The Vodacom Bulls Under-20 side claimed an impressive 3-78 win against their Eastern Province counterparts in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, and in the process secured a home final spot in the SA Rugby Under-20 Cup.
The side from Tshwane traveled to Nelson Mandela Bay, where they would face their opponents at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Zwide, with one goal in mind – to secure a win that would see them leapfrog DHL Western Province U20 to claim the top spot on the table at the conclusion of the round-robin matches.
The Vodacom Bulls U20 showed their dominance early in the game. After scoring five tries in the first half, the home side could only manage to add three points on the score board through a penalty.
The Tshwane-based side took no prisoners in the second half. They went on to score a further seven tries to take their tries tally to 12 for the afternoon, with EP U20’s failing to add any further points in the final 40 minutes of the game.
It was a special performance by Vodacom Bulls U20’s substitute hooker, Reuben van der Nest, who dotted down a mammoth five times while No8, Abulele Ndabambi, scored a brace.
Inside centre, Regan Izaks, who was also among the try scorers, slotted over eight conversions on the day.
The Vodacom Bulls U20’s will now face DHL Western Province in the final of the SA Rugby U20 Cup at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, April 16.
SCORERS
Eastern Province U20 (3) 3
Vodacom Bulls (35) 78
TRIES: Reuben van der Nest (5), Abulele Ndabambi (2), Corne Beets, Rowan Cloete, Keanan Wentzel, Regan Izaks, Moemagare Motlhodi.
CONVERSIONS: Izaks (8), Franco Knoetze
