No surprises from the results of Round 4 of the SRU u/20 Championship this weekend. The Sigma Lions remained unbeaten while the Leopards had an easy outing against Eastern Province u/20. DHL Western Province had to hang on for life at the end to beat a "youthful" Vodacom Bulls.
The Sigma Lions u/20 currently are no1 on the log with 15 points followed by the Vodacom Bulls u/20 (13), Leopards u/20 (12) and DHL Western Province u/20 (11). However, the Vodacom Bulls already played 4 games, one more than the other teams in the top 4. The Cell C Sharks (7) has also played 3 games while the Toyota Free State u/20 (6) and Eastern Province u/20 (0) hopes to reach the playoffs has already been all but put out.
The Cell C Sharks had a bye this weekend while Round 5 will be played during the weekend of 18 September 2021, giving the teams 2 weeks to regroup.
Leopards u/20 91-06 Eastern Province u/20
The Leopards u/20 hosted Eastern Province u/20 at the Olën Park Stadium, Potchefstroom on Friday at completely destroyed their obviously outclassed opposition. The Leopards u/20's already led 35-06 at the halftime break and scored twelve tries for an easy victory.
Flyhalf Marin Venter is the top points scorer at this stage of the competition with 39 points while winger Elzandro Frederick shares the top tries scorer with 4 tries.
Scorers:
Leopards u/20: Tries: Petrus Naude, Franco du Plessis, Marvelous Mashimbye, Elzano Frederick (2), Theuns Pretorius (2), Gerhard Ackerman (2), Luan vd Walt (2), Vernon Paulo, Penalty Try. Conversions: Martin Venter (11).
Eastern Province: Penalties: Monre de Ridder (2)
Leopards: 15. Luan vd Walt, 14. Keano Windvogel, 13. Gerhard Ackerman, 12. Theuns Pretorius, 11. Elzandro Fredericks, 10. Martin Venter, 9. Sanele Zungo, 8. Marvelous Mashimbye, 7. Jakkie Eloff, 6. Jakobus Cloete, 5. Franco Du Plessis, 4. Brandon Borcher, 3. Petrus Naude, 2. Chyle van Zyl, 1. D Matome Melebo. Replacements: 16. Vernon Paulo, 17. Henri vd Westhuizen, 18. N Francis, 19. Casper Steenkamp, 20. Abre Minnie, 21. Tian v Zyl, 22. Christiaan Vlok, 23. Garren Morris, 24. Jean-Jacques vd Walt, 25. Joubert Schoeman, 26. Goodwin Nchocho.
Eastern Province: 15. Okkie Muller, 14. Aiden Augustus, 13. Cadan-wade Finnis, 12. Troy Delport (c), 11. Nkoka Ngobe, 10. Monre de Ridder, 9. Darrion Edwards, 8. Ndoda Zono, 7. Dylan Halgreen (c), 6. Thabo Dyanti, 5. Justin Friend, 4. Asekho Marubelela, 3. Janrico Malan, 2. Yolisa Dladla, 1. Jordaan Caraher. Replacements: 16. Liyema Memani, 17. Jason Burton, 18. Marco Nortjie, 19. Ruan Claassen, 20. Chris Qunta, 21. Diego Swartz, 22. Tiaan de Klerk, 23. Shemondrey Hannes, 24. Sibusiso Hans, 25. De Wet Alberts.
DHL Western Province u/20 17-11 Vodacom Bulls u/20
DHL Western Province U20 claimed a hard-fought 17-11 victory against Vodacom Bulls U20 in their North-South clash at Newlands on Friday. A try in each half and some impressive commitment on defence was enough for DHL Western Province U20 to get the result against the table-topping Pretoria side.
The home side dominated both territory and possession in the early stages, but could not find a way through in a scoreless opening half-hour. The pressure eventually told as tighthead prop Corne Weilbach scored from a maul to put them 7-0 up five minutes before half-time.
The visitors responded with a penalty, but DHL Western Province U20 would have the final say in the first half as flyhalf Sacha Mngomezulu kicked a penalty to give them a 10-3 advantage at the break.
Vodacom Bulls U20 started the second half with their second penalty and DHL Western Province found themselves under more pressure when flank Romuald Ntumba was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements with 30 minutes left to play. The visitors scored their first try with 15 minutes to play, with wing Tharquin Manuel taking a cross-kick to score in the corner and give them a slender 11-10 lead.
However, they were not in front for long as DHL Western Province U20 took the lead back with a try from centre Ruben Labuschagne to make it 17-11 heading into the last 10 minutes. Despite being under pressure at the end, DHL Western Province U20 held on to claim the win, which saw them move to second on the standings.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province: Tries: Corne Weilbach, Ruben Labuschagne. Conversions: Sacha Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Sacha Mngomezulu
Vodacom Bulls U20: Try: Tharquin Manuel. Penalties: Jandre Burger (2).
DHL WP u/20: 15 Duran Koevort, 14 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13 Ethan James, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Rethabile Louw, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Armand Maritz, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Romuald Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Simon Miller, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements (from): 16 Christian Lamprecht, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Matthew Coenraad, 19 Rhys Fulford, 20 HD Stemmet, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Cade Croy, 23 Hofmeyr Retief, 24 Javier Farmer, 25 Conwill Conradie, 26 Isaiah Wharton.
Vodacom Bulls u/20: 15. Jandre Burger, 14. Tharquin Manuel, 13. Canan Moodie, 12. Niel Beukes, 11. Bayanda Ngubane, 10. FC du Plessis, 9. Tiaan Fourie, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 7. Willie Potgieter, 6. Rynard Mouton (c), 5. Ruan Delport, 4. Raynard Roets, 3. Sebastian Lombard, 2. Keagan Potgieter, 1. Cebo Dhlamini. Replacements: 16. Gideon Serfontein, 17. Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18. Ntokozo Hlope, 19. Hardus Rothmann, 20. Chulumanco Mfakadolo, 21. Johan Muller, 22. Sonwabo Sokoyi, 23. Geraldo Flusk, 24. Eric Basson.
Toyota Free State u/20 19-46 Sigma Lions u/20
The Sigma Lions u/20 showed why they are the favourite to win the 2021 SARU u/20 Championship as they remained unbeaten after a great performance in Bloemfontein. They led 24-07 at the break and were easy winners with 46-19 at the end. The visitors outscored their host with 8 tries to 3 to claimed their 3rd win in a row.
The Sigma Lions' flyhalf, Jurich Claasens are third (28) on the top points scored log after the first 4 rounds.
Scorers:
Toyota Free State u/20: Tries: Warren Louw, Lohan Potgieter, Zukisa Sali. Conversions: Jay-dee Jooste, Juan Oliver.
Sigma Lions u/20: Tries: Jarrod Cairns (2), Sisonke Vumazonke, Nico Steyn, Jurich Claassens, Zeilinga Strydom, Indiphile Tyeda, Quan Horn. Conversions: Nico Steyn, Jurich Claassens (2).
Toyota Free State u/20: 15. Chris Rheeder, 14. Jay-Dee Jooste, 13. Emile Kotze, 12. Jooste Nel, 11. Liyema Gaba, 10. Chad Josias, 9. Juan-Dee Olivier, 8. Bennett Nortje (c), 7. Lohan Potgieter, 6. Francois Bester, 5. Zander du Toit, 4. Reinier Viljoen 3. Ali Gqaza 2. Marnus Nel, 1. Warren Louw. Replacements: 16. Ruan Nortje, 17. Zukisa Sali, 18. Frank Nchabeng, 19. Kevin Strydom, 20. Gideon van Wyk , 21. Divan Roelofse, 22. Revano Muller, 23. Johannes Odendal, 24. Hlumelo Klaas, 25. Stefan Nortje, 26. Avumile Bongco.
Sigma Lions u20: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Indiphile Tyeda, 13. Henco van Wyk (c), 12. Tyler Bocks, 11. Zeilinga Strydom, 10. Jurich Claasens, 9. Nico Steyn, 8. Sisonke Vumasonke, 7. Izan Esterhuizen, 6. Jarod Cairns, 5. Connor van Buuren, 4. Babalo Makana, 3. Kabous Bezuidenhout, 2. Jacque-Lois du Toit, 1. Heiko Pohlmann. Replacements: 16. Allister Williams, 17. Prince Mulea, 18. Sibusiso Shongwe, 19. Justin Kalamer, 20. Ricardo Fourie, 21. Sihlalo Benge, 22. Liyema Matyolweni, 23. Josh Jonas, 24. Ngia Selengbe, 25. Wandile Hlope, 26. KG Matlena.