Windhoek Draught Griquas scored their seventh-successive Currie Cup win over Western Province on Friday with a bonus point 38-29 win in Kimberley.
The DHL Western Province led 19-14 at the halftime break. Windhoek Draught Griquas came out in the second half a different team and dominated to secure a 38-29 bonus point win, outscoring their visitors by five tries to four. George Whitehead converted a late penalty to rob the DHL Western Province of a second bonus point.
DHL Western Province opened the scoring when Marcel Theunissen scored from the back of an early maul and forward charges to take an early 07-00 lead after seven minutes of play.
Windhoek Draught Griquas hit back when Dylan Sjöblom crashed his way over the visitor's tryline to level the scores after thirteen minutes of play.
A dominant DHL Western Province added tries by Paul de Wet and Marcell Theunissen to race into a 19-07 lead before Jay-Cee Nel collects a kick by Rosko Specman to end the visitors' dominance and reduce their lead to 19-14 which was also the halftime score.
The home team started like a house on fire and took a 21-19 lead for the first time in the match when great interplay and handling resulted in a try for Lubabalo Dobela. Whitehead added the conversion – 21-19.
With twenty minutes to play in the second half, Willie Engelbrecht powered his way over the try-line to reclaim the lead for DHL Western Province by 26-21.
Tafel Lager Griquas added brilliant tries by Sean Swart and Sango Xamlashe to open up a 35-26 lead. However, Jurie Matthee converted a penalty with three minutes to go and seemingly secure a second bonus point.
However, moments later DHL Western Province conceded a late penalty just outside their own 22 which George Whitehead converted to secure Windhoek Draught Griquas a well-deserved 38-29 win.
Scorers
Windhoek Draught Griquas: Tries: Dylan Sjöblom, Jay-Cee Nel, Lubabalo Dobela, Sean Swart, Sango Xamlashe. Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty: George Whitehead
DHL Western Province: Tries: Marcell Theunissen (2), Paul De Wet, Willie Engelbrecht. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (3). Penalty: Jurie Matthee
Teams
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15 George Whitehead, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius 4 Dylan Sjöblom, 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube. Replacement: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Eddie Davids, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Eduard Fouche, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
DHL Western Province: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche (captain), 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Allister Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Cornel Smit.