The DHL Western Province Under-21 team kept up their excellent form in this year’s Absa Provincial Under-21 competition with a 64-21, nine tries to three win over the Leopards U21s in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
Fullback EW Viljoen, outside centre Johnny Kotze and wings Dalen Goliath and JP Lewis all scored two tries, with inside centre Kyle Lombard also weighing in with a five-pointer at Olën Park.
Star flyhalf Robert du Preez, back in the No.10 shirt this week after sitting out against Border, kicked eight conversions and one penalty goal to take his points-tally this season to an impressive 112.
Province led 40-14 at half-time, after securing the four-try bonus point in the 23rd minute, when left-wing JP Lewis crossed to join Viljoen, Kotze and Goliath on the scoresheet early on.
The defending champions and 2012 finalists now have 44 points from ten matches – seven more ahead of the second-placed Lions Under-21s.
The DHL Western Province Under-21 side will travel to Bloemfontein to take on Free State next weekend, before completing the league phase of the competition against the Sharks U19s at DHL Newlands on October 11.
A win in Bloemfontein next week will secure a second successive top of the log finish for the WP U21 team coached by John Dobson.
The scorers:
For Leopards Under-21:
Tries: Pienaar, Rudolph, Morrison
Cons: Du Plessis 2
For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Tries: Viljoen 2, Kotze 2, Goliath 2, Lewis 2, Lombard
Cons: Du Preez 8
Pen: Du Preez
The teams:
Leopards Under-21: 15 Jacobus du Plessis, 14 Blessing Makhavhu, 13 Adriaan Oosthuizen, 12 Ryno Pienaar, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Marnus Tack, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Jaco Jordaan, 6 Jeandre Rudolph (captain), 5 Andries Petrus van Blerk, 4 Neil Loftus Morrison, 3 Cayle Denner, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Johannes Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Roche Steenkamp, 17 Wynand Breytenbach, 18 Emile Odendaal, 19 Jaco Buys, 20 Percy Williams, 21 Lourens Boddington, 22 Johannes Briers.
DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Carel du Preez, 7 Justin Benn, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (captain), 5 Jade Kriel, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 John Meyer, 18 Kobus van Dyk, 19 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 20 Luke van der Smit, 21 SP Ferreira, 22 WJ Strydom.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
