Border defeated the Pumas by 41-38 in a nail-biting final to clinch the SA Rugby Under-21 Shield title at the White River Rugby Club north of Nelspruit on Saturday afternoon, while the finalists for the U20 and U19 Cup competitions were confirmed following the semi-finals, which took place over the past weekend.
In the U21 Shield final, the Pumas held a 24-21 lead at the halfway stage, but the team from East London came back with a strong second-half performance to grab the title.
Border scrumhalf Sinalo Jivana scored the winning points with a successful penalty goal six minutes before the final whistle after the teams matched each other with six tries and three conversions.
Pumas fullback Divan Spannenberg scored one of his side’s six tries and landed three conversions, while Jivana had slotted three conversions before landing the match-winning penalty goal.
Meanwhile, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will face the Fidelity ADT Lions in the final of the SA Rugby Under-21 Cup at 12h45 in Durban on Saturday, after both teams won their semi-finals last weekend.
Interestingly, both teams won away from home – the Lions defeated DHL Western Province 43-40 in a thrilling match at City Park in Cape Town, while the Sharks beat the Vodacom Bulls 35-33 in another enthralling encounter at the Loftus B-field in Pretoria.
In the first semi-final played last Friday in Pretoria, the Sharks were faster out of the blocks and managed to establish a 20-7 lead at the halftime break. The Bulls launched a fierce comeback in the second stanza, matching the Durbanites’ five tries.
Junior Bok hooker Juandre Schoeman went over twice for the Bulls, and his SA U20 team-mate Ian van der Merwe kicked three conversions. Sharks left wing Maurice Willemse scored two tries while the kicking boot of Luan Giliomee proved crucial, with the flyhalf succeeding with two conversions and two penalty goals.
On Saturday, the Lions led WP by 26-21 going into the break, and despite giving it their all in the second half, matching the Lions’ tally of six tries, a penalty try against Province just after halftime proved costly in the end.
Junior Bok flyhalf Kyle Smith scored one of the six tries and slotted five conversions for WP, for whom fellow Junior Bok midfielder Dominic Malgas scored a brace. Outside centre Likhona Finca scored twice for the Lions while flyhalf Matthew Coetzee added four conversions to his one try.
In the SA Rugby U19 Cup competition, the Vodacom Bulls and DHL WP will battle it out for the title when they clash in Pretoria on Friday after winning their semi-finals staged over the weekend.
Playing last Friday at the Loftus B-field in the first playoff, the Bulls were too strong for the Hollywoodbets Sharks and comfortably won by 50-22. The young men from Pretoria were already leading by 24-10 at the break and went on to score eight tries and five conversions, while the Sharks responded with four tries and one conversion.
WP hosted the Fidelity ADT Lions in their semi-final, which they convincingly won 49-22 after leading 21-12 at the break at City Park. Province scored seven converted tries while the gallant Lions replied with three tries, of which two were converted, plus a penalty goal.
Match information:
SA Rugby U19 Cup Final
Vodacom Bulls vs DHL Western Province
Date: Friday 17 October
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 11h30
SA Rugby U21 Cup Final
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs Fidelity ADT Lions
Date: Saturday 18 October
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 12h30