WP, Golden Lions, Free State still dominate in Absa u21 Championship

Sep 6 • General News • 1883 Views • Comments Off on WP, Golden Lions, Free State still dominate in Absa u21 Championship

Solid victories by DHL Western Province, Xerox Golden Lions and the Toyota Free State in the Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship’s A-Division confirmed their top three spots on the competition log in this weekend’s action.

WP had too much pace for the Leopards at DHL Newlands, beating them 50-14, the Golden Lions raced past the EP Kings 40-24 and Free State won 34-17 against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria. The defeat at Loftus Versfeld means that the Blue Bulls are still in fourth spot on the log, but the Cell C Sharks, who have a game in hand, could move past them for the final play-off spot in the coming weeks.

In the B-Division, the Steval Pumas are top of the log following a fourth consecutive win, this time a 26-11 victory over Border in Witbank. ORC Griquas stayed third, despite a win over second-placed Limpopo Blue Bulls by beating the Polokwane side 34-25 in Jacobsdal and Boland ran riot over Down Touch Griffons in Wellington. The home side won 78-28, with the defeat keeping Griffons at the bottom of the log. SWD’s 34-29 win over Hino Valke in George also resulted in the visitors dropping a fourth result and winless.

A-Division

Vodacom Blue Bulls 17 (10), Toyota Free State 34 (12).

It was a hard-fought affair in Pretoria, but a better second-half effort by the visiting Cheetahs deservedly gave them the results. A Dan Kriel try in the first half was the only attacking highlight of the half, with the rest of the points coming via penalty kicks.

Two quick tries by the Cheetahs opened up a solid lead early in the second half and condemned the home side to a fourth defeat.

Scorers:

Blue Bulls 17 (10). Tries: Dan Kriel, Joshua Stander. Conversions: Joshua Stander, Kobus Marais. Penalty: Kobus Marais.

Free State 34 (12). Tries: Justin Basson, Nicolaas Lee, Stephan Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Jacobus Vosloo. Penalty: Jacobus Vosloo (5).

Xerox Golden Lions 40 (14), EP Kings 24 (10)

The home team showed some why they were top of the log for most the year, with a solid all-round display resulting in a six try win over the EP Kings, who are improving, but still winless. The Lions pack proved superior in the tight phases and that laid the foundation for the win.

Scorers:

Xerox Golden Lions 40 (14). Tries: Aphiwe Dyantyi, Cyle Brink, Gerdus van der Walt, Ramone Samuels, Thabo Mabuza, Victor Sekekete. Conversions: Brandan Hewitt (2), Shaun Reynolds (2).

EP Kings 24 (10). Tries: CJ Velleman (2), Leighton-Ray van Wyk. Conversions: Matthys Venter (3). Penalty: Matthys Venter.

DHL Western Province 50 (24), Leopards 14 (0).

The home side made a solid impression at DHL Newlands with this solid win over a capable Leopards side. The visitors had a good spell in the first part of the second half, but were generally outplayed in all aspects of the match. Their interplay and good passing proved too much for the visiting defence to handle.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province 50 (24). Tries: Justin Phillips, Khanyo Ngcukana, Kyle Whyte, Luke Stringer (2), Sibahle Maxwane (2). Conversions: Brandon Thomson (6). Penalty: Brandon Thomson.

Leopards 14 (0). Tries: Dean Stokes (2). Conversions: Myburgh Briers (2).

B-Division:

SWD 34 (24), Hino Valke 29 (10).

Scorers:

SWD 34 (24). Tries: Bisto Sam, Lenes Nomdo (2), Shadward Fillies (2). Conversions: Erwin Harris (3). Penalty: Harris.

Hino Valke 29 (10). Tries: Jackie Jonkers, Ruan Neethling, Rudolf Burger, Thinus Ueckermann. Conversions: Brandan Rieck (3). Penalty: Arno Kotze.

Boland 78 (49), Down Touch Griffons 28 (14)

Scorers:

Boland 78 (49). Tries: Chad Kleinsmidt, Dale Watts, Darian Hock, Gareth Cilliers, JC Genade, Killian von Mollendorff, Shane-Lee Kenned, Tyron Fortuin, Warren Williams (3), Willem Swiegers. Conversions: Darian Hock (8), Phill George.

Down Touch Griffons 28 (14). Tries: Christiaan Pelser, Juandre Kleynhans, Lohan Potgieter, Shane Grobler. Conversions: Shaquille Adams (4).

ORC Griquas 34 (20), Limpopo Blue Bulls 25 (15)

Scorers:

ORC Griquas 34 (20). Tries: Christo Coetzee, Johannes Labuschagne, Michael Scheepers, Stewart Jacobs. Conversions: Christo Coetzee (4). Penalties: Christo Coetzee (2).

Limpopo Blue Bulls 25 (15).Tries: Charl Sander, Juan van der Westhuizen, Kallie Jantjies, Sarel Snyman. Conversion: Jean Grobler. Penalty: Jean Grobler.

Steval Pumas 26 (14), Border 11 (3).

Scorers:

Steval Pumas 26 (14). Tries: Chris van Leeuwen, Dylan Pieterse, Johan Gericke, Renier Husselman. Conversions: Dylan Du Buisson, Lewies van Deventer (2).

Border 11 (3). Try: Johannes Janse van Rensburg. Penalties: Curwin Jacobus (2).