The Sanlam Boland Under 21 team’s defence of their SA Rugby U21 Shield title got off to a shaky start after a nervy 31-24 win over Border Bulldogs at Boland Stadium in Wellington.
However, Boland U21 head coach Juan de Jongh was satisfied seeing his team secure a bonus-point win that puts them in second position on the log, behind Eastern Province, after the first round.
De Jongh’s men will have a few things that need attention this week, more so because the next two fixtures are both away games.
“Great start for us in terms of getting the victory and getting a bonus point win to get our campaign underway,” said Juan de Jongh, Sanlam Boland U21 head coach. “There are obviously a lot of things that we have and will be working on in the week leading to the next match.
“Two away matches coming up, but really satisfied to see a couple of individual players that performed well.”
Boland winger Slade Jacobs opened the scoring for Boland after five minutes as he finished off a great attacking move.
The winger then scored his second as the home side went 10-0 up before Border struck back through a converted try by Siya Sakhela.
Border then took a 14-10 lead as Lakhe Baliso crossed the chalk for a second converted try.
The Bolander would wrestle back the momentum with Renaldo Koker scoring and Tireque Apolles converting as the home side hit the sheds 17-14 up.
Enrico Giani then got in on the scoring action after halftime with his converted try, putting Boland 24-14 ahead. But Boland’s 10-point lead was cut in half when Siphenathi April went over for the visiting side’s third try.
Koker then bagged his brace as Boland went 31-19 up with Apolles kicking a third conversion.
The home side could not stop Border securing two bonus points as Sakhela went over for his second try of the day, making sure the Eastern Cape side also bagged a point for losing the game by a margin of seven.
De Jongh’s side next travels to Gqeberha, where they will face log leaders Eastern Province this coming Saturday at the De Wet Stadium in Despatch.
SCORERS:
SANLAM BOLAND U21 – Tries: Slade Jacobs (2), Ronaldo Koker (2) and Enrico Giani. Conversions: Tireque Apolles (3)
BORDER BULLDOGS U21 – Tries: Siyamthanda Sakhela (2), Lakhe Baliso and Siphenathi April. Conversions: Sinala Jivana (2)