SA Rugby Under-20 Cup kicks off in style

A combined total of 251 points were scored across the three opening fixtures staged in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and Potchefstroom, which delivered two away wins.

The DHL Stormers Bolts defeated the Sharks GEN by 55-22 in Cape Town; the Fidelity ADT Lions U20s managed to outplay Toyota Cheetahs U20s 55-33 in Bloemfontein; and the Vodacom Bulls U20s toppled their counterparts from the Leopards by 57-29 in Potchefstroom.

All three winning teams grabbed bonus-point victories, while the three losing sides also got try-scoring bonus-points.

The season opened in Johannesburg where the Fidelity ADT Lions produced arguably the most complete attacking display of the opening round by overwhelming the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein with a nine-try 55-33 performance. The Joburg visitors established control early and never relinquished it, racing into a 34-12 halftime advantage that set the tone for their success.

Wing Zenkosi Mthiyane was the outstanding performer and scored a first-half hat-trick, repeatedly exposing the Free State defence with his pace and finishing ability. Hooker Keenan Myners also crossed twice as the young Lions' forwards provided a strong platform up front.

To the Cheetahs' credit, they responded strongly after the breakthrough scrumhalf Bernard Wessels, who grabbed a brace, while Sibusiso Mahlangu and Jade Muller added further tries. But every time the hosts threatened a comeback, the Lions found another gear, with replacements Marko Kok and Sherwin Buys helping close out an impressive away victory.

The most dramatic momentum shift of the round happened on Saturday at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, where the Sharks GEN held a 22-21 lead at the break after hooker Clinton Agu crossed twice, while Reece Curtin and Aiden Botha also scored during an entertaining first half.

However, the DHL Stormers Bolts completely dominated the second stanza, shutting out the visitors 31-0 after halftime for an impressive win over the Durbanites in the end.

Bolts flyhalf Rayaan Solomons controlled proceedings brilliantly, contributing 22 points from the tee and proving the key tactical influence behind the comeback for the Cape side. The hosts’ bench also made a major impact, particularly through the front-row replacements who helped establish scrum dominance in the second stanza.

Two-try performances from Jordan Steenkamp and Jack Benade – both members of this years’ successful Junior Springbok team – capped an outstanding all-round team display as the Western Cape side laid down an early marker in the competition.

In the final game of the opening weekend, the Vodacom Bulls U20s sent an early warning to the rest of the competition with a ruthless nine-try 57-29 victory over the Leopards in Potchefstroom. While the hosts briefly held a 10-5 lead following scores by David Ndala and Marno Greeff, the visitors’ superior power and depth gradually took control.

The standout performer was Bulls flanker Stefan McDonald, who completed an impressive first-half hat-trick and was the dominant figure in the forward battle. As the Leopards struggled to contain the visitors' momentum, further tries from Bongani Dlamini and Liyema Nela helped establish a commanding 38-17 halftime lead.

The Bulls continued to pile on the pressure after the interval. Centre Leskin Samuels added two tries of his own, while scrumhalf Melt Viljoen also got onto the scoresheet. Despite spirited efforts from Willem van der Berg and replacement Eagan Roux, the Leopards were unable to slow the visitors’ attacking flow.

Only two games are scheduled for this coming weekend, both return games from last weekend. The Lions host the Cheetahs on Friday at 13h00 at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg, while the Leopards travel to Pretoria on Saturday to take on the Vodacom Bulls from 12h30 at Loftus in Pretoria.

Next weekend, on 14 August, the Sharks and Stormers face off in Durban, and the competition will return to a full schedule of three games on the weekend of 21/22 August.

**Scorers:**

**Fidelity ADT Lions U20 55 (34), Toyota Cheetahs U20 33 (12)**
**Lions –** Tries: Zenkosi Mthiyane (3), Keenan Myners (2), Marko Kok (2), Adriano Jackson, Sherwin Buys. Conversions: Rekkie Gerber (3), Jeandre Uithaler (2).
**Cheetahs –** Tries: Bernard Wessels (2), Junior Ramosena, Sibusiso Mahlangu, Jade Muller. Conversions: Heinz Stockenstrom (4).

**DHL Stormers Bolts 55 (21), Sharks GEN (22) 22**
**Stormers –** Tries: Jordan Steenkamp (2), Jack Benade (2), Almero Keizer, Alex Smith, Rayaan Solomons, Luca Potgieter. Conversions: Solomons (6). Penalty goal: Solomons.
**Sharks –** Tries: Clinton Agu (2), Reece Curtin, Aiden Botha. Conversion: Pieter Bergh.

**Vodacom Bulls U20 57 (38), Leopards U20 29 (17)**
**Bulls** – Tries: Stefan McDonald (3), Leskin Samuels (2), Ethan van Dyk, Bongani Dlamini, Liyema Nela, Melt Viljoen. Conversions: Ruben Pienaar (6).
**Leopards** – Tries: David Ndala, Marcwin Nero, Willem van der Berg, Eagan Roux. Conversions: Marno Greeff (2), Chris Dennis. Penalty goal: Greeff.

Source: Original report at SA Rugby.