DHL Western Province claimed a tense 32-31 win against the Cell C Sharks in their first Carling Currie Cup game at Cape Town Stadium.
A flawless kicking display from flyhalf Tim Swiel and tries from scrumhalf Paul de Wet and No.8 Evan Roos proved enough for the win in a game that went down to the wire. The victory sees DHL Western Province move back to the top of the Carling Currie Cup standings with 11 points from their three games.
The home side started on the front foot, winning a scrum penalty and coming close to scoring from a maul before flyhalf Tim Swiel got them on the scoreboard with an early penalty.
They followed that up with the opening try as scrumhalf Paul de Wet picked up a loose ball and showed great pace to outstrip the defence and put his side 10-0 up.
The Cell C Sharks responded with a try from close range as flank Thembelani Bholi forced his way over.
Swiel’s placekicking was deadly and he woud add a further three penalties in the first half, however it was the visitors who took a slender 21-19 lead into half-time thanks to two tries from scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse.
DHL Western Province came out firing in the second half, with No.8 Evan Roos carrying a defender on his back in the 22 to storm over for a try which gave them the lead back.
That was followed up by another penalty from Swiel which gave them a crucial eight-point buffer at 29-21.
The visitors reduced the gap to just one point, with hooker Fez Mbatha going over from close range, to set up a tense final half-hour.
The teams traded penalties and the lead in a tense finish to the game, but DHL Western Province did enough to hold on for a one-point win.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: De Wet, Roos
Cons: Swiel 2
Pens: Swiel 6
For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Bholi, Hendrikse 2, Mbatha
Cons: Bosch 4
Pen: Bosch
DHL Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Juarno Augustus, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Abner van Reenen.
Cell C Sharks: Manie Libbok, Werner Kok, Jeremy Ward (captain), Marius Louw, Thaakir Abrahams, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Mpilo Gumede, Thembelani Bholi, James Venter, Hyron Andrews, Ruben van Heerden, Khutha Mchunu, Fez Mbatha, Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Wiehahn Herbst, JJ van der Mescht, Reniel Hugo, Dylan Richardson, Grant Williams, Boeta Chamberlain.
