The DHL Western Province Under-19 team suffered yet another narrow loss, going down 26-31 to the Golden Lions Under-19s in Johannesburg today.

The WP Under-19s showed great tenacity to fight back in the second half after trailing by 11-24 at half-time, but it was not enough for them to pick up a valuable win on the road against a side that has lost just once (to the table-topping Bulls) in 2013.

Flyhalf Chris Smith scored a first-half try and added one conversion and three penalties for the visitors, who narrowed the score to 24-21 inside the final quarter of this hard-fought match.

However, the Lions scored a fourth try with 11 minutes left to seal the bonus point and put themselves ahead by 31-21.

WP, to their credit, rallied back for a third try – through lock Sebastian Ferreira – but it was enough, only, for a losing bonus point in the end.

This result means that WP have now lost four out of six matches so far – at the halfway mark of the 2013 season. They have won one and drawn one but are not out of semifinal contention yet.

The Province Under-19s will take on the FS Cheetahs U19s, at home, next weekend.

The DHL WP Under-19 scorers:
Tries: Smith, Schoonraad, Ferreira
Con: Smith
Pens: Smith 3

The DHL Western Province Under-19 team (v Lions): 15 Jason Worrall, 14 Tiaan Mouton, 13 Michael Mvelase, 12 Michael Haznar, 11 Dalen Goliath, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Pieter Schoonraad, 8 Josh Moon, 7 Luke van der Smit, 6 Johan de Villiers, 5 Jan Uys (captain), 4 Sebastian Ferreira, 3 Michael van Tonder, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Liam Hendricks.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Nathan Gogela, 18 Wesley Adonis, 19 Sebastian Negri, 20 Ruan Rossouw, 21 SP Ferreira, 22 Jonty Bredell, 23 Jason Morris.

Referee: Lihan Pretorius