Juniors Stepping it Up for Cup Final

The Cell C Sharks Under 20s will contest the SA Under 20 Cup Final against the Vodacom Bulls at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Thursday after the pair finished the tournament in the top two places.

The Cell C Sharks closed out the pool stages with a 59-14 victory over the Leopards last weekend to secure top spot on the log and a season where they went unbeaten all tournament, winning all but one of their games – a draw with the Lions.

“To play in the final, at home, is something very special,” head coach JP Pietersen admitted on the eve of the match.

“It’s a massive achievement for this group of 19 and 20 year olds, who just continued to grow as the season went on.”

After beating the Bulls 29-7 in the pool match in early March, also at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, the pair will face off in this exciting final.

“The Bulls will bring a different side to the one we played in the pool stages, but we know what to expect: the physicality, the set-piece dominance and that’s where we will need to front up.

“it’s going to be a great challenge for us and we expect it to be a good final.”

The championship match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park kicks off at 1pm and entry is free.

Cell C Sharks Under 20s

  1. Phathu Ganyane
  2. Bryce Calvert
  3. Dian Heunis
  4. Coetzee Le Roux
  5. Luca Ribbens
  6. Mandisi Nkutha
  7. Meno Barnard
  8. Jannes Potgieter
  9. Christian Els
  10. Jean Smith
  11. Spha Ngcobo
  12. Ethan Hooker (Captain)
  13. Ryan Manuel
  14. Banie Britz
  15. Hakeem Kunene

Replacements

  1. Ethan Bester
  2. Robert Everson
  3. Nicholas Snyman
  4. Thomas Dyer
  5. Kevin Tshituka
  6. Michael Koch
  7. Stehan Heymans
  8. Jurenzo Julius