DHL Western Province went down 27-23 against Currie Cup log-leaders Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley on Friday.
Both teams scored three tries in an entertaining game and although they finished the stronger team, DHL Western Province took a single bonus point from the match which sees them move up to third position on the standings.
They will face Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next week as they seek to qualify for the Currie Cup play-offs.
The home side made a fast start as an early scrum penalty was taken quickly and worked wide to wing Ederies Arendse to score.
DHL Western Province were forced to defend early on, but showed good resolve and eventually worked themselves into position to open their account, with fullback SP Marais kicking a penalty to put them on the scoreboard.
The Tafel Lager Griquas responded with a second try, this time on the left wing as Eduan Keyter got over and flyhalf George Whitehead added the second conversion to give them a 14-3 advantage at half-time.
DHL Western Province struck first in the second half with a penalty from Marais from just in front of the halfway line, but the home side responded with a penalty of their own from Whitehead.
The visitors came up with their first try, with the platform laid by hard work from the forwards before it was sent wide to Seabelo Senatla to cross the tryline.
However, the hosts hit back as Arendse got over for his second try at the end of a lengthy counter-attack which made it 24-11 heading into the last 20 minutes.
DHL Western Province were down to 14 men when outside centre Ruhan Nel was shown a yellow card for a breakdown infringement and Whitehead kicked the resulting penalty.
The visitors finished the stronger team with replacements such as Damian Willemse and Edwill van der Merwe making a big impact. Loose forward Nama Xaba got over for his first try in just his second Currie Cup game and Senatla grabbed a second at the death, but it was not enough as the home side held on to win.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Senatla 2, Xaba
Con: Marais
Pens: Marais 2
For Tafel Lager Griquas:
Tries: Arendse 2, Keyter
Cons: Whitehead 3
Pens: Whitehead 2
DHL Western Province: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 JD Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Damian Willemse, 23 Edwill van der Merwe.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Neill Jordaan, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Zandre Jordaan, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Khwezi Mona
Replacements: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Johan Momsen, 19 Gideon van der Merwe, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Chris Smit, 22 Bjorn Basson, 23 Ruan Kramer
