Eastern Province U19s off to a winning start

The Eastern Province u19s traveled to Shimla Park to face the Free State U19s in their ABSA Under-19 opener in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Free State scored two first half tries to take a 10 - 6 halftime lead, while Eastern Province only managed two penalties to stay four points adrift.

Eastern Province's inside centre, Michael Brink kicked a seventh minute penalty to give the visitors a 3 - 0 lead.

Free State took the lead a minute later as right wing Charl Pretorius scored their first try. Christiaan Nel failed to add the extras as the home side took a two point lead, 5 - 3.

Brink took the lead back for EP as he kicked his second penalty five minutes from halftime, as they took a 6 - 5 lead.

Free State captain, Rohan Roelofse scored on halftime to lead 10 - 6 at the break. Nel failed with his second conversion attempt as his team took a four point lead into the changing rooms.

Roelofse scored his second try at the start of the second half to put a nine point gap between his team and Eastern Province. Nel failed with his third succesive conversion attempt as they led 15 - 6 in the thirty seventh minute.

Brink failed with a penalty attempt on the fortieth minute, but eightman, Junior Pokomela scored Eastern Province's first try two minutes later. Brink failed to add the extras as EP trailed 11 - 15 in the forty third minute.

Eastern Province took the lead with fifteen minutes left as fullback, Maphutana Peter crossed the line for their second try. Scrumhalf, James Hall took over the kicking duties from Brink as he added another two points to put his team in the lead 18 - 15.

Hall extended their lead by a further three points as he kicked a penalty three minutes from the end.

The visitors were rewarded with another try on fulltime, as replacement wing Dominik Uytenbogaardt crossed the line for his team's third and final try. Hall added the extras as Eastern Province kicked off their campaign with a well deserved 28 - 15 win.

Scorers:

Free State (10) 15 - Tries: Charl Pretorius, Rohan Roelofse (2)

Eastern Province (6) 28 - Tries: Junior Pokomela, Maphutana Peter, Dominik Uytenbogaardt. Conversions: James Hall (2). Penalties: Michael Brink (1), James Hall (2)