Shocks galore in opening weekend of Absa Junior Provincial competitions
The Absa Under-21 and Under-19 Provincial Championships kicked off this weekend with a number of surprise results highlighting the competiveness of these leagues.
In the Under-21 competition defending champions, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, suffered a heavy defeat against southern neighbours, the Golden Lions, whilst 2014 finalists DHL Western Province also came up short against the Cell C Sharks in Cape Town.
In the Absa Under-19 Premier Division Provincial Championship, only the defending champions, DHL Western Province, managed to use their home ground advantage. They did however, needed a late try to send the visiting Cell C Sharks home without the win. In Johannesburg, the Golden Lions lost to neighbours, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, while in Bloemfontein, the Toyota Free State fell away in the second half against the visiting EP Kings.
A wrap of all the matches are:
Toyota Free State 58 (20), EP Kings 12 (0)
A rampant Toyota Free State side had way too many attacking weapons for the visiting EP Kings in Bloemfontein on Saturday and won going away. The home side scored nine tries in their 58-12 win. The Kings kept things tight in the first half, but after the break, the greater attacking urgency of the home team proved decisive.
Scorers:
Free State 58 (20). Tries: Andre Swarts (flyhalf), Carel-Jan Coetzee (wing), Jan-Albert Venter (lock), Nicolaas Lee (centre), Jasper Wiese (replacement flank), Gunther Janse van Vuuren (prop), Henry Immelman (fullback), Steven Meiring (no8, 2). Conversions: Swarts (5). Penalty: Swarts.
EP Kings 12 (0). Tries: Wynand Grassmann (no8, 2). Conversion: Malcolm Jaer (fullback).
DHL Western Province 13 (0), Cell C Sharks 17 (3)
The Cell C Sharks came away with a close, but well-deserved 17-13 win over the DHL Western Province at City Park on Saturday. The visitors used the windy and cold conditions better and took control in the second half of a tight match, thanks to a powerful bench that included Thomas du Toit and Dan du Preez. They also capitalised on some ill-discipline from the home side, with scrumhalf Rowan Gouws kicking four penalties.
Scorers:
Western Province 13 (0). Try: Christo van der Merwe (replacement flank). Conversion: Ernst Stapelberg (flyhalf). Penalty: Stapelberg.
Sharks 17 (3). Try: Riaan O’Neill (flyhalf). Penalties: Rowan Gouws (scrumhalf, 4).
Golden Lions 55 (34), Vodacom Blue Bulls 15 (3)
The Golden Lions ran the defending champions Vodacom Blue Bulls ragged at Emirates Airline Park on Friday to start their campaign on a great note. The visitors simply had no reply, especially in the first half, as the home side raced to a 34-3 lead at the break. The Lions kept up their effort in the second 40 to hand the champions one of their biggest defeats in recent years.
Scorers:
Golden Lions 55 (34). Tries: Johan Esterhuizen (replacement lock), Rohan Janse van Rensburg (centre), Jano Venter (no8), Christiaan Meyer (scrumhalf), Gerdus van der Walt (centre), Koch Marx (wing), Cyle Brink (flank, 2). Conversions: Brandan Hewitt (flyhalf, 6). Penalty: Hewitt.
Blue Bulls 15 (3). Tries: Marquit September (centre), Dayan van der Westhuizen (prop). Conversion: Kobus Marais (replacement flyhalf). Penalty: Joshua Stander (flyhalf).
Fixtures week two:
Golden Lions v Toyota Free State, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Cell C Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Leopards vs Eastern Province, Profert Olén Park, Potchefstroom
•Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship
In the Absa Under-19 Premier Division Provincial Championship, only the defending champions, DHL Western Province, managed to use their home ground advantage. They did however, needed a late try to send the visiting Cell C Sharks home without the win. In Johannesburg, the Golden Lions lost to neighbours, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, while in Bloemfontein, the Toyota Free State fell away in the second half against the visiting EP Kings.
Click on the link for a run of play summary of each match.
DHL Western Province 10 (0), Cell C Sharks 6 (0).
The DHL Western Province scored a close win over KZN at City Park in cold and windy conditions. The defending champions scored in the dying seconds of the match to squeeze past the visiting Sharks, who thanks to two penalties by flyhalf Tristan Tedder, looked set for a surprise win.
Scorers:
Western Province 10 (0). Try: Ruan Brits (replacement hooker). Conversion: Aidynn Cupido (flyhalf). Penalty: Cupido.
Sharks 6 (0). Penalties: Tristan Teddar (flyhalf, 2).
Toyota Free State 15 (10), EP Kings 28 (6).
In Bloemfontein, visiting EP Kings shocked the Toyota Free State team on Saturday with a 28-15 win. The visitors trailed 10-6 at the break, but scored three tries in the second half to start the season on a winning note.
Scorers:
Free State 15 (10). Tries: Charl Pretorius (wing), Rohan Roelofse (No8, 2)
EP Kings 28 (6). Tries: Dominik Uytenbogaardt (replacement wing), Junior Pokomela (no8), Mabhutana Peter (fullback). Conversions: James Hall (scrumhalf, 2). Penalties: Hall, Michael Brink (centre, 2).
Golden Lions 15 (8), Vodacom Blue Bulls 31 (17)
On Friday, the Vodacom Blue Bulls had the better of the Golden Lions, beating the home side 31-15 at Emirates Airline Park. The visitors scored four tries and earned a bonus point that will see them as the log leaders after the first round of play. Junior Springboks Tinus de Beer and JT Jackson featured prominently in the match.
Scorers:
Golden Lions 15 (8). Tries: Johann Vermaak (wing), Paul de Beer (centre). Conversion: Hendrik Mulder (flyhalf). Penalty: Mulder.
Blue Bulls 31 (17). Tries: Arnold Gerber (flank), JT Jackson (centre), Ruan de Beer (fullback), Penalty Try. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (flyhalf, 4). Penalty: De Beer.
Fixtures week two:
Golden Lions v Toyota Free State, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Cell C Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Leopards vs Eastern Province, Profert Olén Park, Potchefstroom
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