SA U21 Cup holders, the Vodacom Bulls, secured top spot on the log by beating the Toyota Cheethas by 38-27 in an entertaining encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The hosts outscored the Free Staters by six tries to three following a comfortable 21-3 halftime lead.

Junior Springbok hooker Tiaan Lange continued his prolific try scoring form by grabbing another brace at Loftus, while right wing Liyema Goba scored a brace for the Cheetahs.

In a match hosted at the Villager grounds in Cape Town, hosts DHL WP managed to dot down eight tries while adding four conversions in their 48-31 win over the Leopards, with the visitors scoring four converted tries and a penalty goal.

WP flanker Romauld Ntumba helped himself to a brace of tries for the Capetonians, while scrumhalf Sanele Zunga succeeded with all four conversions for the visiting team from Potchefstroom.

As a result of their final league matches, the Bulls and WP have booked their places in the semi-finals, which will happen on 15 October, while the two remaining places in the top four will be determined this coming weekend.

The Toyota Cheetahs face the Lions in Bloemfontein on Friday, and that match will be followed by Saturday’s encounter in Potchefstroom between the Leopards and the Cell C Sharks.

Currently, Vodacom Bulls are in first place on 21points, followed by DHL WP (19), the Lions and Leopards (both on nine points), Cell C Sharks (six) and the Toyota Cheetahs (four).

SA Rugby Under-21 Shield competition

The two semi-finals of the SA Rugby U21 Shield take place this weekend, in Welkom and Brakpan respectively.

The Griffons, who clinched the top spot on the table following their comprehensive 53-25 away win over the SWD in George last weekend, face fourth-placed Eastern Province in Welkom.

The Eastern Cape side secured their spot in the last four courtesy of their convincing 54-31 home victory over the Pumas at the Adcock Stadium.

Second-placed Valke host SWD (third on the log) in the other semi-final in Brakpan on Saturday.

In the last two round-robin matches played last weekend, the Griffons outscored SWD by seven tries to three after leading by 26-6 at halftime at Outeniqua Park.

Junior Springbok fullback Donovan Don was the outstanding player for the Griffons and he made a personal contribution of 18 points via a try, five conversions and a penalty goal. SWD replied with three tries, two conversions and a penalty and drop goal.

EP were too strong for the visiting Pumas side and following their 27-14 halftime advantage, they eventually clinched the high-scoring game with eight tries, four conversions and two penalty goals, while the Lowvelders responded with five tries and three conversions and

Under-21 Cup - Round 5 results
Vodacom Bulls 38, Toyota Cheetahs 27 (Pretoria)
DHL WP 48, Leopards 31 (Cape Town)

Under-21 Shield - Round 5 results
Eastern Province 54, Pumas 31 (Nelson Mandela Bay)
SWD 25, Griffons 53 (George)

Under-21 Shield - Semi-finals (Saturday,  8 October)
Griffons vs EP (Welkom)
Valke vs SWD (Brakpan)