The Cell C Sharks u/20s hosted the Lions u/20s yesterday and did exactly what the rest of the country asked them to do and beat the log leaders with a massive 61-30.
This win of the Sharks u/20s has opened up the race for the two places in the SARU u/20 Cup final with only the Eastern Province that has no hope to qualify.
The first 40 minutes was an extremely physical affair with the Lions leading 20-14 with only a few minutes to go. A converted try by the hosts gave them a 21-20 lead going into the halftime break.
Two yellow cards within 8 minutes of each other early in the second half had the Lions u/20s playing with 7 forwards against a dominating Sharks u/20s pack which was the main reason that the dam wall broke.
The Sharks scored five tries and earned a penalty try for their efforts while the Lions u/20s could only score one try in the second half.
Scorers:
Cell C Sharks u/20: Tries: Jordan Mcloughlin, Nash Mhere (2), Jean Smith, Banie Britz, Brandon Wilkie, Hakeem Kunene, Renzo Du Plessis, Penalty try. Conversions: Jean Smith (7)
Sigma Lions u/20: Nathan Lainis, Sisonke Vumazonke, Sifiso Dlamini. Conversions: Nico Steyn (3). Penalties: Nico Steyn (3).
Teams:
Lions u/20: 15. K Smith 14. S Dlamini 13. Kelly Mpeku 12. Bronson Mills 11. L Maphisa 10. Sihlalo Benge 9. Nico Steyn 8. Sisonke Vumazonke 7. Joshua van Vreden ( c) 6. Nathan Lainis 5. Henk Gouws 4. Justin Kalamer 3. John Kelly Okonkwo 2. Ricardo Fourie 1. Heiko Pohlmann. Replacements: 16. Sikholise Nanto 17. SJ Kotze 18. Stian de Bruyn 19. A Weideman 20. T van Wijk 21. Brenwyn Bosch 22. Josh Herold 23. N Shabanu 24. T van Wyk 25. D Botha 26. Ndinovuyo Holiday
Cell C Sharks u/20: 15. Hakeem Kunene, 14. Curwin Gertse, 13. Lloyd Koster, 12. Brandon Wilkie, 11. Banie Britz, 10. Jean Smith, 9. Bradley Davids, 8. Nick Hatton, 7. Enos Ndiao, 6. Damon Royle, 5. Corne Rahl (c), 4. Andrew Beyrooti, 3. Nash Mhere, 2. Jordan Mcloughlin, 1. Braam Reyneke. Replacements: 16. Jaques Marais, 17. Phatu Ganyane, 18. Dian Heunis, 19. Coetzee le Roux, 20. Renzo du Plessis, 21. Josh Miller, 22. Ethan Hooker, 23. Lloyd Koster.