Lions continue dominance in SA Rugby U23 Cup

The Lions secured their second successive win in as many weeks when they edged arch-rivals the Vodacom Bulls 27-24 in a closely fought SA Rugby U23 Cup clash played on Friday evening in Polokwane.

Both teams crossed for two tries each in the first half but a penalty by Lions flyhalf Sam Francis gave the Highvelders a narrow 17-14 lead at the break.

The Johannesburgers matched the Bulls’ two unconverted second-half tries to clinch back-to-back victories in the inaugural franchise competition, following last week’s triumph in Durban. Midfielder Reinhardt Jonker dotted down for a converted try five minutes from time to seal the result for the Lions.

Junior Springbok hooker Esethu Mnebelele was among the Bulls’ three try-scorers.

Earlier in the day in Durban, the DHL Stormers XXIII handed the Hollywoodbets Sharks U23 a second consecutive defeat in their encounter on the KP2 fields.

No 8 Keke Morabe crossed for a converted try to give the Cape side a 7-0 half-time lead.

The visitors shifted into a higher gear after the restart, running in two further converted tries - both scored by winger Mfundo Ndhlovu - to claim a convincing victory. Scott Nell and Khuti Rasivhaga scored for the Sharks in the second half but the Durbanites struggled to contend with the Stormers’ pace and physicality.

The unbeaten Lions top the log with 10 points from two wins, followed by the Stormers on four points. The Bulls, meanwhile, have only one point, while the Sharks continue to chase their first log point.

The competition resumes in two weeks, when the Bulls host traditional rivals the Stormers in a north-south derby on Saturday, 11 April in Pretoria.

Scores

Vodacom Bulls U23 24 (14) – Tries: Siphosethu Mnebelele, Jean Erasmus, Riyaad Bam. Conversions: Viaan Mentoor.

Lions U23 27 (17) – Tries: Rynhardt Jonker, Jason Hugo, Zian Cilliers, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Sam Francis (2). Penalty: Francis.

Hollywoodbets Sharks U23 20 (0) - Tries: Scott Nell, Khuti Rasivhaga.

DHL Stormers XXIII U23 21 (7) - Tries: Mfundo Ndhlovu (2), Keke Morabe. Conversions: Imad Khan (2), Dominic Malgas.