DHL Western Province hosted the Sigma Lions this afternoon in the last match of the opening round of the 2022 Currie Cup. Western Province walked off as winners after a try fest by both sides saw them scoring twelve tries in total. Western Province win with 48-36.
Western Province's started like a house on fire to score their first try within the first three minutes of the match and ended off the first half with a bonus point after four tries. Western Province deserved their lead at that stage and was a lot more clinical on the defence and attack against an ill-disciplined Lions side.
The second half, "unfortunately", degraded into a try fest with the defence by both teams not handbook quality. It was however entertaining for the two thousand spectators.
02:14 Adre Smith scored Western Province's first try after mauling for an extended period after a 5m lineout-maul. (07-00)
10:12 Great response from the Lions as Dameon Venter scored the Lions first try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (07-05)
14:10 Tim Swiel converted a penalty for Western Province (10-05).
20:00 Western Province started like a house on fire, however, the Lions soon started to claw their way back into the match, scoring their first try 10 minutes later. An even match at this stage, with the youthful Lions backline, maybe trying too much on their own.
22:15 Vaughen Isaacs convert a penalty
23:08 Angelo Davids go over in the corner after for his first try after some splendid work and interplay by the Western Province players. (17-08)
31:03 Chad Solomon scored Western Province's third try from the bak of a 5m lineout-maul. (22-08)
34:00 Adre Smith (Western Province) sent off with a yellow card.
37:33 Mark Snyman scored the Lions second try from the back of a lineout maul. (22-15)
40:34 Angelo Davids scored Western Province's fourth and bonus point try after yet again brilliant handling creating space for Davids to walk over the Lions' try line. (29-15)
40:00 Western Province's lead at this stage was well deserved. They were a lot more clinical on the defence and attack against a Lions side that was looking to run the host off their feet. The scrum and lineouts were dominated as expected by the Lions and could still prove to be vital during the last quarter of the match.
43:44 Lunga Ncube (Lions) showed a yellow card.
46:42 Hacjivah Dayimani scored Western Province's fifth try, splitting the now failing Lions backline's defence. (36-15)
50:13 Zeilinga Strydom cut through the defence of Western Province to score the Lions' third try. (36-22)
60:00 The clinical attack from Western Province led to several penalties conceded by the Lions which Province used to set up camp for most of the third quarter in the Lions half. The defence by the Lions at this stage stopped several attacks by Western Province.
60:40 Western Province is busy running the Lions off their feet. A brilliant grubber by Triston Leyds gave Angelo Davids to score his hat-trick. (41-22)
64:48 Boldwin Hansen scored the Lions' bonus-point try in the corner after some great work beating several defenders. (41-29)
68:58 Deon Fourie scored another try for Western Province. (48-29)
74:11 Godlen Masimla (Western Province) showed a yellow card.
78:23 Darnell Osuagwu scored the Lions' fifth try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (48-36).
Scorers:
Western Province: Tries: Adre Smith, Angelo Davids (3), Chad Solomon, Hacjivah Dayimani, Deon Fourie. Conversions: Tim Swiel (5). Penalty: Tim Swiel.
Sigma Lions: Tries: Dameon Venter, Mark Snyman, Zeilinga Strydom, Boldwin Hansen, Darnell Osuagwu. Conversions: Vaughen Isaacs (4). Penalty: Vaughen Isaacs.
DHL Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Leolin Zas, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Kwenzo Blose. Replacements: 16 Jacques van Zyl, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Keke Morabe, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Chris Schreuder, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba.
Sigma Lions: 15. Quan Horn, 14. Boldwin Hansen, 13. James Mollentze, 12. Aidynn Cupido, 11. Zeilinga Strydom, 10. Vaughen Isaacs, 9. Jurich Claasens, 8. Emmanuel Tshituka, 7. Jarod Cairns, 6. Mark Snyman, 5. Simon Dionisio, 4. PJ Steenkamp, 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (c), 2. Dameon Venter, 1. Banele Mthenjane. Replacements 16. Darnell Osuagwu, 17. Heiko Pohlmann, 18. Sibusiso Shongwe, 19. Ruan Venter, 20. Lunga Ncube, 21. MJ Pelser, 22. Nico Steyn, 23. Tyler Bocks.