Lions and Bulls move clear in SA Rugby U23 Cup

The Lions XV and Vodacom Bulls XV have moved clear of their coastal rivals in the SA Rugby U23 Cup after the two Gauteng sides celebrated strong victories in the third round this past weekend.

The two Gauteng rivals are on a collision course this weekend with an exciting Jukskei Derby scheduled for Johannesburg on Saturday.

They will take some momentum into the game after good victories this weekend, with the Lions smashing the Hollywoodbets Sharks U23s by 57-26 in Johannesburg and the Bulls had too much firepower for the DHL Stormers XXIII, winning this clash by 36-17 in Cape Town.

At Wits Stadium in Johannesburg, the Lions XV scored eight tries as they dismantled their visitors from Durban, with Likhona Finca grabbing a brace while Sam Francis added six conversions.

The hosts started like a house on fire and led by 40-7 at the break, scoring six first-half tries while conceding only one. It meant the contest was basically over but the visitors stepped up a gear and actually "won" the second half by 19-17 as they added three tries to their tally.

The Vodacom Bulls XV had the better of the DHL Stormers XXIII in cool, windy and overcast conditions at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, where the visitors ran in four tries and were awarded a penalty try.

The Bulls scored three of their tries in the first 20 minutes with Riyaad Bam, Neil le Roux and Juann Else crossing to hand their team a 19-0 lead before a late try by the hosts' Dominic Malgas made it 19-7 at the break.

The second half delivered a bit of tit-for-tat with JJ Theron scoring for the Bulls, while Keke Morabe grabbed a double for the Stormers on either side of a Ruben Groenewald drop-goal and a penalty try to the visitors, who coasted home in the end for their second win at the halfway mark of the competition, doing the double over the Capetonians after last weekend's 68-26 demolition in Pretoria.

The Bulls will be keen to avenge their close round one defeat against the Lions when they square off at Wits University in Johannesburg, where kick-off is at 1pm on Saturday, after which the DHL Stormers XXIII host the Hollywoodbets Sharks U23s at DHL Stadium from 4pm.

Scores

Lions XV 57 (40), Hollywoodbets Sharks U23 26 (7)

Lions - Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Jason Hugo, Marno Grobbelaar, Gilermo Mentoe, Morne Venter, Exauce Kevani, Cecil Parsons, Likhona Finca (2). Conversions: Sam Francis (6).

Sharks - Tries: Hanu Pieterse, Juan Loots, Chijindu Okonta, Albie Bester. Conversions: Chris Horak (3).

DHL Stormers XXIII 17 (7), Vodacom Bulls XV 36 (19)

Stormers - Tries: Dominic Malgas, Keke Morabe (2). Conversion: Malgas.

Bulls - Tries: Riyaad Bam, Neil le Roux, Juann Else, JJ Theron, Penalty try. Conversions: Viaan Mentoor (3). Drop goal: Ruben Groenewald.