It wasn’t a great day, results-wise, for Sharks teams at Kings Park on Saturday, but credit must go to Paul Anthony’s under 19 side, who recorded a resounding 29-15 bonus point win over their Free State opponents.
Winger Mfundo Ndlovu scored the first of four tries for the hosts, with fullback Donovan du Randt adding a second in the first half. Defending a 15-7 lead at the break, number 8 Mthokozisi Ntuli and centre James Tedder scored back to back tries for the Sharks midway through the second period to ensure victory, with flyhalf Gareth Simpson adding three conversions and a penalty for the side.
The win propels the Sharks to fourth on the table, but with the Cheetahs fifth and with a game in hand, it’s unlikely that a fairy-tale knock-out appearance is on the cards.
Later in the day, the severely-disrupted Sharks under 21 side suffered a second successive defeat and are now all but certain to miss the play-offs, with just two wins in five starts. Tristan Blewett scored a brace of tries in the 18-24 loss to the Cheetahs, with new flyhalf Benhard Janse van Rensburg adding the remaining points via a conversion and two penalties.
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Tristan Blewett again on the score sheet…talk about a kid putting up his hand. I didnt watch the game- anyone see how Van Rensburg went at flyhalf? Great result from the u19s. Just to note that Donovan Du Rant is a year out of school and has already been included in the SA 7s side that went to Rome for a tournament before the olympics.
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : Wow, that’s brilliant. He sounds like a great prospect.
@StevieS (Comment 2) : hopefully the guys are locked into more than just a year contract
also interested in van Rensburg’s performance – any chance he could play 12 as the 10 pipeline quite stocked
Congrats lads!!!
Great victory for the under 19’s and although under 21’s did not win think they’re doing not to bad with all the injuries.
@Kabouter (Comment 3) : ja that pipe seems a bit full just hope the Sharks can keep it that way!
@JD (Comment 5) : The long season calls for rotation so we should be able to keep quite a few players happy.
@ChrisS (Comment 6) : hope so!
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : Is Du Randt a Glenwood boy that played Academy Week in 2014? I seem to remember a Du Randt that caught the eye, not a big guy but very quick and good “attitude”
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 8) : Yes Glenwood boy, played mainly 13 at school i think. Not sure about 2014 but i think he played academy week last year
@SheldonK (Comment 9) : Yep, its the same guy Im thinking about, played AW in 2014 as well. Glad to see that he is coming through because he did shine (With Palvie and Bader Pretorius) from that team.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 10) : Seems like he was at Maties for a bit but has come back to play KZN u19 so not sure of the entire story. As you say not the biggest guy but good feet and hands and can handle the aggressive stuff