Western Province (WP) moved back to the top of the Currie Cup log with a convincing 23-12 win over the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Friday night.
In other matches, the Sharks ran out massive 82-14 winners over the Pumas, the Border Bulldogs lost to the Boland Cavaliers and the Griffons lost to the Leopards
At Newlands, fullback Gio Aplon scored two excellent tries, but this was a game won on defence by WP, who stood their ground against a powerful Bulls side and did a victory lap to a standing ovation from the crowd at the end. Province’s tight forwards also deserve a lot of credit and none more so than hooker Hanyani Shimange, who put in some big tackles and took the ball up aggressively.
The match was an emotionally charged affair from the outset, with WP centre De Wet Barry and Bulls lock Francois van Schouwenburg both sin-binned in the first half.
WP led 6-0 at half-time, but the score line didn’t tell the full story of an eventful first period.
Flyhalf Naas Olivier gave WP a 3-0 lead as early as the second minute after he had been the victim of a late charge by Hilton Lobberts. Four minutes later, however, Barry saw yellow when he stuck out an arm that struck Bulls fullback Johan Roets in the neck.
The Bulls failed to make the advantage count and just a few minutes later Van Schouwenburg joined Barry on the sidelines after a shoulder charge on Brock Harris.
Olivier increased the lead with another penalty on the 15-minute mark.
The difference between the sides in the first half was that WP used their opportunities and the Bulls didn’t. Olivier succeeded with his two kicks at goal, while opposite number Derick Hougaard missed three. In addition, the Bulls were undone by the number of penalties they gave away.
They were also unfortunate not to have scored in the latter stages of the half, with WP just managing to see off several waves of attacks by holding up Bulls skipper Frikkie Welsh over the line on the right. One minute later, Welsh almost scored again, but was tackled into touch by Sireli Naqelevuki.
Half-time could not come soon enough for WP, who were firmly on the back foot. However, a minute had not even passed before they scored in the second half, with Aplon bringing Newlands to life with a bit of individual magic.
The ball travelled down the line to the diminutive number 15 and he plucked his own kick out of the air before scoring a vital try. Olivier’s conversion gave WP a handsome 13-point cushion.
Aplon’s first try brought the game to life and it didn’t take the Bulls long to muster a reply, with Welsh scoring in the corner after a period of pressure. Morne Steyn, who had come on at fullback in place of Roets, converted superbly to bring the deficit back to six points.
However, the Bulls’ joy was short-lived, with Olivier adding three more points with a penalty and Aplon getting his second after being fed by Naqelevuki, who had beaten his man on the outside. Olivier’s conversion made it 23-7 and WP appeared well on their way to victory.
But the Bulls once again mustered a reply, with Steyn getting over from a tap penalty in the 58th minute.
With the deficit reduced to 11 points, there was enough time left for the Bulls to make up lost ground, but instead it was WP who produced the better play and at one stage they had the crowd on their feet as the ball was transferred from player to player.
The Bulls had a predictable late flurry towards the end, but WP saw them off with courageous defence and then played down the clock smartly before referee Mark Lawrence’s final whistle sent Newlands into party mode.
Massive win for Sharks
The Sharks enjoyed the conditions and superiority in all departments to run out massive 82-14 winners over the Pumas in Witbank on Friday evening.
Having conceded more than double the number of points the Sharks have in nine matches, losing on average 46-18 and having conceded 57 tries to the Sharks’ 22 prior to the game, the home side were always going to be considered underdogs in this clash.
A small crowd of 3 000 hard-core supporters braved the not particularly harsh conditions, as close to perfect as could be hoped given the Sharks’ expectations of numbing cold.
Both teams displayed a willingness to play positive rugby, with the hard surface ideally suited to running rugby. The Pumas must be commended for never giving up, but it was obvious from early on that they had a battle on their hands, with the visitors in no mood to emulate Sharks teams of the past who arrived as favourites and left as losers.
The Pumas had the measure of the Sharks in the early stages as they kept them at bay, but it took a huge effort as the visitors were in rampant form and the parity only lasted for just more than 10 minutes before the Sharks got on to the scoreboard. From there, it was all one-way traffic.
The tries came thick and fast as the Sharks played some exhilarating rugby, and although five were scored in the first half, there were a good few chances that went begging thanks to some over-enthusiastic play.
Still, one can hardly condemn a side for wanting to play positive, try-scoring rugby, and to claim the bonus point in the first half hour of the match showed the Sharks’ intent. Nothing less than five log points would be acceptable.
By half-time the Sharks held a 33-0 lead, and the second half was much the same, except it didn’t take long for the Sharks to get going with their try-scoring exploits, keeping the scorer busy as the tries just kept coming and coming.
All credit to the home side who, when they had kickable penalties, opted to go for the touch finders to set up try-scoring opportunities. That they failed in their quest was due to some outstanding defence from the visitors and not through any lack of will from the Pumas.
They did manage to score two deserved tries in the second half; deserved because they had worked hard to stay in a game they were soundly beaten, keeping their heads up when those with lesser character would have dropped theirs.
That the Sharks dominated throughout was testament to the hard work put in by both players and coaching staff, and while there were a few opportunities that went amiss, the final result, a 12-try blitz, was a fitting reward for this exciting brand of Sharks.
Bulldogs lose
The Border Bulldogs tried hard but it wasn’t enough against the Boland Cavaliers in their Currie Cup first division match at East London’s Absa Stadium.
The Cavaliers, who remain unbeaten and top of the log, built on a 21-6 half-time lead to win 38-16 in an entertaining and fast match that was a personal triumph for pacy right wing Rayno Benjamin as he scored three of Boland’s tries, two coming in the second half.
Playing the match at pace, the Cavaliers were always one step ahead of the Bulldogs whose forwards put in a big-hearted effort.
The game came alive midway in the second half when the Bulldogs centre was sent over and away by replacement centre Fergus Kennedy for his team’s only try, but the game was effectively killed off when Benjamin scored in the right hand corner six minutes later.
Outstanding for the visitors were locks Coenie Basson and David de Villiers, while the front three of Michael Coetzee, Delarey du Preez and Jacques Kemp scrummed well.
Griffons go down
The Griffons lost their sixth Currie Cup match this season on Friday night when they were beaten 29-10 by the Leopards in the Northwest Stadium, Welkom. The visitors led 12-10 at the break.
Brilliant work by eighthman Jonathan Mokuena at the breakdown helped his side to a convincing win.
For the Griffons, Thobela Mdaka (wing) played well and so too did schoolboy Cecil Afrika (replacement fullback), who was appearing in his first senior match.
The Griffons made crucial errors in their attack on the Leopards’ try line, and it cost them dearly.