WP extends lead as Golden Lions stumble in Absa Under-21 Competition
The DHL Western Province Under-21 team extended their lead on the Absa Under-21 Provincial Competition A-Division log with a good 48-22 win over the Vodacom Blue Bulls on the weekend, but early pacesetters, Xerox Golden Lions, lost 23-27 at home to the Cell C Sharks.
This defeat, coupled with the Toyota Free State’s 60-28 win over the Leopards, resulted in the Bloemfontein side creating a seven point buffer with the Lions between second and third. The win for the Sharks also get them back in play-off contention, as they have 26 log points, with the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls on 28.
There are three rounds left to play before the top four play-offs during the weekend of 17 October.
In the B-Division, the Steval Pumas remains the class act, winning their sixth consecutive match, this time beating Limpopo Blue Bulls 33-17 in Polokwane.
Boland (45-23 over SWD) and ORC Griquas (45-35 over Border) kept their top four spots intact. Down Touch Griffons and Hino Valke, who both were looking for a first win in the competition, played to a 17-all draw.
A-Division:
DHL Western Province 48 (27), Vodacom Blue Bulls 22 (17).
The visitors started well with a try by Marquit September at DHL Newlands on Friday, but WP struck back with two quick-fire tries with the Blue Bulls a man down following a yellow card to Chris Massyn. Both teams scored two more tries in the opening half. The second half belonged to WP though and they scored three more tries in the second half, despite Leolin Zass being red-carded in the 58th minute. Hendrik Viljoen did score an important bonus point try for the visitors on the buzzer.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province 48 (27). Tries: Christo van der Merwe, EW Viljoen, Grant Hermanus, Justin Phillips (2), Leolin Zas, Ryno Eksteen. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (4), Ryno Eksteen. Penalty: Stapelberg.
Vodacom Blue Bulls 22 (17). Tries: Hendrik Viljoen, Kobus Marais, Marquit September, Mox Mxoli. Conversion: Kobus Marais.
Xerox Golden Lions 23 (9), Cell C Sharks 27 (20).
Two tries to nil in the first half gave the visiting Cell C Sharks the needed breathing space in the second half to score an impressive win at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday. The 20-9 buffer at half-time proved too much for the home side, who scored two tries in the second half to claw their way back into the match. When Barend Potgieter scored his side’s third in the 62th minute, the visitors had done enough to secure the win.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions 23 (9). Tries: Gerdus van der Walt, Jurie Linde. Conversions: Brandan Hewitt (2). Penalties: Kobus Engelbrecht (3).
Cell C Sharks 27 (20). Tries: Barend Potgieter, Johan du Toit, Neil Maritz. Conversions: Innocent Radebe (3), Penalties: Innocent Radebe (2).
Toyota Free State 60 (17), Leopards 28 (14).
It was a high scoring affair in Bloemfontein, with 14 tries scored in a match full of entertainment value. The home side were particularly impressive in the second half, scoring seven tries in the second half.
The Cheetahs forward pack laid the foundation with some solid driving play from line-outs and good finishing when in the right areas of the field. The Leopards have conceded 47 tries this year already and will need to step up on defence if they want to add to their one win so far.
Scorers:
Toyota Free State 60 (17). Tries: Christiaan Erasmus, Daniel Maartens (2), Jan Albert Venter, Joseph Dweba, Ntokozo Vidima, Stephan Janse van Rensburg, Stephen Rautenbach, Steven Meiring (2). Conversions: Henry Immelman (3), Ruan Potgieter, Stephen Rautenbach.
Leopards 28 (14). Tries: Estehan Visagie (2), Gene Willemse, Jaco Hayward. Conversions: Myburgh Briers (4).
B-Division:
Limpopo Blue Bulls 17 (9), Steval Pumas 33 (14)
Scorers:
Limpopo BB 17 (9). Try: Gabriel Sipapate. Penalties: Tian Nel (4).
Steval Pumas 33 (14). Tries: Elandre Botha (2), Johan Gericke, Khamogelo Qhu, Willem Ludike. Conversions: Dylan Du Buisson (4).
Boland 45 (17), SWD 23 (13).
Scorers:
Boland 45 (17). Tries: Cheslyn Korasie, Gareth Cilliers, Killian von Mollendorff, Valentino Wellman (2), Warren Williams, Zinzan Williams. Conversions: Valentino Wellman (2), Phill George (3).
SWD 23 (13). Tries: Fizell Fredericks, Juandre Fourie. Conversions: Erwin Harris (2). Penalties: Erwin Harris (3).
Down Touch Griffons 21 (11), Hino Valke 21 (7)
Scorers:
Down Touch Griffons 21 (11). Tries: Lethole Mokoena, Michael Herbert. Conversion: Juandre Kleynhans. Penalties: Juandre Kleynhans (3).
Hino Valke 21 (7). Tries: Jonathan Botha, Philip Terblanche, Ruan Neethling. Conversions: Arno Kotze (3).
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