MTN Golden Lions 42 (24) Leopards 31 (19) in U21 Championship MyZA

Only one point separates the Lions from their Pretoria and Durban counterparts on the log with three matches to go, while Toyota Free State, who only have two games left, are only six points back in fifth position, meaning slip-ups by the Blue Bulls and Sharks could allow them to sneak into the top four.

These possibilities are expected to result in a tight finish to the round-robin stages.

In the weekend’s matches, the MTN Golden Lions defeated the Leopards 42-31 in Johannesburg, the Sharks thumped Toyota Free State 39-16 in Bloemfontein and the Vodacom Blue Bulls annihilated Border 70-19 in Pretoria.

The MTN Golden Lions overcame a tight first half against the Leopards at Ellis Park which featured a total of seven tries to register their sixth victory of the season. The teams had accumulated three tries a piece by the 37th minute, but another try on the stroke of half time by the home team forced them into a 24-19 lead at the break.

The teams maintained their intensity in the second half and each added two tries to inflate their scores, but the Leopards conceded two penalties at crucial times, which Lions fullback Marais Schmidt slotted over to push the match out of reach for the visitors.

Scorers:

MTN Golden Lions 42 (24) – Tries: Nico du Plessis, Peter-John Walters, Ruaan Lerm, Stephan de Wit (3). Conversions: Marais Schmidt (3). Penalties: Schmidt (2)
Leopards 31 (19) – Tries: Adriaan Oosthuizen, Jaco Buys (2), Ryno Pienaar, Tiaan Loots. Conversions: Ryno Smith (3).

The Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship is expected to rise to a new level of competitiveness in the next few weeks as five teams battle it out for semifinal places with three rounds of pool matches remaining.

Log-leaders DHL Western Province are in pole position to secure a home semifinal and the top spot on the log as they boast an eight-point lead over the second-placed MTN Golden Lions, while the Lions, Vodacom Blue Bulls and Sharks are expected to battle it out for the other home semifinal.

Absa Under-21 Provincial Championship log – Group A: