DHL Western Province, losing finalists in last year’s Provincial Under-21 season, suffered a narrow 16-18 defeat in their 2013 season-opener in Bloemfontein.

The WP U21s went down to the Free State Cheetahs via a late penalty goal, the visiting Province team having led 13-3 at half-time at Shimla Park, the home of Free State University.

Inside centre Kobus van Wyk scored WP’s only try, in the first half, with flyhalf Tim Swiel adding a conversion, two penalty goals and a drop-goal.

Swiel’s drop-goal, in the 75th minute, looked to have won the match for WP as he put them ahead by 16-15, but Free State’s Marco Mason had other ideas by landing a 77th-minute penalty to condemn Province to an opening-day defeat.

The DHL WP Under-21 scorers (v Cheetahs):
Tries: Van Wyk
Con: Swiel
Pens: Swiel 2
DG: Swiel

The DHL Western Province Under-21 team: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Patrick Howard, 12 Kobus van Wyk, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Josh Katzen (captain), 5 Jean Kleyn, 4 Carel du Preez, 3 Justin Ackerman, 2 Freddie Kirsten, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Renier Marais, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Jurie van Vuuren, 19 Cobus Nel, 20 Eital Bredenkamp, 21 Jean Nel, 22 JP Lewis.

Referee: Lusanda Jam