DHL Western Province claimed a 34th Currie Cup title with a 30-21 victory against Cell C Sharks at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
A rousing second half display from Head Coach John Dobson’s team, in which they kept the home side scoreless, swept them to victory and the title.
The hosts got on the front foot early and were awarded a scrum just short of the tryline, but a huge effort from the DHL Western Province pack win an early tighthead.
The Cell C Sharks countered and found a gap out wide for veteran wing Odwa Ndungane to go over for the opening try.
The scores were level soon afterwards as another monster scrum from DHL Western Province provided the perfect platform for the backline, with Huw Jones going through for the try to lock it up at 7-7.
Cell C Sharks Curwin Bosch kicked a penalty before the home side came up with their second try as No.8 Dan du Preez forced his way over in the corner to give them a 15-7 advantage.
The teams then traded penalties before Bosch slotted a drop-goal, but DHL Western Province would have the final say in the first half as a patient build-up saw Dillyn Leyds go over in the corner after the hooter.
Both teams scored two tries in an entertaining first half, but it was the home team that took a 21-15 lead into the break, making it anyone’s game in the second half.
DHL Western Province came out firing in the second half as they took the game to their hosts.
Some great work down the blindside off the back of a scrum from Nizaam Carr saw Cobus Wiese go over for a try and they followed that up soon afterwards with another as some magic out wide from Seabelo Senatla set Jones away for his second.
Another penalty from Du Preez saw them take their lead out to 30-21 with 20 minutes left to play, leaving the Cell C Sharks with it all to do.
The home side were struck a further blow when Dan du Preez was shown a yellow card and his brother Rob stepped up to kick another penalty which sealed the victory.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Jones 2, Leyds, Wiese
Cons: Du Preez 2
Pens: Du Preez 3
For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Ndungane, D Du Preez
Con: Bosch
Pens: Bosch 2
DG: Bosch
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Werner Kok, 23 Dan Kriel.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Garth April, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Jean Droste, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Tristan Blewett, 23 Rhyno Smith.
