The DHL Western Province Under-21 team narrowly missed out on defending their Absa Provincial Under-21 title when they went down 10-20 to the Vodacom Blue Bulls U21s at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
The DHL WP U21s, the winners of this competition in 2010 and 2012 and runners-up in 2012, trailed by 3-6 at half-time in a tough opening forty minutes as both teams opted to feel each other out.
Flyhalf Robert du Preez, who scored all his team’s points on the day, scored a converted try in the 58th minute as the Province Under-21s took a narrow 10-6 lead going into the final quarter.
The Bulls, however, rallied to score two tries in the last ten minutes, firstly through captain Ruan Steenkamp and then by Jesse Kriel, who just last week played in an Absa Currie Cup semifinal at this very ground.
It was a disappointing finish to the 2014 season for coach John Dobson and his team, the DHL WP U21s having topped the log en route to a deserved home semi- and final at DHL Newlands.
However, it should not detract from their performances which saw them lost just once in the regular season as they registered a positive points’ difference of over 300.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Try: Du Preez
Con: Du Preez
Pen: Du Preez
For Blue Bulls Under-21:
Tries: Steenkamp, J Kriel
Cons: Marais 2
Pens: Stander 2
The teams:
DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 Justin Geduld, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel (vice-captain), 8 Carel du Preez, 7 Justin Benn, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (captain), 5 Jan Uys, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 John-Hubert Meyer.
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Niel Oelofse, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 20 SP Ferreira, 21 Lihleli Xoli, 22 Huw Jones.
Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21: 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Kefentse Mahlo, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 Carlo Engelbrecht, 8 Jannes Kirsten, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Jan Enslin, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Arno van Wyk, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Marquit September, 21 Kobus Marais, 22 Dan Kriel.
Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
Assistant referees: Rodney Boneparte, Ben Crouse
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommestein
