TELFORD VICE, Durban | Saturday 8.00pm.
Natal 65 Western Province 29 (halftime 31-10)
NATAL broke their record for points scored against Western Province to sweep to an emphatic and much needed victory.
While Province are out of the running for this year’s Currie Cup and had little to play for, Natal are in the throes of trying to secure a home semi-final and every log point is vital to that cause.
Thirteen tries later – eight of them to the Sharks – Natal’s wish to bring their semi-final opponents to King’s Park remains on track. Credit is also due to Province, who played as if they were still on course for the play-offs.
A Henry Honiball penalty with 11 minutes of the first half to go levelled the scores at 10-10, but by halftime Natal had streaked to a 31-10 lead.
Province stormed back to 31-22 early in the second half, but three more tries with no reply until Robbbie Brink crashed over in the dying minutes saw the Sharks blow the visitors away.
The last of Natal’s tries went to Henry Honiball, who deserved his score more than most as reward for his perfect performance with the boot in which he kicked all eight conversions as well as three penalties for a personal haul of 30 points. — MWP
Scorers:
Natal – Tries: Justin Swart (2), Mark Andrews, Adrian Garvey, Charl van Rensburg, Hentie Martens (2), Henry Honiball. Conversions: Honiball (8). Penalties: Honiball (3).
Western Province – Tries: Gus Theron (2), Toks van der Linde, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Brink. Conversions: Braam van Straaten (2).