Bulls and Lions surge ahead in SA Rugby U20 Cup

The Fidelity ADT Lions U20 and the Vodacom Bulls U20 teams are still unbeaten after the third round of the SA Rugby U20 Cup took place the past weekend, while the DHL Stormers Bolts lost for the first time this season.

The Lions defeated the Leopards by 49-19 in Johannesburg; the Bulls outplayed the Bolts 54-29 in Pretoria; and the Hollywoodbets Sharks GEN beat the Toyota Cheetahs U20 42-7 in Pietermaritzburg.

The Bulls were leading 26-10 at half-time in Pretoria and kept up the pressure for a comfortable victory, which saw them move up to second place on the log with 15 points from their three wins, level with the Lions, who remain top of the table courtesy of a superior points’ difference.

As a result of their first defeat, the Bolts slipped to third place on 11 points, four ahead of the Sharks. The winless Leopards (two points) and Cheetahs (one point) complete the standings.

In Pretoria, the Bulls U20s ran in eight tries to four at Loftus B, with hooker Ethan van Dyk scoring a hat-trick, while flyhalf Ruben Pienaar converted seven of the eight tries for a personal tally of 14 points.

Junior Bok front-ranker Jordan Jooste was one of the four Bolts try scorers, while pivot Rayaan Solomons slotted three conversions and a penalty goal for a contribution of nine points.

The Lions U20 produced a dominant display at Wits Rugby Stadium, running in seven tries to secure a 49-19 victory over the Leopards U20. The Joburg hosts built a commanding 21-5 half-time lead through tries by David Hayidakis and a brace from hooker Thapelo Mphela, with Jeandre Uithaler flawless from the tee.

The Leopards stayed in touch through a late first-half try by David Ndala but the Lions pulled away after the break. Mphela completed his hat-trick before Jarell Mbuyi, Thinus Oosthuizen and Talent Sithole added further tries. The Leopards responded through Adrian Freemantle and Raluano Ramano but the Lions’ clinical finishing ensured a comfortable win.

In Pietermaritzburg, the Sharks GEN overcame an early setback to claim a convincing 42-21 win over the Cheetahs U20 at Woodburn Stadium.

The visitors struck first through Jade Muller but the Sharks responded emphatically, with Clinton Agu, who played for the SA U18s last year, crossing three times as the hosts surged into a 21-7 halftime advantage. Iwan Jordaan added the extras to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The Sharks maintained control in the second half through further tries from Luann Olivier and Keenan Stoffels, while Agu’s hat-trick capped an outstanding individual performance.

The Cheetahs remained competitive with tries from Duncan Basson and late substitute Anrich Scheffer, but the Sharks’ accuracy and attacking efficiency proved decisive.

Three matches are scheduled for the coming weekend's fourth round. The action starts on Friday afternoon in Durban, where the Sharks GEN host the Bulls at 4pm. On Saturday, the Stormers Bolts host the Lions from 11am at City Park; and the Leopards entertain the Cheetahs at 12pm in Potchefstroom.

Scores

Vodacom Bulls U20 54 (26), DHL Stormers Bolts 29 (10)

Bulls – Tries: Ethan van Dyk (3), Xhanti Pongolo, Lee-Rynne Sinkfontein, Dylan Engelbrecht, Migael Turner, Elwin Jansen van Vuuren. Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (7).

Stormers Bolts – Tries: Luca Potgieter, MJ van der Westhuizen, Jordan Jooste, Xabiso Mkiva. Conversions: Rayaan Solomons (3). Penalty: Solomons.

Fidelity ADT Lions U20 49 (21), Leopards U20 19 (5)

Lions – Tries: Thapelo Mphela (3), David Hayidakis, Jarell Mbuyi, Thinus Oosthuizen, Talent Sithole. Conversions: Jeandre Uithaler (7).

Leopards – Tries: David Ndala, Adrian Freemantle, Raluano Ramano. Conversions: Marno Greeff (2).

Hollywoodbets Sharks GEN 42 (21), Toyota Cheetahs U20 21 (7)

Sharks GEN – Tries: Clinton Agu (3), Claud Steyn, Luann Olivier, Keenan Stoffels. Conversions: Iwan Jordaan (6).

Cheetahs – Tries: Jade Muller, Duncan Basson, Anrich Scheffer. Conversions: Heinz Stockenstrom (2), Donelle Hendriks.

Meanwhile, the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition kicked off this past weekend, with victories for Sanlam Boland and Eastern Province in the Southern Section, while the Limpopo Blue Bulls and Harmony Griffons emerged victorious in the Northern Section.

Border were gallant in their home fixture against Boland in East London but eventually went down 47-34 after leading 22-19 at half-time. The Bolanders scored eight tries, added two conversions and a penalty, while Border replied with six tries, including a hat-trick by hooker Ando Goosen, and two conversions.

Playing at Otto du Plessis High School in Gqeberha, Eastern Province had to come from behind after trailing 19-15 at half-time to defeat provincial neighbours SWD Eagles 29-26 on Saturday.

EP scored five tries and two conversions, while the Eagles crossed for four tries, added three conversions and a penalty. Right wing Tyrese Micheals scored three tries for the Eagles but his individual effort was not enough to prevent a narrow three-point defeat in a closely contested encounter.

The Limpopo Blue Bulls ran in 12 tries, of which 10 were converted and added a penalty in their 83-24 victory over the Valke, who replied with four tries and two conversions in Groblersdal.

Limpopo were already well clear at the break, leading 36-17 in the high-scoring clash. Four Limpopo players scored two tries each, while Byron Snell slotted six conversions and Riaan Benade added four conversions and a penalty goal.

Harmony Griffons turned a 34-14 half-time lead into a deserved 46-19 away victory over the aVBOB Griquas U20 in Kimberley. The hosts scored three tries and a conversion but that was not enough as the visitors from Welkom registered eight tries and three conversions for a convincing win.

Daylon Myners was among the standout performers for the Northern Free Staters, contributing a try and three conversions for a personal tally of 11 points.

In next weekend's round-two action, the SWD Eagles host Border at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday at 3pm. That is followed by three games at 2pm on Saturday – Boland take on EP in Worcester; Griffons face Limpopo in Welkom; and the Valke versus Pumas – who had a bye in round one – in Kempton Park.