DHL Western Province retained the SA Rugby U21 Cup crown on Saturday, showcasing the talent that has seen 12 of their starting XV feature for the senior Currie Cup side in 2024.
Led by former Junior Springbok captain Paul de Villiers and current Junior Bok skipper Zachary Porthen, WP underlined their class to secure back-to-back national titles with a dominant 53-36 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg.
Under the stewardship of director of rugby John Dobson, this generation of WP players continues to impress, confirming the future of DHL Stormers rugby remains bright.
WP finished second in the league phase of the age-group competition and produced an impressive performance in their playoff clash with the Vodacom Bulls at City Park last week, securing an impressive 42-28 win.
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On Saturday, WP started strong, with wing Jared Africa crossing for the first try. Flyhalf Kyle Smith added another, but it was the Lions who edged ahead with a penalty before the Capetonians responded through Joshua Boulle’s scintillating counter-attack, taking a 21-17 lead into half time.
The Lions struck first after the break but WP responded with tries from fullback JC Mars and Porthen. Despite the Lions pulling level at 36-36 with 15 minutes remaining, WP’s composure shone through in the closing stages.
Scrumhalf Imad Khan’s penalty and try, followed by replacement Gino Cupido’s sealing score, capped a resounding performance that reflected WP’s senior experience and superior depth.
Photo: @SAJuniorRugby/Twitter
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
