Absa u19 Championship: DHL Western Province 13 (8) MTN Golden Lions 21 (6) MyZA

In Cape Town the MTN Golden Lions found their rhythm after a tightly-fought first half against DHL Western Province in which they managed to score only six points, compliments of two penalties by flyhalf Brandan Hewit. Western Province, meanwhile, were forced to settle for a penalty by Christopher Smith and a Jason Worrall try on the stroke of half time for their eight points.

The second half was equally close as the teams gave their all, but another penalty by Hewit and two tries by Carlisle Nel and Kock Peter Marx to only one try by WP prop Wesley Adonis cancelled out the home team’s efforts and allowed the Lions to hop up a place on the log. The defeat for Western Province, meanwhile, knocked them out of the semifinal race.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province 13 (8) – Tries: Jason Worrall, Wesley Adonis. Penalty: Christopher Smith.
MTN Golden Lions 21 (6) – Tries: Carlisle Nel, Kock Peter Marx. Conversion: Brandan Hewit. Penalties: Hewit (3).

The four semifinalists in the Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship have been determined, but one of the two home semifinals are still up for grabs with one pool round remaining.

In an exciting penultimate round the Leopards, who earned two log points for scoring four tries but losing within seven points, cemented their semifinal berth alongside the Vodacom Blue Bulls, MTN Golden Lions and the Sharks, while the Lions, who eliminated defending champions DHL WP, leaped into second place on the log table above the Sharks. But with the Durban side only one point back, either team could secure the remaining home semifinal. The Vodacom Blue Bulls already secured top spot a couple of weeks back.

Absa Under-19 Provincial Championship A Division log: