DHL Western Province retained their unbeaten status in the 2014 Absa Currie Cup and moved to the top of the Premier Division log thanks to their hard-fought 27-14 win over the Xerox Golden Lions at DHL Newlands today.
Tries by Kobus van Wyk (two) and Jaco Taute saw the hosts win a Round Three arm-wrestle against the form team in the 2014 Currie Cup.
Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis kicked two conversions and two penalties, whilst replacement No.10 Kurt Coleman played a huge role in Taute’s try – as well as landing the conversion.
The teams turned for half-time with the score at 14-8 in DHL WP’s favour, Van Wyk having scored both his tries within five minutes of each other as the hosts led 14-0 after just 17 minutes of action at DHL Newlands.
It was, in fact, Van Wyk’s first two Absa Currie Cup tries for Province, whilst Taute, in just his second match for DHL WP, scored his first in the traditional Blue & White hoops (in the 73rd minute) after reacting quickly when captain Juan de Jongh’s pass was knocked down on the Lions’ goalline.
Province’s win, their third of the 2014 Absa Currie Cup season, was also the third DHL WP win of the day, after the Under-19 and Under-21 sides also retained their unbeaten statuses with victories over their Lions counterparts.
DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee said afterwards: “It was a tough game, a proper Absa Currie Cup match but I’m very pleased with the win.
“This a top quality Lions team, so it’s pleasing for us on many levels – including the continued improvement in our game.
“The support, once again, was great. The true Faithful came out to support us, despite people’s busy schedules and loads of sport on the go. To them, thanks a lot!”
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Van Wyk 2, Taute
Cons: Catrakilis 2, Coleman
Pens: Catrakilis 2
For the Xerox Golden Lions:
Try: Coetzee
Pens: Combrinck 3
The teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Rynhardt Elstadt, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Jaco Taute.
Xerox Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Stokkies Hanekom, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Derick Minnie (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Guy Cronjé, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Howard Mnisi.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Marc van Zyl
Television Match Official: Deon van Blommestein