Defending champion outside play-off spot in Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship

Sep 27 • General News • 1572 Views • Comments Off on Defending champion outside play-off spot in Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship

The defending Absa Under-21 Provincial champions, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, are in danger of losing out on a final four position on the log and a play-off spot for the 2015 title after crashing to a fifth defeat, this time to the Cell C Sharks in Durban.

This 29-20 defeat dropped them to fifth on the log (28 points), with the hosts moving into third position on the log with 31 points. The Toyota Free State’s 30-17 win over the Xerox Golden Lions also eased them into second place with 40 points, with the Johannesburg side are on 28, but with a better points’ difference than the Blue Bulls and a game in hand.

In the other result on the weekend, the winless EP Kings dropped a close 24-16 result to the visiting Leopards. DHL Western Province had a bye, but still maintained their log lead (41 points).

In the B-Division the Steval Pumas is running away from the pack, scoring a seventh consecutive win, this time beating Down Touch Griffons 55-14 in Welkom.

Boland scored a massive win (101-19) over Border in Wellington to move into second spot on the log, but the Limpopo Blue Bulls (35-19 over Hino Valke) and ORC Griquas (26-24 over SWD in George) are breathing down their necks.

The logs of both A and B Divisions are available here.

Run of play summary of each match is available by clicking on the match results.

A-Division:

EP Kings 16 (11), Leopards 24 (10).

The Leopards started like a house on fire in Port Elizabeth , scoring in the opening minutes, but had to wait till the end of the half for a second try when the Kings were down two men, both sin-binned with yellow cards. In between those scorers, the Kings played some of their best rugby, also helped by a yellow card to the Leopards.

The second half was evenly matched too, but the Leopards deservedly scored a late try just before the final whistle to earn a bonus point in the match.

Scorers:

EP Kings 16 (11). Tries: Malcolm Jaer, Sibusiso Ngcokovane. Penalties: Matthys Venter (2).

Leopards 24 (10). Tries: Estehan Visagie (2), Gene Willemse, Myburgh Briers. Conversions: Myburgh Briers (2).

Cell C Sharks 29 (5), Vodacom Blue Bulls 20 (13).

The defending champions suffered a fifth defeat in the competition and allowed the hosts to move past them on the points’ log. The Blue Bulls started well and scored two tries in the opening quarter, but then fell away badly. The Sharks dominated the second half and won going away. They scored two tries in the last fifteen minutes, with the second, by centre Marius Louw, earning them a well-deserved bonus point.

Scorers:

Sharks 29 (5). Tries: Ayron Schramm, Innocent Radebe, Marius Louw, Neil Maritz. Conversions: Innocent Radebe (3). Penalty: Neil Maritz.

Blue Bulls 20 (13). Tries: Dayan van der Westhuizen, Jsuanre Swanepoel, Marquit September. Conversion: Joshua Stander. Penalty: Joshua Stander.

Toyota Free State 30 (10), Xerox Golden Lions 17 (7).

Three tries by their forwards showed the domination the home side had up front in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The Golden Lions also paid dearly for a yellow card, as the home side scored their third try against fourteen opponents. A late try restored some pride for the Golden Lions, who are now slipping down the log after a very strong start in the competition.

Scorers:

Toyota Free State 30 (10). Tries: Carel-Jan Coetzee, Daniel Maartens, Ox Nche, Steven Meiring. Conversions: Arrie Vosloo (2). Penalties: Arrie Vosloo (2).

Xerox Golden Lions 17 (7). Tries: Christiaan Meyer, Ruan Ackermann. Conversions: Brandan Hewitt, Shaun Reynolds. Penalty: Brandan Hewitt.

B-Division:

Boland 101 (49), Border 19 (0).

Scorers:

Boland 101 (49). Tries: Anzo Stubbs, Dale Watts, Dylan Maart (3), Marthinus Oosthuizen (2), Phill George, Valentino Wellman (4), Warren Williams (3). Conversions: Adriaan Carelse (7), Darian Hock (6).

Border 19 (0). Tries: Bulelani Mdodana, Cameron Lentoor, Siphamandla Dama. Conversions: Cameron Lentoor (2).

Limpopo Blue Bulls 35 (14), Hino Valke 19 (12).

Scorers:

Limpopo Blue Bulls 35 (14). Tries: David Pieterse, Done Davids, Jean Grobler (2), Salomon Botha. Conversions: Jean Grobler (5).

Hino Valke 19 (12). Tries: Jackie Jonkers, Philip Terblanche, Ruben Farber. Conversions: Arno Kotze (2).

Down Touch Griffons 14 (14), Steval Pumas 55 (24).

Scorers:

Down Touch Griffons 14 (14). Tries: Carlton Coeries, Damien May. Conversions: Juandre Kleynhans (2).

Steval Pumas 55 (24). Tries: Armand Geldenhuys (2), Dylan Pieterse, Elandre Botha (2), Lewies van Deventer, Pumas Jordaan, Wessel Jordaan. Conversions: Pumas Jordaan (5), Marthinus Philippus Snyman. Penalty: Pumas Jordaan.

SWD 24 (17), ORC Griquas 26 (11).

Scorers:

SWD 24 (17). Tries: Chadwin Robertson, Hardus Coetzee (2), Nemo Roelofse. Conversions: Erwin Harris (2).

ORC Griquas 26 (11). Tries: Jovan Cookson, Marthinus Kemp, Michael Scheepers. Conversion: Deon Taljaard. Penalties: Deon Taljaard (3).