Lions end WP’s unbeaten run in SA Rugby U21 Cup

DHL Western Province had their winning run in the SA Rugby U21 Cup snapped by a 45-24 loss to the Fidelity ADT Lions at Elis Park in Johannesburg last Friday afternoon but the setback was not enough to dislodge the Capetonians form top spot on the log as they still enjoy a four-point lead over the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

The Sharks made a move upwards as they edged out the Vodacom Bulls 35-33 on the Loftus B-field in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon, while the Toyota Cheetahs clinched their second win of the campaign when they downed bottom-placed Leopards 40-26 in their meeting in Bloemfontein, also on Saturday.

On Friday, the Lions held a 19-14 half-time lead against WP and then turned on the heat in the second half to comfortably run in seven tries to three for a 45-24 victory.

Asemahle Nongogo was at the forefront of the Lions’ assault by scoring a hat-trick of tries, while Matthew Coetzee added five conversions, with Junior Bok Gilermo Mentoe amongst the try scorers. Asad Moos, Xola Nyali and Dominic Malgas – all Junior Boks – were WP’s try scorers.

At the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, the young Free State side had too much fire power for the visiting Leopards, who fought bravely. Keehan Etson scored two of the Cheetahs’ six tries and Bradley Giddy slotted five conversions, while Duan du Toit converted three tries for the Leopards.

In Pretoria, the Bulls and Sharks each scored five tries but Luan Gilliomee’s fifth successful conversion proved to be difference between the two rivals in this tightly contested affair.

In the ninth round of the SA Rugby U21 Cup this coming Friday, WP face the winless Leopards at City Park in Cape Town (12.30pm) while the Bulls host the Cheetahs at Loftus B (2pm). Saturday’s only fixtures sees the Sharks taking on the Lions from 1pm in Durban.

In the SA Rugby U21 Shield, Suzuki Griquas beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls by 72-22 in Kimberley last weekend, while SWD lost 50-24 to the rampant Border Bulldogs in George.

Sanlam Boland, who top the log in the south section, beat EP by 50-21 in Porterville and the Harmony Griffons were victorious against the Pumas by 48-31 in Welkom to retain their spot at the top of the log in the north section.

This weekend sees Border host EP in an Eastern Cape derby, Boland face SWD in Wellington, Griquas travel to Nelspruit to play the Pumas, while Valke and Griffons clash in the other U21 Shield fixture in Kempton Park.

In the SA Rugby U19 Cup, the Vodacom Bulls beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Pretoria by 40-21 to remain the only unbeaten team in the competition and move to the top of the standings after three rounds. In other results, DHL WP edged the Fidelity ADT Lions by 22-21 in Johannesburg and the Toyota Cheetahs beat the Leopards by 35-17 in Bloem.