DHL Western Province U20 scored seven tries on their way to a convincing 48-21 victory against Cell C Sharks U20 at Newlands on Friday. The home side pulled away in the second half, scoring three tries before half-time and four more after to take their third win of the season. This win secured a place in the SARU u/20 Championship's semi-finals for the home team.
The visitors opened the scoring with an early penalty, but it did not take long for the DHL Western Province U20 forwards to assert their dominance in a series of powerful scrums. No.8 Jarrod Taylor eventually forced his way over from close range for the opening try to make it 05-03.
The home side was down to 14 when Taylor was shown a yellow card shortly afterwards and the Cell C Sharks U20 took advantage with a try from flank Enos Ndiao, but they did not have the lead for long as DHL WP U20 hit back with a try in the corner from wing Paschal Ekeji, which was converted from the touchline by centre Meyr Retief.
The teams traded penalties and then traded tries just before half-time, with centre Brandon Wilkie scoring for the visitors before flank Romauld Ntumba scored from a maul to give DHL WP U20 a 20-18 lead at the break.
DHL WP U20 claimed the bonus point try early in the second half, with blindside flank Simon Miller scoring and replacement flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu converting to make it 27-18.
DHL WP was down to 14 again when Ntumba was shown a yellow card for a head clash and the visitors kicked another penalty to put themselves back within range at 27-21.
However, DHL WP responded with a penalty try, following a powerful maul that rolled about 20 metres and the sixth try came shortly after that, with replacement Ruben Labuschagne finishing off a flowing counter-attack.
The final blow came on the hooter, with replacement scrumhalf Bobby Alexander crossing for the seventh try to cap a dominant performance.
Scorers:
For DHL Western Province u/20 : Tries: Jarrod Taylor, Paschal Ekeji, Romuald Ntumba, Simon Miller, penalty try, Ruben Labuschagne, Bobby Alexander. Conversions: Meyr Retief, Sacha Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Meyr Retief
For Cell C Sharks u20: Tries: Enos Ndiao, Brandon Wilkie. Conversion: Kian Meadon. Penalties: Kian Meadon (2), Brandon Wilkie.
DHL WP U20: 15 Jacque Rossouw, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Ethan James, 12 Meyr Retief, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Cade Croy, 9 Liam Kloosman, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Romuald Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Connor Evans, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements (from): 16 Keagan Blanckenberg, 17 Christian Lamprecht, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Taarique Kruger, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Sacha Mngomezulu, 23 Ruben Labuschagne, 24 Javier Farmer, 25 Duran Koevort, 26 Luke Burger.
Cell C Sharks u/20: 15. Matthew Jacobs, 14. Curwin Gertse, 13. Lloyd Koster, 12. Brandon Wilkie, 11. Siviwe Zondani, 10. Kian Meadon, 9. Bradley Davids, 8. Siya Ningiza, 7. Enos Ndiao, 6. Damon Royle, 5. Ockie Barnard, 4. Andrew Beyrooti, 3. Munashe Mhere, 2. Jacques Goosen, 1. Charles Gamhiwa. Replacements: 16. Jordan Mcloughlin, 17. Henko Smuts, 18. Blaine Golden, 19. Tiaan Jonker, 20. Jaques Marais, 21. Daimon O’Connell, 22. Mambo Mkhize, 23. Katlego Thinyane, 24. Renzo du Plessis, 25. Odwa Moletsane.