The Lions u/21 qualified for the SARU u/21 Cup final against the Vodacom Bulls u/21s after beating DHL Western Province u/21 by 28-26 after leading 14-00 at the halftime break.
The DHL Western Province u/21s started like a house on fire, unfortunately, they were penalised several times in the red zone of the Lions u/21s. The Lions XVs absorbed the pressure and clawed their way back into the match and although they did not have many point-scoring opportunities it was still game on with sixty minutes to go.
Apart from the last five minutes of the half, the Western Province u/21s were the dominant side whose try-scoring opportunities were halted by several unforced mistakes in the wet conditions. A penalty try, and try by Roets gave the Lions u/21s a 14-00 lead going into the second half. Admittingly the score at that stage was not a true reflection of the onfield action.
Four tries by the Lions u/21s had them leading 28-05 with twenty minutes to go. The Western Province u/21s will kick themselves slipping so far behind as unforced mistakes were still costing them points on the scoreboard.
The DHL Western Province took complete control during the last twenty minutes of the match. Unfortunately for the hosts, they ran out of time and the Lions u/21s won 28-26 to advance to the SARU u/21 Cup final against the Vodacom Bulls u/21s at Loftus Versveld.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province u/21: Tries: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Mambo Mkhize, Rhynardt Rijnsburger, Jonathan Roche. Conversions: Jacques Rousseau (3).
Lions u/21: Tries: Ricardo Fourie, Raynard Roets, Connor Van Buuren, Penalty Try. Conversions: Sam Francis (3)
As It Happened
37:17 The Lions u/21s were awarded a penalty try after the DHL Western Province XVs collapsed a five-meter driving maul. (00-07)
40:45 Raynard Roets scored the Lions u/21's second try of the match. Steyn took a quick tap from a penalty on the kickoff spot and was the last to handle the ball before setting Roets away for the try. (00-14)
41:11 Connor van Buuren scored the Lions u/21's third try of the match. A turnover by the Lions u/21s in their 22 was kicked by Steyn whereafter the Lions u/21s pounced on the DHL Western Province u/21s defenders in their 22m. Another turnover saw Steyn sniping to feed van Buuren for an "easy" try. (00-21)
51:05 Lukhanyo Vokozela scored DHL Western Province u/21s first try of the match off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul. (07-21)
55:08 Jarrod Taylor (DHL Western Province u/21) was sent off with a yellow card.
55:44 Ricardo Fourie scored the fourth try for the Lions u/21s from the back of a five-meter lineout-maul (07-28)
66:41 Izan Esterhuizen (Lions XV) was sent off with a yellow card.
67:44 Mambo Mkhize scored Western Province u/21s second try. Mkhize go over in the corner after a quick tap from a penalty created the space out wide. (12-28)
73:19 Rhynardt Rijnsburger scored DHL Western Province u/21s third try. The momentum with DHL Western Province u/21s as they dominate the past fifteen minutes. (19-28)
75:24 Jonathan Roche scored DHL Western Province u/21s fourt try. DHL Western Province u/21 spread the bal wide to Roche who ran eighty-plus meters to score the try. (26-28)
Teams:
DHL Western Province u/21: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13 Ruben Labuschagne, 12 Mambo Mkhize, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Jacques Rousseau, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Armand Maritz, 6 Romuald Ntumba, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Simon Miller (captain), 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 1 Lamla Nunu. Replacements: 16 Keagan Blanckenberg, 17 Rhynardt Rijnsburger, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Jonathan Roche, 23 Duran Koevort.
Lions u/21: 15. Setshaba Mokoena, 14. Boldwin Hansen, 13. Ngia Selengbe, 12. Tyler Bocks (c), 11. Indiphile Tyeda, 10. Sam Francis, 9. Nico Steyn, 8. Connor van Buuren, 7. Jarrod Cairns, 6. Renzo du Plessis, 5. Ruan Delport, 4. Raynard Roets, 3. Kabous Bezuidenhout, 2. Ricardo Fourie, 1. Okuhle Siyeni. Replacements: 16. Allister Williams, 17. Heiko Pohlman, 18. Sibusiso Shongwe, 19. Izan Esterhuizen, 20. Siyemukela Ndlovu, 21. Layton Horn, 22. Jurich Claasens, 23. Zeilinga Strydom. 24. P Mulea