The Fidelity ADT Lions twice fought back from behind to clinch the SA Rugby Under-19 Cup title with a try at the death when they beat the Vodacom Bulls by 43-41 (half-time 10-24) in Pretoria on Friday.
The Young Lions never gave up, even after the hosts took a 41-38 lead with four minutes left on the clock and their last attack ended in the winning try in the corner for replacement back Thulani Shabalala.
The Bulls will wonder what went wrong, as they led 24-3 in the first half, only to see their southern neighbours claw their way back in the game to lead by 31-24 after 15 minutes in the second half.
The hosts then scored two tries to make it 38-31 but the team from Johannesburg were not done and drew level with seven minutes to go.
A penalty close to the end seemed to seal the deal for the Bulls but the Lions were not done and after opting for an attacking line-out from a late penalty, they did what was needed with the winning try right at the death.
Lions flyhalf Matt Coetzee, who is in matric at Jeppe Boys' High School in Johannesburg, was named the Player of the Match after scoring two tries and succeeding with all but his final kick at goal.
Score
Vodacom Bulls 41 (24) - Tries: Marco Ferreira (2), Demitre Erasmus, Stephan Brits, Juandre Schoeman. Conversions: JT Kapank (5). Penalties: Kapank (2).
Fidelity ADT Lions 43 (10) - Tries: Ricardo Brandao, Morne Venter, Matt Coetzee (2), Zian Cilliers, Thulani Shabalala. Conversions: Coetzee (5). Penalty: Coetzee.
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