DHL Western Province maintained their unbeaten run in the 2015 Vodacom Cup competition with a 30-29 win over the Free State XV in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
DHL WP picked up their sixth win of the season as they maintained first place on the South Section log with a haul of 27 points.
Province’s tries were scored by inside centre Kyle Lombard, left-wing Tshotsho Mbovane and fullback EW Viljoen, as they converted their 17-3 half-time lead into a second victory away from home in two weeks.
The visitors started strongly and were on the board after just six minutes through Lombard’s try.
DHL WP had a strong maul from a line-out but Free State were penalised for being off-sides. Scrumhalf Godlen Masimla took a quick-tap penalty and fed Lombard who raced through from 10 metres to open the scoring. Du Preez converted to hand the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Du Preez then displayed his magic with ball in hand after both sides traded penalties.
Free State flyhalf Niel Marais launched a clearance kick from inside his 22-metre area with Du Preez fielding the ball inside his own half. Du Preez then danced past some defenders before feeding Tshotsho Mbovane on the left-wing. The speedster beat one defender and then passed the ball back to Du Preez before taking the return pass and bursting through the defence to score under the poles with Du Preez converting to hand DHL WP their handy 17-3 lead.
Du Preez began the second half with a penalty after just two minutes to extend the lead to 17 points. FS replacement lock Henco Venter then burst over the DHL WP tryline in the 50th minute after a Free Sate maul was stopped just short, just after referee Jason Jafta had sent DHL WP captain Chris van Zyl to the sin bin. Marais converted to reduce the deficit to 10 points (20-10).
Despite being a man down, Province produced some magic through Du Preez, who again fielded an attempted clearance from Free State. The flyhalf claimed the ball on the halfway line and moved the ball up-field before off-loading in the tackle to EW Viljoen, who jinked past a few defenders to score the visitors’ third try under the poles. Du Preez converted to put his team ahead by 27-10.
The hosts hit back with a second converted try, but a third Du Preez penalty (in the 67th minute) – making the score 30-17 – meant that Free State had to score two converted tries in the final ten minutes to win the match.
They managed a third try in the 75th minute, but when the full-time hooter sounded DHL WP were ahead by 30-22 – knowing that the victory was secure, despite a fourth Free State try after regulation time had elapsed.
Flyhalf Du Preez, in his first start of the 2015 Vodacom Cup in the No.10 shirt, kicked three conversions and three penalty goals for a 100% record off the kicking tee.
DHL Western Province players who caught the eye were tighthead prop Wilco Louw, No.6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Masimla, Du Preez, Lombard and Viljoen.
DHL WP will play their final league match of 2015 against the SWD Eagles at DHL Newlands on Saturday, May 9 ( kick-off 14h45). A win will secure them top spot in the South Section and, with it, home-ground advantage throughout the play-offs – having already booked a home quarterfinal.
The scorers:
For the Free State XV:
Tries: Venter, Nieuwoudt, Ganto, Johannes
Cons: Marais 2, Marx
Pen: Marais
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Lombard, Mbovane, Viljoen
Cons: Du Preez 3
Pens: Du Preez 3
The teams:
Free State XV: 15 Luke Cyster, 14 Gerrie Labuschagne, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht (captain), 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Daniel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Freddy Ngoza, 7 Vincent Jobo, 6 Reuben Johannes, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Van Zyl Botha, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Teunis Nieuwoudt.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Gunther Janse v Vuuren, 18 Henco Venter, 19 Gerhardus Olivier, 20 Noel Marx, 21 Sino Ganto, 22 Enver Brandt.
DHL Western Province: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Willy Ambaka, 13 Pat Howard (vice-captain), 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Tshotsho Mbovane, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Deacon Chowles, 18 Luke van der Smit, 19 Justin Benn, 20 SP Ferreira, 21 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 22 JP Lewis.
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Rodney Boneparte, Local
TMO: Deon van Blommestein