Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
DHL Western Province hosted the Phakisa Pumas in Cape Town and could count them lucky with the margin of their win with 28-14. Western Province moved into the second place on the log with this win.
The Pumas did exactly what was expected from them and made Western Province work very hard for every point. One could be tempted to blame the referee for the Pumas loss but Province did deserve the win with their forwards the difference.
Western Province was forced to withdraw Frans Malherbe from their starting line-up hours before the kick-off.
00:00 The first 15 minutes of the game was a ding-dong battle with the Western Province initially the big ding. The Pumas did well to force their way back into the game which was rewarded with the first points on the board
14:36 Erich Cronje scored the first try of the game which gave the Pumas a 5-0 lead. (0-5)
With 20 minutes gone in the first half the momentum now visibly in favour of the Pumas. Ill-discipline by both sides was the major cause for the stop-start game at that stage.
30:50 Kade Wolhuter converted a penalty for Western Province. Scoreboard pressure on Western Province forced them to convert the penalty. Western Province declined several opportunities earlier in the half who could not score any points for 30 minutes. (3-5)
38:09 The pressure on the Pumas forwards who played with only seven forwards at the time became too much. Western Province scored their first try via hooker Scarra Ntubeni after a maul from a line-out. (8-5)
The Pumas was the team in the driving seat at the halftime break and could be excused if they thought the again substandard referee was a staunch Western Province supporter, especially come scrum time.
42:14 Angelo Davids scored the Western Province's second try after a dominant start by the Western Province in the second half. (13-5)
47:45 Scarra Ntubeni scored his second try within six minutes. Western Province's forwards dominated and on fire since the start of the second half. (18-5)
51:21 Devon Williams narrowed the gap for the Pumas. (18-8)
54:49 Kade Wolhuter add another three points for the Western Province (21-8)
61:24 Devon Williams converted his second penalty for the Pumas. Pumas at this stage again started to claw their way back into the game. (21-11)
79:05 Devon William secured a "bonus point" with his third penalty for the Pumas. (21-14)
84:07 Steven Kitshoff scored Western Province's fourth try. (28-14)
The Pumas "bravery" to not accept a bonus point loss resulted in the try by Steven Kitshoff. The score not a true reflection of the on-field action/. Western Province deserved their win with 28-14 over a very game Pumas side.
Scorers:
Phakisa Pumas: Try: Erich Cronje. Penalty: Devon Williams (3).
DHL Western Province: Tries: Scarra Ntubeni (2), Angelo Davids, Steven Kitshoof. Conversion: Kade Wolhuter. Penalty: Kade Wolhuter (2)
Teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Tristan Leyds, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements (from): 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 , 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Dan du Plessis, 24 Kwenzo Blose, 25 Marcel Theunissen, 26 Sihle Njezula.
Phakisa Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Tiaan Botes, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Ewart Potgieter, 20 Ginter Smuts, 21 Devon Williams, 22 Japie Kleinhans, 23 Liam Hendricks.