U21: WP threaten to pull away

Western Province this past weekend extended their lead at the top of the log in the Under-21 provincial championship to nine points to boost their home semifinal hopes as the countdown begins to the final stages of the competition.

The second-placed Blue Bulls, however, have a game in hand, which could allow them to reduce the gap. But with the third-placed Sharks and fourth-placed Free State Cheetahs also having played eight matches, Western Province are in a comfortable position with four matches remaining in the round-robin stages.

In the weekend’s matches, Western Province registered their third 50-point score in eight matches as they thumped the Leopards 54-35 in Potchefstroom, the Golden Lions defeated the Sharks 39-31 at Ellis Park and Free State beat Border 45-29 in Bloemfontein.

Leopards 35-54 Western Province

In Potchefstroom, Western Province were in fantastic form from the outset as they scored two tries in six minutes early in the first half, which demonstrated their attacking prowess. By half-time they had secured their bonus-point try, indicating that they were on track for a big win. Leopards flyhalf Warren Gilbert, however, kept his team in the match as he slotted over two penalties and a drop goal to add to a try by Marnus Tack to secure 16 points in the first half.

The visitors continued their dominance on attack in the second half, which earned them another four tries and increased their total for the match to eight. Lapses on defence, however, allowed the Leopards to cross the try-line three times in the second half, which earned them a consolation bonus-point try.

Scorers:

For the Leopards:

Tries: Pettit, Grobler, Tack, Smith

Cons: Gilbert 3

Pens: Gilbert 2

DG: Gilbert

For Western Province:

Tries: Williams 2, Brendenkamp, Lewis, Benn 2, Howard, Smid

Cons: Swiel 7

Teams:

Leopards: 15 Louis Vorster, 14 Eugene Pettit, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Marnus Tack, 11 Adriaan Oosthuizen, 10 Warren Gilbert, 9 Jaco Grobler, 8 Jaco Buys, 7 Marno Redelinghuys, 6 Jaco Jordaan, 5 Neil Morrison, 4 Ettienne Smith, 3 Cayle Denner, 2 Jandre Conradie, 1 Arno Ebersohn (Captain).

Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Thokoza Ndlela, 18 Erno Nagy, 19 Johannes Coetzee, 20 Sarel Smith, 21 Ryno Smith, 22 Tiaan Loots.

Western Province: 15 Craig Barry, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Patrick Howard, 12 Kobus van Wyk, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid (Captain), 7 Sikumbuzo Notshe, 6 Justin Benn, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Justin Ackerman, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Eital Bredenkamp, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Jean Kleyn, 19 Carel du Preez, 20 Cobus Nel, 21 Frederik Nel, 22 Kyle Lombard.

Golden Lions 39-31 Sharks

A superior try tally combined with a good kicking day for Golden Lions fullback Marais Schmidt guided the Johannesburg team to victory against the Sharks at Ellis Park. The first half was hard-fought despite the Lions scoring three tries to the Sharks’ two, as Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez kicked two penalties to trail the home team 18-19 at the break.

The Lions built on their strong display in the second half as they scored another two tries to only one by the Sharks, while Schmidt slotted over two penalties to cancel out an extra two by Du Preez. This was sufficient to seal the victory for the Lions.  

Scorers:

For the Golden Lions:

Tries: Engledoe, Vorster, Nel, Schmidt, De Wit

Cons: Schmidt 4

Pens: Schmidt 2

For the Sharks:

Tries: Izaacs, Dell, Nel

Cons: Campbell, Du Preez

Pens: Du Preez 4

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Marais Schmidt, 14 Gideon Meiring, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Damian Engledoe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ruan Janse van Rensburg, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 Fabian Booysen, 4 Jannie Stander, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Mark Pretorius (Captain), 1 Devon Martinus.

Replacements: 16 Rikus van Niekerk, 17 Gideon Pieter Muller, 18 David Jacobus Oosthuizen, 19 Albertus Stephanus Smith, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Hanco Deale, 22 Peter-John Walters.

Sharks: 15 Sean Robinson, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Tyler Fisher, 12 Garath Meikle, 11 Alcino Izaacs, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Joseph Lewies, 4 Wiehan Hay, 3 Nico Van Dyk, 2 Franco Marais (Captain), 1 Allan Dell.

Replacements: 16 Jacques Taylor, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Dylan Nel, 19 Murray Bondesio, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Duncan Campbell, 22 Michael Bernardt.

Free State 45-29 Border

Free State bounced back from a 14-15 deficit in the first half against Border to claim their fifth victory of the season and remain in fourth position on the log. Both teams dotted down tries in a close first half, but an additional penalty by Border handed them an edge on the scoreboard.

Three tries in 16 minutes for the Free State after the break pushed them into a comfortable lead. Border fought back hard and tightened up their defence, resulting in a tense final quarter, in which the teams each scored another two tries. The defeat for Border marked their eighth in as many matches, although they earned a bonus point for scoring four tries.

Scorers:

For Free State:

Tries: De Klerk, Dolo 2, Mason, Claassen, Botha, Griesel

Cons: Mason 2, Marais 2, Marx

For Border:

Tries: Smit, Ladendorf, Wagenaar, Noordman

Cons: Cleophas, Niewenhuyzen 2

Pen: Zwane

Teams:

Free State: 15 Marco Mason, 14 Maputha Dolo, 13 Pieter Morton, 12 Niel Marais (Captain), 11 Jan de Klerk, 10 Noel Marx, 9 Stephen Griesel, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Jacob Immelman, 6 Neil Claassen, 5 Philip Du Preez, 4 Wikus Davis, 3 Philip Botha, 2 Ockert du Toit, 1 Chase Wayne Morison.

Replacements: 16 Wickus Deysel, 17 Ignis Nagel, 18 Jean Jacques Pretorius, 19 Tyron Schultz, 20 Kay-Kay Hlongwane, 21 Tertius Kruger, 22 Sethu Tom.

Border: 15 Leroy Afrika, 14 Curtis Kleinhans, 13 Riaan Van Zyl, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Emihle Baneti, 10 Shaun Nieuwenhuyzen, 9 Mario Noordman, 8 Ernst Ladendorf (Captain), 7 Claude Johannes, 6 Juan Bester, 5 Johan Wagenaar, 4 Siya November, 3 Siphesihle Ngubane, 2 Nicol du Plessis, 1 Johannes du Plooy.

Replacements: 16 Angelo Nhlapo, 17 Jan Hendrik Botha, 18 Fanelesibonge Zwane, 19 Marlyn Williams, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Angus Andrew Cleophas, 22 Lungelo Kepe.

Under-21 provincial championship log (under headings played, won, lost, drew, points for, points against, points difference, tries for, tries against, loss bonus, tries bonus, points):

Group A

Western Province: 8 – 7 – 1 – 0 282 – 131 – 151 – 37 – 16 – 1 – 5 – 34

Blue Bulls: 7 – 5 – 2 – 0 – 260 – 144 – 116 – 34 – 16 – 1 – 4 – 25

Sharks: 8 – 5 – 3 – 0 – 292 – 192 – 100 – 39 – 26 – 1 – 4 – 25

Free State: 8 – 5 – 3 – 0 – 225 – 220 – 5 – 30 – 28 – 0 – 4 – 24

Golden Lions: 7 – 4 -3 – 0 – 201 – 191 – 10 – 25 – 19 – 2 – 3 – 21

Leopards: 8 – 1 – 7 – 0 – 191 – 359 – -168 – 23 – 50 – 1 – 3 – 8

Border: 8 – 0 – 8 – 0 – 162 – 376 – -214 – 23 – 56 – 0 – 2 – 2

Top points scorers:

84 – Marais Schmidt (Golden Lions – two tries, 19 conversions, 12 penalties)

84 – Tim Swiel (Western Province – one try, 23 conversions, 10 penalties, one drop-goal)

83 – Robert du Preez (Sharks – three tries, 19 conversions, 10 penalties)