Bulls and Lions to host SA Rugby U20 Cup semi-finals

The Vodacom Bulls U20 will host the Hollywoodbets Sharks GEN and Fidelity ADT Golden Lions U20 will take on the DHL Stormers Bolts this weekend in the two semi-finals of the SA Rugby U20 Cup, after the league phase was completed over the past weekend.

The KwaZulu-Natalians clinched the last play-off slot thanks to their win over the Leopards in Potchefstroom, while the Toyota Cheetahs U20s came very close after a strong finish of the regular season.

The Lions and Bolts clash at 1pm on Friday from at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg and on Saturday at 10.15am, the Bulls will take on the Sharks GEN at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The weekend’s final round of league action delivered plenty of drama, with the Bulls and Sharks securing momentum-building victories, while the Lions and Stormers Bolts – who had already booked their spots in the play-offs – suffered defeats in an entertaining, high-scoring encounters.

The results saw the Bulls finishing top of the league standings on 47 points after losing just once in their 10 games. The Lions ended second on 40 points, four more than the 36 of third-placed Stormers. The Sharks managed to claim fourth place on 22 points, two more than the Cheetahs, while the Leopards ended in sixth place on nine points.

The biggest statement came from the young Bulls who powered past their Gauteng neighbours by a margin of 49-29 after leading 21-10 at half-time at UJ Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors crossed for seven converted tries, with Ruben Pienaar enjoying an outstanding afternoon, scoring two tries and kicking all seven conversions for a personal haul of 24 points. Kebotile Maake, Bongani Dlamini, Migael Turner, Brooklyn Newman and Leskin Samuels also crossed for the Bulls.

The Lions fought back strongly after the break, with Lian Terblanche scoring twice in quick succession before further tries from Grady Ngui and Adriano Jackson narrowed the gap. Matthew Abbey added a penalty goal and three conversions.

Discipline proved costly for the hosts, however, as wing Zenkosi Mthiyane received a yellow card in the first half before being shown a second yellow and subsequent red card in the 71st minute. The Bulls were also reduced temporarily with yellow cards to Juliun Cosmo and hooker Jon Hobson early in the second half.

At City Park in Cape Town, the Cheetahs U20 edged the Stormers Bolts by 39-33 in a thrilling contest. The Free State visitors led 26-14 at the break and held off a spirited comeback to finish their campaign on a high, although missing out on the playoffs by a narrow margin.

The Cheetahs scored six tries through Jade Muller (2), Sean Vermaak, Siya Khambule, Sibabalwe Booi and Heinz Stockenstrom, while Stockenstrom added three conversions and a late penalty goal.

The Capetonians replied with five tries, from Altus Rabe, Wihan Kotze, Dylan Miller, Jacobus Blanckenberg and Meyer Prinsloo, who also kicked four conversions.

Meanwhile, the Sharks GEN wrapped up their league programme with a convincing 48-21 win over the Leopards U20 at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Saturday, taking a 24-14 lead into halftime before pulling away in the second half.

Evan Mucka scored twice for the Sharks, with further tries coming from Stefan Moolman, Luann Olivier, Divan Fourie, Sipho Nonyalela and Lizwe Mtetwa. Moolman added four conversions before replacement Pieter Bergh landed the final conversion.

The Leopards stayed in touch through tries by GJ Steenberg, Adrian Freemantle and Zuan Rautenbach, all converted by flyhalf Marno Greeff.

Scores

Fidelity ADT Lions U20 29 (10), Vodacom Bulls U20 49 (21)

Lions – Tries: Lian Terblanche (2), Grady Ngui, Adriano Jackson. Conversions: Matthew Abbey (3). Penalty: Abbey.

Bulls – Tries: Ruben Pienaar (2), Kebotile Maake, Bongani Dlamini, Migael Turner, Brooklyn Newman, Leskin Samuels. Conversions: Pienaar (7).

DHL Stormers Bolts 33 (14), Toyota Cheetahs U20 39 (26)

Stormers Bolts – Tries: Altus Rabe, Wihan Kotze, Dylan Miller, Jacobus Blanckenberg, Meyer Prinsloo. Conversions: Prinsloo (4).

Cheetahs – Tries: Jade Muller (2), Sean Vermaak, Siya Khambule, Sibabalwe Booi, Heinz Stockenstrom. Conversions: Stockenstrom (3). Penalty: Stockenstrom.

Leopards U20 21 (14), Hollywoodbets Sharks GEN 48 (24)

Leopards – Tries: GJ Steenberg, Adrian Freemantle, Zuan Rautenbach. Conversions: Marno Greeff (3).

Sharks – Tries: Evan Mucka (2), Stefan Moolman, Luann Olivier, Divan Fourie, Sipho Nonyalela, Lizwe Mtetwa. Conversions: Moolman (4), Pieter Bergh.