FEATURED

WP U21s win City Park arm-wrestle

PUBLISHED: July 19, 2014


DHL Western Province’s Under-21 team claimed a hard-fought, but deserved 27-20 win over the Leopards in a physical 2014 Absa Provincial U21 clash at City Park on Saturday.

The DHL WP Under-21s led by 21-10 at half-time but found themselves up against a spirited Leopards unit in the second half, the visitors not allowing the hosts to get into any rhythm at all.

Captain Eital Bredenkamp scored his customary try from a maul inside the opening quarter to hand his team a 16-3 lead, before left-wing Lihleli Xoli crossed in the 28th minute to make it 21-3 – Robert du Preez having added the extras, and more, through his prodigious kicking boot.

Leopards hooker Wilmar Arnoldi scored a try from a maul before the break to make it 21-10 but an early intercept try from the visitors – at the start of the second half – meant it was game on from there onwards.

Province, in truth, were never massively threatened but they were unable to get the necessary rhythm to threaten the scoreboard enough in a bid for a third or fourth try as they chased a second successive home bonus point triumph.

In the end, all they had to show from the second half were two more Du Preez penalty goals, but it was more than enough for the defending champions who will face the Sharks in Durban next weekend.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province Under-21:
Tries: Bredenkamp, Xoli
Cons: Du Preez
Pens: Du Preez 5

For Leopards Under-21:
Tries: Arnoldi, Du Plooy
Cons: Du Plessis 2
Pens: Du Plessis, Smith

The teams:

DHL Western Province Under-21: 15 Huw Jones, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (captain), 5 Jean Kleyn, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 John Meyer, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Freddie Kirsten, 17 Deacon Chowles, 18 Wesley Adonis, 19 Carel du Preez, 20 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 21 Jason Marcus, 22 Janco Gunter.

Leopards Under-21: 15 Kobus du Plessis, 14 Adriaan Oosthuizen, 13 Andries du Plooy, 12 Ryno Pienaar, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Rhyno Smith, 9 Pieter Smith, 8 Jaco Buys, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Jaco Jordaan, 5 Andries van Blerk, 4 Pikkie Nortje, 3 Cayle Denner, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Johannes Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Mark Reinecke, 17 Jaco Botha, 18 Loftus Morrison, 19 Jeandre Rudolph, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Schalk Hugo, 22 Marnus Tack.

Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza