The SA Rugby Under-21 Cup semi-finalists have been confirmed following the conclusion of the league phase over the past weekend, with unbeaten log leaders, the Fidelity ADT Lions, hosting the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Johannesburg on Friday, while the defending champions, DHL Western Province, will take on the Vodacom Bulls in Cape Town on Saturday.
The last round of league fixtures saw wins for the Lions, Sharks and WP.
The Lions made the short road trip to Pretoria a profitable one when they defeated the Bulls by 23-21 in a close-fought encounter on Friday. Later in the day, Toyota Cheetahs hosted WP in Bloemfontein, with the Cape side romping home by 71-24.
In Saturday’s only fixture staged in Durban, the Sharks edged the Leopards 36-31 in another entertaining clash.
After the double round of 10 league games, the Lions ended first with 48 points, followed by WP on 35. The Bulls finished in third place after collecting 34 league points, with the Sharks fourth on 25 points, followed by the Leopards (12) and Cheetahs (9).
In the first of the past weekend’s final league fixtures, the Lions’ unbeaten status was on the line against their Gauteng neighbours, the Bulls, who hosted Friday’s match in Pretoria. It was the Joburg outfit who enjoyed a good first half and led 13-0 at the break with the hosts unable to penetrate the visitors’ defence.
Although the Bulls responded well in the second half to eventually outscore their visiting neighbours by three tries to two, they just fell short in the end.
Corne Beets made a good impact off the bench by scoring twice for the Bulls, while Junior Springbok flyhalf Liam Koen was on target with all three conversions. His opposite number, Sam Francis, succeeded with both conversions and three penalty goals, which proved decisive in the end.
WP had too much firepower for a gallant Cheetahs side and overpowered their Bloemfontein hosts by 11 tries to four after leading 33-10 at the break.
Junior Springbok scrumhalf Asad Moos went over for four of those tries while his SA U20 teammate Divan Fuller bagged two. Junior Bok captain Zachary Porthen and last year’s SA U20 skipper Paul de Villiers, were also amongst the WP try scorers. Ben Pitout, Freddy Dreyer, Nick Greyling and Shaun Ray were the Free State try scorers.
Playing away in Durban, the Leopards led 14-12 at the halfway mark against the Sharks, who had to rally in the second half to defeat their visitors from Potchefstroom by 36-31 in an entertaining clash.
The Sharks eventually edged the Leopards with six tries to five, with former Junior Bok flyhalf Jean Smith’s three conversions proving crucial against a determined Leopards side.
Loose forward Daniel Verster crossed over for two tries for the Leopards, while midfielder JP Britz also had a good game by scoring a try and two conversions.
SA Rugby U21 Cup semi-finals:
Friday, 11 October
13h30: Fidelity ADT Lions vs Hollywoodbets Sharks (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 12 October
13h00: DHL Western Province vs Vodacom Bulls (City Park, Cape Town)
