Author: hnienaber

Results 

Sandveld 22,  Reddersburg 29
Sandveld 19,  Hennenman 33
Sandveld 31,  Witbank HS 10
Sandveld 66,  St. Dominic’s College 17
Sandveld 28,  Theunissen 3
Sandveld 61,  Welkom Secondary 5
Sandveld 27,  Salomon Senekal 21
Sandveld 57,  St. Dominic’s College 10
Sandveld 14,  Bultfontein 31
Sandveld 12,  Welkom HS 26
Sandveld 10,  Hoopstad 18

Players: Monwabesi Mexico, Botha van Rensburg, Lourie Fick, Donald Grant, Reinhardt Lennox, Jaco Groenewald, Neil Swann, Aubrey Masiua, Johan Fick, Louis Aucamp, Wian le Roux, Alexis Havenga, Wittes Kgotso, Mike Rossouw, Eghard van den Berg, Victor Mhlakaza, Naledi Madungwa, Paul Els, Michael Marx. 

Coaches: Kalla Kalsbeek and Peter Watkins. 

The Leopards this past weekend succeed in their mission to reduce the gap between themselves, the Sharks and MTN Golden Lions on the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship log as they delivered a fine performance to topple Toyota Free State.

The bonus-point victory allowed them to match the third-placed Sharks on the log with 18 points, while they now trail the second-placed MTN Golden Lions by only six points. This means they could work their way into contention for a home semifinal if they build on this form in the next few weeks.

In the weekend’s matches the MTN Golden Lions defeated DHL Western Province 31-26 in Johannesburg, the Leopards beat Toyota Free State 34-16 in Bloemfontein and the Vodacom Blue Bulls stretched their winning streak to six matches by beating the Sharks 28-19 in Durban.

MTN Golden Lions 31 (24) DHL Western Province 26 (11)

At Ellis Park the MTN Golden Lions played their way into a convincing 24-11 half time lead against DHL Western Province with a fine display of attacking rugby. No8 Jano Venter crashed over the tryline for the team’s first five-pointer in the 13th minute after a few tight exchanges, but Western Province flyhalf Christopher Smith hit back two minutes later. The Lions, however, made the most of their opportunities as the half progressed, which earned them two more tries by Koch Marx and Carlisle Nel.

The second half proved to be much tighter, as the visitors stamped their authority, resulting in a thrilling half. Western Province had the first say as Pieter Schoonraad scored their second try early on, but the Lions cancelled it out as Nel scored his second minutes later. This try also secured the team’s bonus point. WP fought back and earned the rewards with Sebastian Ferreira crossing the tryline late in the game, but the Lions’ first half lead proved to be enough to secure the victory.

Scorers:

MTN Golden Lions 31 (24) – Tries: Carlisle Nel (2), Jano Venter, Koch Marx. Conversions: Brandan Hewit (4). Penalty: Brandan Hewit. Western Province 26 (11) – Tries: Christopher Smith, Pieter Schoonraad, Sebastian Ferreira. Conversion: Christopher Smith. Penalty: Christopher Smith (3).

Toyota Free State 16 (9) Leopards 34 (12)

In Bloemfontein the Leopards produced a spectacular second-half display to outclass the Toyota Free State and secure their fourth bonus point for tries in six outings. The first half was a hard fought as the teams threw everything at each other, with the Leopards scoring two tries while Free State wing Stephen Rautenbach kicked three penalties for a 12-9 half time score.

The home team came out strongly after the break and took the lead with Jan Venter scoring a try. But the flood gates opened for the Leopards in the last 20 minutes as they controlled proceedings and made the most of their try-scoring chances. This earned them three more tries, for a total of five, which pushed the match out of reach for the Free State.

Scorers:

Toyota Free State 16 (9) – Try: Jan Venter. Conversion: Stephen Rautenbach. Penalties: Stephen Rautenbach (3). Leopards 34 (12) – Tries: Blessing Makhayhu, Jeandre Rudolph, Kwena Moremi, Lourens Boddington (2). Conversions: Cornelius Swart, Janko Barnard (2). Drop Goal: Barnard.

The Sharks 19 (13) Vodacom Blue Bulls 28 (13)

The clash in Durban was thrilling from the outset as the Sharks and Vodacom Blue Bulls gave their all, resulting in a tightly-fought first half. So closely matched were the teams they each earned two penalties and a converted try to enter the break at 13-13.

Two more penalties by Sharks flyhalf Jean-Luc du Preez handed the home team the lead a few minutes into the second half. But this proved the be the side’s last points, as the Blue Bulls found their form and began to take advantage of the holes in the defence. With their attack functioning well, props Wilco Louw and Pierre Schoeman dotted down. Another penalty by flyhalf Kobus Marais allowed them to stretch their unbeaten run in the series to six matches.

Scorers:

The Sharks 19 (13) – Try: Barend Potgieter. Conversion: Jean-Luc du Plessis. Penalties: Du Plessis (4). Vodacom Blue Bulls 28 (13) – Tries: Keagon Gordon, Pierre Schoeman, Wilco Louw. Conversions: Kobus Marais (2). Penalties: Kobus Marais (3).

Results 

AHS Kroonstad 11,  Jim Fouché 0
AHS Kroonstad 14,  Parys 14
AHS Kroonstad 21,  Heilbron 6
AHS Kroonstad   9,  Sentraal 22
AHS Kroonstad 11,  Kroonstad HS 6
AHS Kroonstad 11,  Kroonstad HS 5
AHS Kroonstad   6,  De Wet Nel THS 10
AHS Kroonstad 14,  Wessel Maree 13
AHS Kroonstad   6,  Kroonstad Landbou 6
AHS Kroonstad   6,  Sasolburg HS 6 

Results 

AHS Kroonstad   8,  Jim Fouché 13
AHS Kroonstad 18,  Parys 3
AHS Kroonstad 10,  Sentraal 9
AHS Kroonstad   3,  Kroonstad HS 0
AHS Kroonstad   5,  Kroonstad HS 6
AHS Kroonstad   0,  De Wet Nel THS 0
AHS Kroonstad 32,  Heilbron 6
AHS Kroonstad   9,  Welkom Gimnasium 3
AHS Kroonstad   8,  Wessel Maree 8
AHS Kroonstad   0,  Wessel Maree 5
AHS Kroonstad 12,  Kroonstad Landbou 12
AHS Kroonstad 15,  Kroonstad Landbou 0
AHS Kroonstad   6,  Sasolburg HS 6

Results 

Bothaville 43,  Boshof 17

Players: Jaco Moolman, Frikkie Richter, Riaan Hattingh, Jurgens Fourie, Johan Calitz, Wessel Pretorius (captain), Carel Minnie, Pieter de Jager, Gert van den Bergh, Wessel Swanepoel, Dawie de Meyer, Johnny de Villiers, Gawie Pretorius, Jaco van Rensburg, Wessel Oosthuizen. 

Coaches: Piet Wessels and Dawie Matthee. 

Results 

Sentraal 29,  Theunissen 10
Sentraal 

Players: Neil Powell (captain), Hendri van Vuuren, Richard van den Heever, Slabber van Deventer, DG Snyman, Neels Holtzhausen, Louis Lottering, Nelis Rautenbach, Hertzog Coetzee, Jacques Jooste, Juan Erasmus and Willem Beukes.

DHL Western Province were rewarded for their consistency in the Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship this past weekend as they climbed to the top of the log table and gained a valuable four-point lead over the chasing teams.

Victories for Toyota Free State and the Sharks also allowed them to close the gap between themselves and the Vodacom Blue Bulls, resulting in only one point separating the second-placed Pretoria side and fourth-placed Free State.

In an exciting round of matches DHL Western Province thumped the MTN Golden Lions 53-26 at Ellis Park, Toyota Free State defeated the Leopards 40-29 in Bloemfontein and the Sharks registered a narrow 19-15 victory against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Durban.

MTN Golden Lions 26 (14) DHL Western Province 53 (27)

At Ellis Park the MTN Golden Lions put up a brave fight against DHL Western Province in the first half as they scored two tries to the visitors’ three. Penalties at crucial times allowed WP flyhalf Dillyn Leyds to nudge his team ahead on the scoreboard, which left the Lions with a lot of work to do in the second half.

Western Province continued their impressive form in the second half though as they ran in another two tries for their bonus point. The Lions held on and also secured their bonus point try before the visitors ran away with the game in the last 10 minutes. Justin Benn and Frederik Nel crossed the tryline to take their try tally for the match to seven. Leyds’ influence was particularly impressive with the player dictating play well and contributing 16 points with the boot.

Scorers:

MTN Golden Lions 26 (14) – Tries: Albertus Smith, Devon Martinus, Jacques Nel (2). Conversions: Marais Schmidt (3). DHL Western Province 53 (27) – Tries: Frederik Nel, Joshua Katzen, Justin Benn, Kobus van Wyk, Kyle Lombard (2), Oliver Kebble. Conversions: Dillyn Leyds (6). Penalties: Leyds (2)

Toyota Free State 40 (30) Leopards 29 (10)

In Bloemfontein a strong first-half performance set the Toyota Free State up for their fourth victory of the season. So dominant was the Bloemfontein side, they scored four tries in 25 minutes to add to two early penalties by fullback Marco Mason and to take a convincing 30-10 lead at the break. 

However, the balance of power shifted in the second half as the Leopards tightened up their defence and stepped up their urgency on attack, which limited the Free State to only 10 points in the half. The Leopards, meanwhile, crossed the chalk three times in the last 23 minutes to secure their bonus point try. Unfortunately for the visitors their efforts were not enough to undo the damage in the first half.

Scorers:

Toyota Free State 40 (30) – Tries: Henco Greyling (2), Maputha Dolo (2), Sethu Tom, Stephen Griesel. Conversions: Marco Mason (2). Penalties: Marco Mason (2). Leopards 29 (10) – Tries: Jaco Buys (2), Ryno Smith, Warren Gilbert. Conversions: Warren Gilbert (3). Penalty: Gilbert.

The Sharks 19 (6) Vodacom Blue Bulls 15 (15)

In Durban the Sharks overturned a 15-6 half-time deficit to cause an upset against the Vodacom Blue Bulls. The clash started off tightly with the teams exchanging penalties as they both battled to breach the defence. The Bulls, however, capitalised on two try-scoring chances late in the half, which handed them the lead going into the break.

The Sharks fought back strongly by producing quality performances on attack and defence to take charge of the match. This earned them two tries by Kotaro Matsushima and Stefan Ungerer, while Robert du Preez slotted over his third penalty to seal the victory.

Scorers:

The Sharks 19 (6) – Tries: Kotaro Matsushima, Stefan Ungerer. Penalties: Robert du Preez (3). Vodacom Blue Bulls 15 (15) – Tries: Dries Swanepoel, Jermaine Kleinsmith. Conversion: Handrè Pollard. Penalty: Handrè Pollard.

Results

AHS Kroonstad 28,  Kroonstad HS 3
AHS Kroonstad 22,  Riebeeckstad 19
AHS Kroonstad 17,  Hentie Cilliers 10
AHS Kroonstad 43,  Reitz 13

Players: Dewald Fourie, Willie Conradie (captain), Stefan Buys, Manie Wium, Werner Henning, Martin Labuschagne, Lerock Ingram, Willem van Wyk, Luan Vermeulen, Gerhard van der Walt, Shaun Coad, Janus Sassenberg, Hanno Erasmus, Manie Potgieter, Jan-Harm Bosch, Jacques Bester, Schalk Visagie, Jan Wessels and Dewald van der Spuy.

Coaches: Jerry Erasmus and Gert Kotze.

Results 

Reitz   9,  Hoopstad 5

Players: Danie Slabbert, Cobus Fick, Pieter de Winnaar, Willie van den Berg (captain), Johan Stadler, Tubby Rossouw, Ryk Neethling, Willie du Preez, Callie Meintjies, Chris Lloyd, Cobus Breytenbach, Quintes Scholtz, Duncan Macasskill. 

Coach: Chris Swanepoel.