The Absa Under-19 Premier League Provincial rugby championships kicked off on Saturday 11 July with a number of surprise results highlighting the competiveness of these leagues.
The Absa Under-19 Premier League Provincial rugby championships kicked off on Saturday 11 July with a number of surprise results highlighting the competiveness of these leagues.
EP Kings U19 started with a bang as they clawed their way back in the second half to beat Toyota Free State 28-15.
EP U19 and U21 are both competing in the Premier Division, with the U19 side having proved highly competitive in their maiden season at that level last year.
EP U19 team manager Robbi Kempson said this season was a golden opportunity for the teams to compare themselves with the best sides in the country.
"This is also our chance to develop the base of our players at the EP Kings going forward," Kempson said. "We have invested hugely in our local talent, with 95 per cent of our teams coming from players in the Eastern Cape region."
After a strenuous build-up to the season, EP U19 captain Jeremy Ward said they could not wait to get on to the field for the opening match.
The EP U19 side came within a few points of qualifying for last year's semifinals, eventually ending sixth, and they will be motivated to go one better this time around.
In other Absa Under-19 Premier Division Provincial Championship matches on Saturday, only the defending champions, DHL Western Province, managed to use their home ground advantage. They did however, need a late try to send the visiting Cell C Sharks home without the win. In Johannesburg, the Golden Lions lost to neighbours, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, while in Bloemfontein, the Toyota Free State fell away in the second half against the visiting EP Kings.
Toyota Free State 15 (10), EP Kings 28 (6).
In Bloemfontein, visiting EP Kings shocked the Toyota Free State team on Saturday with a 28-15 win. The visitors trailed 10-6 at the break, but scored three tries in the second half to start the season on a winning note.
Scorers:
Free State 15 (10). Tries: Charl Pretorius (wing), Rohan Roelofse (No8, 2)
EP Kings 28 (6). Tries: Dominik Uytenbogaardt (replacement wing), Junior Pokomela (no8), Mabhutana Peter (fullback). Conversions: James Hall (scrumhalf, 2). Penalties: Hall, Michael Brink (centre, 2).
DHL Western Province 10 (0), Cell C Sharks 6 (0)
The DHL Western Province scored a close win over KZN at City Park in cold and windy conditions. The defending champions scored in the dying seconds of the match to squeeze past the visiting Sharks, who thanks to two penalties by flyhalf Tristan Tedder, looked set for a surprise win.
Scorers:
Western Province 10 (0). Try: Ruan Brits (replacement hooker). Conversion: Aidynn Cupido (flyhalf). Penalty: Cupido.
Sharks 6 (0). Penalties: Tristan Teddar (flyhalf, 2).
Golden Lions 15 (8), Vodacom Blue Bulls 31 (17)
On Friday, the Vodacom Blue Bulls had the better of the Golden Lions, beating the home side 31-15 at Emirates Airline Park. The visitors scored four tries and earned a bonus point that will see them as the log leaders after the first round of play. Junior Springboks Tinus de Beer and JT Jackson featured prominently in the match.
Scorers:
Golden Lions 15 (8). Tries: Johann Vermaak (wing), Paul de Beer (centre). Conversion: Hendrik Mulder (flyhalf). Penalty: Mulder.
Blue Bulls 31 (17). Tries: Arnold Gerber (flank), JT Jackson (centre), Ruan de Beer (fullback), Penalty Try. Conversions: Tinus de Beer (flyhalf, 4). Penalty: De Beer.
Fixtures week two:
Golden Lions v Toyota Free State, Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Cell C Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Leopards vs Eastern Province, Profert Olén Park, Potchefstroom
– BB Media / SARU Corporate Affairs
