The final place in the SARU u/20 Championship has been decided after an exciting match in Durban was won by the home team.
The unbeaten Lions u/20, who ended 1st on the log will host the Cell C Sharks in the one semifinal in Johannesburg which is provisionally scheduled for Saturday 16 October 2021. If the Lions/u/20 beat the Cell C Sharks u/20 they will also host the final provisionally scheduled for Saturday 30 October 2021.
DHL Western Province u/20 booked their home semi-final after a dominant performance against the Cheetahs. They will host the "youthful" Vodacom Bulls who had a bye yesterday and finished 3rd on the Championship log.
Lions u/20 53-20 Eastern Province u/20
As expected the Lions u/20 did beat Eastern Province u/20 will relative ease. The Lions u/20 already led 31-10 at halftime and cruised the second half to win 53-20 outscoring the visitors with 9 tries to the 3 scored by Eastern Province u/20.
Scorers:
Lions u/20: Tries: Ruan Venter (2), Izan Esterhuizen, Nico Steyn, Boldwin Hansen, Tyler Bocks (2), Josh van Vreden, Liyema Matyolweni. Conversions: Jurich Claasens (4).
Eastern Province u/20: Tries: Dylan Halgreen, Okkie Muller, Marco Nortje. Conversion: Diego Swartz. Penalty: Diego Swartz.
Teams:
Sigma Lions u20: 15. Setshaba Mokoena, 14. Indiphile Tyeda, 13. Ngia Selengbe, 12. Tyler Bocks (c), 11. Boldwin Hansen, 10. Jurich Claasens, 9. Nico Steyn, 8. Izan Esterhuizen, 7. Ruan Venter, 6. Jarrod Cairns, 5. Connor van Buuren, 4. Babalo Makana, 3. Sibusiso Shongwe, 2. Ricardo Fourie, 1. Heiko Pohlmann. Replacements: 16. Allister Williams, 17. Prince Mulea, 18. Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19. Hendrik Gouws, 20. Josh van Vreden, 21. Sihlalo Benge, 22. Liyema Matyolweni, 23. Josh Jonas, 24. Ki Sono, 25. Kgoposto Matlena.
Eastern Province u/20: 15. Okkie Muller, 14. Aiden Augustus, 13. Cadan-Wade Finnis, 12. Troy Delport (c), 11. Shemondrey Hannes, 10. Diego Swartz, 9. Darrion Edwards, 8. Ruan Claassen, 7. Ndoda Zono, 6. Thabo Dyanti, 5. Dylan Halgreen, 4. Asekho Marubelela, 3. Monre Prince, 2. Yolisa Dladla, 1. Janrico Malan. Replacements: 16. Liyema Memani, 17. Jason Burton, 18. Marco Nortjie, 19. Monre vd Merwe, 20. Chris Qunta, 21. Tiaan de Klerk, 22. Sibusiso Hans, 23. Nkoka Ngobe.
Cell C Sharks u/20 29-16 Leopards u/20
In an expected tight battle the home team managed to beat the Leopards u/20 in the race for 4th place on the SARU u/20 Championship log and a place in the semi-finals.
In a forward dominated battle all tries scored on the day was done so by forwards. Cell C Sharks u/20 hooker Jaques Goosen scored two tries while Franco du Plessis, lock of the Leopards u/20 forced his way over for his side's only try.
The Cell C Sharks u/20 led 16-10 at halftime and had to work hard to eventually walk off the field with a 29-16 win. The only points the Leopards could add in the second half was two penalties converted by the tournament top points scorer, flyhalf Martin Venter.
The Cell Sharks u/20 hooker Jaques Goosen's two tries made him the top try scorer of the season with 8 tries scored at this stage.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Jaques Goosen. Conversions: Kian Meadon. Penalties: Kian Meadon (5).
Leopards u/20: Try: Franco du Plessis. Conversion: Martin Venter. Penalties: Martin Venter (2).
Teams:
Cell C Sharks u/20: 15. Matthew Jacobs, 14. Curwin Gertse, 13. Ethan Fisher, 12. Brandon Wilkie, 11. Siviwe Zondani, 10. Kian Meadon, 9. Bradley Davids, 8. Renzo du Plessis, 7. Enos Ndiao, 6. Jaques Marais, 5. Ockie Barnard, 4. Corne Rahl, 3. Blaine Golden, 2. Jacques Goosen, 1. Henko Smuts. Replacements: 16. Jordan Mcloughlin, 17. Charles Gamhiwa, 18. Munashe Mhere, 19. Andrew Beyrooti, 20. Tiaan Jonker, 21. Daimon O’Connell, 22. Warrick Day, 23. Liqhayiya Gantsho, 24. Dagan Meuwese, 25. Lathi Nqebe.
Leopards u/20: 15. Elzandro Fredericks, 14. Keano Windvogel, 13. Gerhard Ackerman, 12. Theuns Pretorius, 11. Naiden Jaarts, 10. Martin Venter, 9. Sanele Zungu, 8. Jakobus Cloete, 7. Jakkie Eloff, 6. Chyle v Zyl, 5. Franco Du Plessis, 4. Tian van Zyl, 3. Petrus Naude, 2. Vernon Paulo, 1. Dux Manyama. Replacements: 16. Connor Brown, 17. Neil Francis, 18. Hendri vd Westhuizen, 19. Casper Steenkamp, 20. Marquin Uren, 21. Marvelous Mashimbye, 22. Christiaan Vlok, 23. Luan vd Walt, 24. JJ vd Walt.
DHL Western Province u/20 64-14 Toyota Free State u/20
DHL Western Province U20 scored nine tries on their way to a comfortable 64-14 win against Toyota Free State U20 in Bloemfontein on Friday, to secure a home semifinal.
The dominant performance at the Toyota Stadium means that DHL Western Province U20 finish the league phase of the season in second place, with four wins and two draws to their name. They will host the third-placed Vodacom Bulls U20 in their semifinal.
DHL Western Province U20 opened the scoring through outside centre Ethan James, who rounded off an attacking movement from a line-out in the 22.
The home side levelled the scores, but DHL Western Province U20 took control as flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu kicked a penalty which was followed by a try from No.8 Jarrod Taylor, to take their lead out to 17-7.
There was enough time for a third try before half-time as hooker Keagan Blanckenberg scored from a maul to give his team a 24-7 advantage at the break.
The bonus point was secured early in the second half, with inside centre Ruben Labuschagne crossing for the fourth try.
The visitors were down to 14 men shortly afterwards, with Mngomezulu shown a yellow card.
The home side took advantage as they scored their second try from a quick tap, which made it 31-14 heading into the last half-hour.
However, DHL Western Province U20 responded with a try from replacement wing Ebenezer Tshimanga, which came as the result of some good handling skills in the backline.
They followed that up with two more tries, from replacements Conwill Conradie and Isaiah Wharton, who got a late double, wrapped up a dominant performance in the end.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province u/20: Tries: Ethan James, Jarrod Taylor, Keagan Blanckenberg, Christian Labuschagne, Ebenezer Tshimanga (2), Conwill Conradie, Isaiah Wharton (2). Conversions: Sacha Mngomezulu (8). Penalty: Sacha Mngomezulu
Toyota Free State u/20: Tries: Lohan Potgieter, Gideon van Wyk. Conversions: Wikus Basson (2).
Teams:
Toyota Free State u/20: 15. Juandre Nel, 14. Revano Muller, 13. Liyema Gaba, 12. Jooste Nel, 11. Jay-Dee Jooste, 10. Wikus Basson, 9. Hlumelo Klaas, 8. Gideon van Wyk, 7. Lohan Potgieter (c), 6. Liyema Mgwigwi, 5. Zander du Toit, 4. Reinier Viljoen 3. Zukisa Sali 2. Marnus Nel, 1. Bernard Venter. Replacements: 16. Thapelo Moshodi, 17. Frank Nchabeng, 18. Dumisani Malindi, 19. Kevin Strydom, 20. Francois Bester, 21. Divan Roelofse, 22. Chad Josias, 23. Bani Holtzhausen, 24. Leyton Valentine, 25. Johannes Odendal, 26. Llewellyn Stadler.
DHL Western Province u/20: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Rethabile Louw, 13 Ethan James, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Romuald Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Connor Evans, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements (from): 16 Christian Lamprecht, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Duran Koevort, 23 Meyr Retief, 24 Tiaan Pretorius, 25 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 26 Isaiah Wharton.