The SARU u/20 Championship final was played on a hot summer day in Johannesburg. Both the Lions u/20 as well as DHL Western Province u/20 were unbeaten during the league games. The Lions u/20 effort during the last 10 minutes helped them to a 36-33 win.
The Lions dominated the first half and were in the lead with 17-09. However, a brilliant first 20 minutes by Western Province gave them a 21-19 lead with 20 minutes to go. An electrifying reply by the Lions during the last 20 minutes secured the SARU u/20 Championship with 36-33
03:10 Jurich Claasens converted an early penalty for the Lions (03-00).
07:11 Sacha Mngomezulu levelled the score with a converted penalty for Western Province (03-03).
10:10 Jurich Claasens converted his 2nd penalty for the Lions (06-03).
14:49 Jurich Claasens converted his 3rd penalty of the match. Western Province's ill discipline when being put under pressure is costing them (09-03).
20:00 The momentum at this stage of the game with the Lions, however, the ill-discipline from Western Province allowed Jurich Claasens to keep the scoreboard ticking over for the Lions.
25:04 Sacha Mngomezulu converted his 2nd penalty for Western Province (09-06)
27:01 Connor Evans (WP) yellow carded.
31:32 Jurich Claasens converted his 4th penalty (12-06).
34:33 Quan Horn (Lions) yellow carded.
38:56 Sacha Mngomezulu converted his 3rd penalty for Western Province (12-09).
40:00 Jarod Cairns forced his way over the try-line for the first try of the match (17-09).
The Lions will kick themselves for all the opportunities they declined to convert penalties from during the first half. The try after time was already up on the clock were just reward but still .......
44:21 Romauld Ntumba scored Western Province's 1st try after a great blind-side break by Bobby Alexander (17-14).
48:16 Tyler Bocks (Lions) yellow carded.
48:54 Keagan Blanckenberg scored off the back of a 5m lineout-maul to give Western Province the lead for the first time in the match (19-21).
60:00 Western Province started the second half like a house on fire n scored two tries in four minutes of play. The Lions did anage to claw their way back into the game
61:58 Keagan Blanckenberg showed his speed to score his second try of the match after some great interplay by the backs of Western Province (19-28).
67:09 Jurich Claasens converted his 5th penalty for the Lions (22-28).
72:56 Ruan Venter times his run brilliantly and scored the Lions 2nd try to claim back the lead (29-28).
75:23 Boldwin Hansen collected a grubber and scored the Lions 3rd try (36-28).
78:10 Lukhanyo Vokozela scored WP's 4th try to make it a 3 point game (36 -33).
Scorers:
Lions u/20: Try: Jarrod Cairns, Ruan Venter, Boldwin Hansen. Conversion: Jurich Claasens (3). Penalties: Jurich Claasens (5).
DHL Western Province: Tries: Romauld Ntumba, Keagan Blanckenberg (2), Lukhanyo Vokozela. Conversion: Sacha Mngomezulu (2). Penalties: Sacha Mngomezulu (3)
Lions u/20: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Ngia Selengbe , 13 Johann "Henco" van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks (c), 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Izak "Izan" Esterhuizen, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Conor van Buuren, 4 Babalo Makana, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Jacque-Lois du Toit, 1 Heiko Pohlmann. Replacements: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Jacobus "Kabous" Bezuidenhout, 19 Justin Kalamer, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Sihlalo Benge, 22 Setshaba Mokoena, 23 Indiphile Tyeda, 24 Josh Jonas, 25 Joshua van Vreden, 26 Prince Mulea.
DHL WP u/20: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13 Ethan James, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Rethabile Louw, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Simon Miller, 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 Armand Maritz, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Meyr Retief, 23 Duran Koevort, 24 Liam Kloosman, 25 Cade Croy, 26 Christian Lamprecht.