DHL Western Province u/20 scored six tries, including a hat-trick from wing Ebenezer Tshimanga, on their way to a convincing 42-17 win in their semifinal against Vodacom Bulls u/20 at Newlands on Saturday.
They will face the only other unbeaten team in the competition when they take on Lions u/20 in the final in Johannesburg.
The home side made a fast start, with centre Ruben Labuschagne getting over for an early try, which was followed up by a penalty from flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu to put them 8-0 up.
The visitors hit back with a try of their own from wing Sonwabo Soyozi, which brought them back to within a point, but those were to be their only points of the first half.
Mngomezulu landed another penalty and a try on the stroke of half-time from Tshimanga gave DHL Western Province u/20 a comfortable 18-7 advantage at the break.
They added to that lead soon after the break, with flank Romauld Ntumba forcing his way over, before Vodacom Bulls u/20 hit back with a try from outside centre Canan Moodie, to make it 23-12 heading into the last half-hour.
Tshimanga was on the end of a flowing backline move to go through for his second and the team’s fourth try, which left the visitors chasing the game heading into the final stages.
The fifth and final try came five minutes from the end, with replacement prop Vernon Matongo forcing his way over from close range.
The visitors got a consolation try at the end after DHL Western Province u/20 lock Connor Evans was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements from his team, but DHL Western Province u/20 would have the final say as Tshimanga stormed over for his hat-trick try.
Scorers:
For DHL Western Province u/20: Tries: Ruben Labuschagne, Ebenezer Tshimanga (3), Romauld Ntumba, Vernon Matongo. Conversions: Sacha Mngomezulu (3). Penalties: Sacha Mngomezulu (2).
For Vodacom Bulls U20: Tries: Sonwabo Sokoyi, Canan Moodie, Johan Muller. Conversion: Jandre Burger
DHL Western Province u/20: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13 Ethan James, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Rethabile Louw, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Armand Maritz, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Romauld Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Connor Evans, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements (from): 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Isaiah Wharton, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Meyr Retief, 23 Duran Koevort, 24 Tiaan Pretorius, 25 Cade Croy, 26 Christian Lamprecht.
The Vodacom Bulls u/20: 15. Niel Beukes, 14. Tharquin Manuel, 13. Canan Moodie, 12. Carlton Banies, 11. Sonwabo Sokoyi, 10. Jandre Burger, 9. Tiaan Fourie, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Willie Potgieter, 6. Rynard Mouton (c), 5. Tiaan de Klerk, 4. Raynard Roets, 3. Sebastian Lombard, 2. Enrique Coutriers, 1. Cebolenkosi Dlamini. Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18. Nolan Pienaar, 19. Ruan Delport, 20. Reinhardt Ludwig, 21. Johan Muller, 22. Keane Gelant, 23. Geraldo Flusk, 24. Bayanda Ngubane, 25. Chulumanco Mfakadolo, 26. Tiaan Lange.
