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DHL WP U20 pull away at Newlands

PUBLISHED: September 24, 2021


DHL Western Province U20 scored seven tries on their way to a convincing 48-21 victory against Cell C Sharks U20 at Newlands on Friday.

The home side pulled away in the second half, scoring three tries before half-time and four more after to take their third win of the season.

The visitors opened the scoring with an early penalty, but it did not take long for the DHL Western Province U20 forwards to assert their dominance in a series of powerful scrums. No.8 Jarrod Taylor eventually forced his way over from close range for the opening try to make it 5-3.

The home side were down to 14 when Taylor was shown a yellow card shortly afterwards and the Cell C Sharks U20 took advantage with a try from flank Enos Ndiao, but they did not have the lead for long as DHL WP U20 hit back with a try in the corner from wing Paschal Ekeji, which was converted from the touchline by centre Meyr Retief.

The teams traded penalties and then traded tries just before half-time, with centre Brandon Wilkie scoring for the visitors before flank Romauld Ntumba scored from a maul to give DHL WP U20 a 20-18 lead at the break.

DHL WP U20 claimed the bonus point try early in the second half, with blindside flank Simon Miller scoring and replacement flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu converting to make it 27-18.

DHL WP were down to 14 again when Ntumba was shown a yellow card for a head clash and the visitors kicked another penalty to put themselves back within range at 27-21.

However, DHL WP responded with a penalty try, following a powerful maul which rolled about 20 metres and the sixth try came shortly after that, with replacement Ruben Labuschagne finishing off a flowing counter-attack.

The final blow came on the hooter, with replacement scrumhalf Bobby Alexander crossing for the seventh try to cap a dominant performance.

The scorers:

For DHL WP U20 :
Tries:
Taylor, Ekeji, Ntumba, Miller, penalty try, Labuschagne, Alexander
Cons: Retief, Mngomezulu 3
Pen: Retief

For Cell C Sharks U20:
Tries:
Ndiao, Wilkie
Con: Meadon
Pens: Meadon 2, Wilkie

DHL WP U20: 15 Jacque Rossouw, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Ethan James, 12 Meyr Retief, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Cade Croy, 9 Liam Kloosman, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Romuald Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Connor Evans, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.
Replacements (from): 16 Keagan Blanckenberg, 17 Christian Lamprecht, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Taarique Kruger, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Sacha Mngomezulu, 23 Ruben Labuschagne, 24 Javier Farmer, 25 Duran Koevort, 26 Luke Burger.