The Golden Lions U20 secured a high-scoring 55-33 victory over the Free State Cheetahs U20 in a breathless encounter that produced 14 tries and continuous attacking flair at the Toyota Stadium.
A spectacular first-half hat-trick from Lions winger Zenkosi Mthiyane set the foundation for the Johannesburg-based side, who built a commanding 34-12 halftime lead before holding off a stubborn Cheetahs fightback in the second stanza.
The match exploded into life from the opening whistle. Lions hooker Keenan Myners breached the defence just two minutes in to open the scoring. The Cheetahs hit back via scrumhalf Bernard Wessels, but the first half quickly turned into the Zenkosi Mthiyane show.
Mthiyane crossed the whitewash in the 11th, 31st, and 34th minutes, ripping the Free State defensive structures apart with electric pace. Combined with a second try from Myners and a five-pointer from Adriano Jackson, the Lions ran riot. Despite responses from Wessels and Junior Ramosena, the Lions took a dominant 34-12 cushion into the break.
The second half turned into a tactical battle of depth as both coaching staffs emptied their benches. Free State refreshed their tight five at the 50-minute mark, bringing on Dian Venter, Ikhona Maxegwana, and De Villiers Kotze to completely revamp the front row.
The Bloemfontein outfit refused to surrender. Refreshed by their tactical substitutions, they struck through Wessels' second try of the afternoon and an effort from eighth-man Sibusiso Mahlangu. Fullback Heinz Stockenstrom added the extras to keep the Cheetahs within striking distance.
Any hopes of a Free State miracle were dashed by the Lions' replacements. Marko Kok, who scored immediately after the break, added a second crucial try in the 63rd minute.
As the game opened up, replacement back Sherwin Buys put the result completely beyond doubt with a 73rd-minute try, converted by Jeandre Uithaler. A final, gritty 80th-minute consolation try by the Cheetahs' winger Jade Muller narrowed the gap, but it was the Lions who celebrated a deserved 55-33 victory.
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions U20: 1 Andre Poulton, 2 Keenan Myners, 3 Meyer Opperman, 4 James Schnetler, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 6 Marko Kok, 7 Thinus Oosthuizen, 8 Jamaal Feldman, 9 Elgernon Meyer, 10 Rekkie Gerber, 11 Zenkosi Mthiyane, 12 Mcmillen Mongwana, 13 Likhona Kepe, 14 Adriano Jackson, 15 Ty Ax. Replacements: 16 Kganya Molapo, 17 David Hayidakis, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Lian Terblanche, 20 Toy Engelbrecht, 21 Sherwin Buys, 22 Jeandre Uithaler, 23 Adriaan Smith.
Toyota Cheetahs U20: 1 Werner Vrey, 2 Jan Coetzee, 3 Sean Vermaak, 4 Petrus Nel, 5 Oyama Frans, 6 Henro Kotze, 7 Bohlale Maphisa, 8 Sibusiso Mahlangu, 9 Bernard Wessels, 10 Darius Erwee, 11 Jade Muller, 12 Anrich Scheffer, 13 Siya Khambule, 14 Junior Ramosena, 15 Heinz Stockenstrom. Replacements: 16 Dian Venter, 17 De Villiers Kotze, 18 Ikhona Maxegwana, 19 Lupo Makhohliso, 20 Kgolagano Legodi, 21 H.G. Muller, 22 Bendre Vermaak, 23 Donelle Hendriks.