Junior Springbok and Blitzbok speedster Gino Cupido scored four tries for the DHL Western Province Under-21 side in their 85-22 demolition of the Leopards in the fourth round of SA Rugby’s U21 Cup over the weekend in Potchefstroom.
The defending champions from Cape Town, who are chasing a third successive national title, held a 35-10 advantage at the break at Olën Park. They eventually crossed the line for 13 tries, while the Leopards tried valiantly and managed to score four times.
Loaded with current and former Junior Bok players, DHL WP dominated from the start and Cupido, who also made his Springbok Sevens debut earlier this year, as well as SA U20 flyhalf Kyle Smith, proved their worth by delivering impressive performances.
Smith, Dominic Malgas and Divan Fuller – all current Junior Boks – each contributed a try alongside former SA U20 players Joel Leotlela, Asad Moos and Zachary Porthen, while the Leopards’ tries were scored by Hanro Venter, Juan Baard, Ben Katake and Therlow Prins.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks gained their third victory of the campaign as they defeated the strong Fidelity ADT Lions outfit 47-36 in Johannesburg. The Durbanites managed to outscore their Highveld hosts by seven tries to six, and were already 33-17 in the lead by the halfway stage.
Current Junior Bok Gilermo Mentoe scored two tries as the young Lions fought courageously in Joburg, however, the Sharks were just too strong on the day. Lili Bester and Batho Hlekani, another member of the current SA U20 squad, scored two tries apiece, while Junior Bok flyhalf Vusi Moyo contributed two conversions and Frederick Marx four.
The Vodacom Bulls side bounced back to form following their defeat to the Sharks last weekend by beating the Toyota Cheetahs by 38-21 at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, where neither side managed to score any points in a scoreless opening half.
However, the match burst into action in the second stanza, with the visitors from Pretoria managing to outscore their Bloemfontein hosts by six tries to three in what eventually ended in a very attractive game.
Junior Bok and former SA Schools captain and hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele (two tries) and fellow SA U20 player Jaco Grobbelaar (one try) were amongst the try-scorers for the Bulls, while playmaker Ian van der Merwe added four successful conversions.
After the fourth round, champions DHL WP still lead the standings on 18 points from their three wins and a draw, which are two points more than second-placed Hollywoodbets Sharks (16). The Vodacom Bulls are third on 13 points, one more than fourth-placed Fidelity ADT Lions (12), with the Leopards (fifth on six points) and last-placed Toyota Cheetahs (four points) complete the standings.
This coming weekend sees the Vodacom Bulls hosting the Fidelity ADT Lions in a Gauteng Derby at 13h00 on Friday in Pretoria. The two remaining games will both kick off at 13h00 on Saturday – the Toyota Cheetahs are at home against DHL WP in Bloemfontein, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks entertain the Leopards in Durban.
Round four results:
Leopards 22 (10), DHL Western Province 85 (35)
Fidelity ADT Lions 36 (17), Hollywoodbets Sharks 47 (33)
Toyota Cheetahs 21 (0), Vodacom Bulls 38 (0)
Round five fixtures:
Friday 30 May:
13h00: Vodacom Bulls vs Fidelity ADT Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 31 May:
13h00: Toyota Cheetahs vs DHL WP (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
13h00: Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Leopards (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)