DHL Western Province fought hard in Durban, but went down 32-27 in their coastal Currie Cup clash against the defending champion Cell C Sharks.
It was a tense encounter throughout, but the Cell C Sharks did just enough to hold on for the win, with DHL Western Province taking a bonus point back to Cape Town for their efforts.
The teams traded early penalty as first Cell C Sharks flyhalf Curwin Bosch and then DHL Western Province fullback SP Marais split the uprights in the opening five minutes.
The home side scored the first try when DHL Western Province scrumhalf Justin Phillips was shown a yellow card for what was ruled to be a cynical infringement. Wing Lwazi Mvovo scored from the resulting scrum to give his side the lead.
Despite being down a man, DHL Western Province marched deep into opposition territory and looked to have scored when No.8 Jaco Coetzee went over from a maul. The try was disallowed by the TMO, but Coetzee was not to be denied as he got his five-pointer soon afterwards, with DHL Western Province claiming a 10-8 lead once it was converted by Marais.
The hosts would take a 15-10 lead into half-time, with wing Kobus van Wyk crossing for their second try just before the break.
The Cell C Sharks extended that lead early in the second half, as outside centre JP Pietersen grabbed an intercept to race away and score between the poles.
A second penalty from Bosch took their advantage out to 25-10 with 25 minutes left to play, leaving DHL Western Province with all the work to do in the final stages.
DHL Western Province kept their composure and showed good patience on attack, with centre Ruhan Nel eventually spinning out of a tackle to score their second try.
The visitors were enjoying the majority of possession and got within inches of the tryline again where the Cell C Sharks gave away a penalty which was kicked over by Marais.
The Cell C Sharks hit back with a try from replacement hooker Craig Burden before DHL Western Province came up with a third try from replacement flyhalf Josh Stander which salvaged a bonus point away from home.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Coetzee, Nel, Stander
Cons: Marais 3
Pens: Marais 2
For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Mvovo, Van Wyk, Pietersen, Burden
Cons: Bosch 3
Pens: Bosch 2
DHL Western Province: 15 SP Marais, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 JD Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Josh Stander, 23 Craig Barry.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jeremy Ward (co-captain), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Tera Mtembu (co-captain), 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Marius Louw, 23 Aphelele Fassi.
