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Bonus point win for DHL WP over Sharks XV

PUBLISHED: March 28, 2015


DHL Western Province made it two from two in the 2015 Vodacom Cup with a 32-12 bonus point win over the Cell C Sharks XV at City Park on Saturday afternoon.

Coach John Dobson’s young charges held a commanding 22-7 half-time lead and secured the fourth try shortly before the 50-minute mark as they made it ten (out of ten) log points from two games thus far.

No.8 Rayn Smid sped over early on and the hosts never looked back as tighthead prop Wilco Louw (in probably the try of the day, topped off by a great little dive over the tryline!) and No.6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe also crossed for first-half tries.

Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis kicked two conversions and added a penalty as DHL Western Province went into half-time 15 points ahead.

DHL WP continued to boss all facets of play in the second half and debutant fullback Grant Hermanus scored his first senior try to clinch the bonus point in the 48th minute, Du Plessis again adding the extras.

Province went in search of more points, as coach John Dobson also looked to his bench, and although they were able to add just one more penalty goal – to move past the 30-point mark – it was a case of job well done against a powerful Sharks XV selection, which included eight players with Super Rugby experience and two that have played Test rugby.

The DHL WP standout performers were loose forwards Notshe (who has now scored five tries in two games) and Smid, as well as flyhalf Du Plessis, inside centre Kyle Lombard and debutant Hermanus.

DHL Western Province have a bye next weekend – as do all the teams in the Vodacom Cup – before resuming their 2015 campaign away to the EP Kings on April 11 (kick-off 19h00).

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Smid, Louw, Notshe, Hermanus
Cons: J du Plessis 3
Pens: J du Plessis 2

For the Cell C Sharks XV:
Tries: K Majola, Marwana
Con: Cronje

The teams:

DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Pat Howard (vice-captain), 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Tshotsho Mbovane, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mike Willemse (captain), 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Luke van der Smit, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Ryno Eksteen, 22 Mat Turner.

Sharks XV: 15 Jaco van Tonder, 14 Alcino Izaacs, 13 Sbu Sithole, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Sizophila Maseko, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Johan Meyer, 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 JC Astle, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Franco Marais (captain), 1 Matt Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Johan Erasmus, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 Sias Keon, 19 Ayron Schramm, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Paul Perez, 22 Nkululeko Marwana.

Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete