The DHL Western Province secured a 39-30 win over the Airlink Pumas at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday earning a maximum of five bonus points for their effort.
The Pumas made a great start to match, however, several mistakes and penalties cost them scoring opportunities. As the game continued Wester Province clawed their way back into the match and a try by Courtnall Skosan after fifteen minutes of play secured them a 05-00 lead after twenty minutes of play.
The first ten minutes of the second quarter was still an arm wrestle, however, the next ten minutes of play started to open up resulting in four tries being scored.
Courtnall Skosan scored his second try following continued pressure by the host which eventually allowed Skosan to slip between two defenders for his second try of the match. Four minutes later Puma hooker Etienne Janeke bulldozed his way over for the Pumas' first points of the match.
Western Province attacked from the kick-off and a brilliant kick-pass by Manie Libbok was controlled by Damian Markus who fed Wandisile Simelane who scored an easy try. However, thereafter it was the Pumas who attacked with purpose, and following a converted penalty and a try by lock Deon Slabbert.
The Pumas led 17-15 going into the second half although they were sloppy in the defence and attack.
The Pumas increase their lead to 27-22 during the second quarter despite the Western Province threatening to take control early in the third quarter. Following eighteen minutes of play in the second half, Damian Markus crashed past several defenders to retake the lead by the Western Province.
However, following a fifteen-man attack which started from within their half the Pumas' scrumhalf Ross Braude scored a great try. This was followed by a converted penalty by Clinton Swart to extend the Pumas lead to 27-22.
The Western Province dominated the final twenty minutes of the match scoring seventeen points to the Pumas' three points which Clinton Swart added with five minutes to play. The Western Province showed a lot more skill on the attack and the third try by Courtnall Skosan was the direct result of forwards and backs perfectly combining. The final score of the match was when Western Province's Joseph Dweba scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to secure a 39-30 win and robbed the Griuas of a very important bonus point.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province: Tries: Courtnall Skosan (3), Wandisile Simelane, Damian Markus, Joseph Dweba. Conversions: Manie Libbok (2), Jurie Matthee. Penalty: Jurie Matthee.
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Etienne Janeke, Deon Slabbert, Ross Braude. Conversions: Clinton Swart (3). Penalty: Clinton Swart
Teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Brian le Roux, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Jurie Matthee.
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 LLewellyn Classen, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.