Heinrich Buhr.
Referee: Vusi Msibi
