Defending champions DHL Western Province moved to top of the standings in the SA Rugby U21 Cup with victory over the Fidelity ADT Lions in their third-round match played over the weekend to remain on course for a possible third title in a row.
The Vodacom Bulls dropped down the standings after the Hollywoodbest Sharks got the better of them in Durban, while the third match of the weekend, between the Leopards and Toyota Cheetahs, ended in a draw in Potchefstroom.
The Capetonians clinched their second win of the campaign and bagged a bonus point over the Gautengers in their 37-27 victory, which was also the Lions’ first defeat of the season.
Junior Bok flyhalf Kyle Smith played a leading role in WP’s 10-point win over the Lions by scoring three conversions and two penalty goals, while two former SA U20 players, Joel Leotlela (wing) and Asad Moos (replacement scrumhalf) were amongst the five try scorers.
Outside backs Jason Hugo (three tries) and Asemahle Nongogo (two tries) were the main contributors for the Lions.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks secured a comfortable 33-14 win over Vodacom Bulls in Durban, where the hosts outfit outscored the visitors by four tries to two, after holding a slender 8-7 lead at the halfway stage.
Sharks lock Sphephelo Mbonambi had an outstanding outing and was rewarded with a hat-trick of tries, while Frederick Marx (flyhalf) succeeded with two conversions and three penalty goals.
For the Bulls, former Junior Bok pivot Liam Koen slotted the conversions for the tries scored by Shaun Schürmann and Johnathan Eloff.
In Potch, there was nothing to choose between the Leopards and the Toyota Cheetahs as they played out an exciting 40-40 draw.
The hosts were unable to convert their 28-14 halftime lead into a victory and had to settle for a high-scoring stalemate as both sides ended the game with six tries on the scoreboard.
Leopards midfielder Zack Serfontein was the enforcer amongst the backs and was rewarded with two tries, while pivot MJ Mostert landed five of the six conversion attempts. His opposite number, Bradley Giddy, also played a vital role for the Cheetahs as his five conversions kept the young Free Staters in the game, especially in the second half.
WP remain unbeaten following two wins and a draw from their three games so far, and they have gathered 13 log points, which is two more than the Sharks, who are sitting second on the log on 11 points.
The Lions slipped down to third position because of their defeat and remain on 11 points and with a weaker points differential than second-placed KwaZulu-Natalians, while the Bulls now occupy fourth spot on the ladder with eight points. They are followed by the Leopards on five and Cheetahs on four points, respectively.
In Round four this coming weekend, two games will be played on Friday, with the Lions hosting the Sharks from 13h00 in Johannesburg, while the Cheetahs face the Bulls at the same time in Bloemfontein. The remaining match sees log leaders WP travel up to Potchefstroom for their encounter with the Leopards at Olën Park, which will get underway at noon on Saturday.
SA Under-21 Cup – round three results:
Hollywoodbets Sharks 33-14 Vodacom Bulls
Leopards 40-40 Toyota Cheetahs
DHL Western Province 37-27 Fidelity ADT Lions