All-Gauteng affair in SA Rugby U21 Cup Final

The Vodacom Bulls will host Gauteng neighbours the Lions in Pretoria on Friday afternoon in this year's SA Rugby Under-21 Cup Final after both sides won their semi-finals played over the weekend, while the Griffons were crowned the SA Rugby U21 Shield champions after beating the Valke in Saturday’s final in Welkom.

The final of the U21 Cup final will be broadcast live on SuperSport, with kick-off at Loftus Versfeld scheduled for 13h00 on Friday.

The Lions beat the more fancied, Junior Springbok-laden DHL WP by 28-26 in a pulsating semi-final played at the Villager Rugby Club in Claremont, Cape Town on Saturday afternoon. The visitors enjoyed a 14-0 lead at halftime, and stretched that to 21-0 and later 28-5 before they had to fought off a determined host who came charging back in the second half.

In the end though, the young Lions were able to edge home by scoring three converted tries and having a crucial penalty try awarded in their favour, while the Capetonians replied with four tries and three conversions.

Ricardo Fourie (hooker), Raynard Roets (lock) and Connor van Buuren (No 8) each grabbed a try for the Lions, with Sam Francis (flyhalf) slotting three conversions.

DHL WP's tries were scored though Lukhanyo Vokozela (hooker), Mambo Mkhize (inside centre), Rynhardt Rijnsburger (replacement prop) and Duran Koevort (replacement fullback). Flyhalf Jacques Rousseau kicked three conversions.

Munashe Dukuzwa on the attack for the Vodacom Bulls U21s.

In the second semi-final played at the Loftus Versfeld B-field in Pretoria, the Vodacom Bulls staged a strong second-half comeback to beat the Leopards 29-6.

It was the Leopards who went into the halftime break 6-5 ahead following two penalty goals by pivot Martin Venter while the Pretoria side replied with an unconverted try.

But the home team came flying out of the blocks after the break to eventually score five tries, one each by Tiaan Lange (hooker), Hanno Theunissen (lock), Danwich Beukes (loose forward), Quewin Nortje (scrumhalf) and Franco Knoetze (fullback). Tiaan Beukes (flyhalf) added the extra points via two conversions.

The two Gauteng sides will now battle it out for the title, with the Lions going into the decider knowing they were the only side to have beaten the Vodacom Bulls this season, by 27-20, when the two teams met a few weeks ago.

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup semi-final results:
DHL Western Province 26 (0), Lions (14) 28
Vodacom Bulls (5), Leopards (6) 6

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup Final – Friday, 21 October
13h00: Vodacom Bulls vs Lions (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Champions of the SA Rugby U21 Shield competition for 2022.

Don stars in Griffons’ U21 Shield Final triumph

Junior Springbok fullback Donovan Don scored 19 points as the Griffons defeated the Valke 24-16 in the SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Final in Welkom on Saturday.

The Northern Free Staters were 16-10 ahead at half-time and never surrendered their lead for a well-deserved triumph at the HT Pelatona Projects Stadium.

Don, who earlier this year played a starring role for the Junior Springboks in their Six Nations Summer Series triumph in Italy, scored a try - which he converted himself - and slotted four successful penalty goals from the kicking tee for a personal contribution of 19 points.

Calla Pienaar (No 8) scored the remaining points for the triumphant Griffons U21 side with a well-worked try. The Valke fought gallantly but in the end they were no match for the purple jerseys.

The team from the East Rand scored a try through scrumhalf Alwyn van Niekerk, which was converted by flyhalf Jacques Blignaut, who also added three penalty goals.

SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Final:
Griffons 26 (10), Valke 16

SA Rugby Under-21 Cup SA Rugby Under-21 Shield Vodacom Bulls Lions Leopards DHL Western Province Griffons Valke

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