Home sides all lose in dramatic weekend in Absa Under-19 Provincial championship
It was a weekend full of drama as the Blue Bulls, Sharks and Leopards all conceded defeat at home, with all losing teams getting bonus points out of the matches at least.
This leaves DHL Western Province as the only undefeated team in the competition.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls crashed to an 11-12 defeat against the Toyoa Free State at Loftus B, the Leopards were edged out by die EP Kings 32-26 in Potchefstroom and in Pietermaritzburg, and the Xerox Golden Lions pipped the Cell C Sharks 27-24.
A summary of the matches follows below:
Leopards 26 (7), EP Kings 32 (20).
The EP Kings will be particularly pleased with this win away from Port Elizabeth. It was their first of the competition. They started strongly and by the time the home side found any rhythm, the Kings held a 20-7 lead at the break.
The Leopards came back well in the second half and in fact, came within one one point of the Kings as Brendon Kahts scored his side’s fourth try to secure the bonus point. His conversion set up a tense finish to the match.
Malcolm Jaer, the EP fullback who already contributed a try, three conversions and two penalties to his side’s effort, had the last say as he scored his second try to confirm the result.
The Leopards will have to admit that they were outfoxed and outplayed in this one.
Scorers:
Leopards (Under-19) 26 (7). Tries: Elden Schoeman (2), Allen Muller, Brendon Kahts. Conversions: Kahts (3).
EP Kings (Under-19) 32 (20). Tries: CJ Velleman, Malcolm Jaer (2), Wynand Grassmann. Conversions: Jaer (3). Penalties: Jaer (2).
Vodacom Blue Bulls 11 (8), Toyota Free State 12 (7)
A try in each half was enough for the visiting Free State side to squeeze past the previously undefeated home side.
Both tries were executed very well and speedster Lorenzo Gordon will feel pretty pleased about the three defenders he beat on the way to his try in the second half.
The Blue Bulls played second fiddle in the territorial battle and could never really threaten a very determined Free State defence.
Scorers:
Blue Bulls 11 (8). Try: Philip Orffer. Penalties: Dewald Human, Simon Bolze.
Free State 12 (7). Tries: Wilandré Kotzenberg, Lorenzo Gordon. Conversion: André Swarts
Cell C Sharks 24, Xerox Golden Lions 27
In Pietermaritzburg the visiting Xerox Golden Lions had the measure of the Cell C Sharks. The home side outscored the Lions by four tries to three, but paid the price for poor goal-kicking and some ill-discipline. This was punished by Golden Lions flyhalf Shaun Reynolds, who kicked all three conversions and two penalties for his side.
Scorers:
Golden Lions 27. Tries: Dylan Vlok, Hamer Esterhuizen, Clinton Theron. Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (3). Penalties: Reynolds (2)
Courtesy of SARU
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