DHL Western Province finished their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a comfortable 40-22 win against neighbours the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
A dominant second-half performance saw the men in the blue and white hoops pull away after half-time to secure a six-try win on the occasion of captain Deon Fourie’s 100th match.
It was attritional from the start, as both teams threw everything into the contest without being able to break the defensive line.
The deadlock was eventually broken when Sanlam Boland Cavaliers prop Dayan van der Westhuizen forced his way over from close range and it was a prop who scored the first try for the home side as well, with Vernon Matongo crashing over shortly afterwards.
The conversion from Jurie Matthee gave DHL Western Province a slender lead, but it would be the visitors who took a one-point advantage into the break thanks to a penalty from flyhalf Juan Mostert.
The home start made a good start to the second half as first Adre Smith powered his way over from close range before it was spun out to Leolin Zas for the third try.
The bonus point was wrapped up when centre Jonny Roche finished off a flowing move and they followed that up with a second try from Smith who forced his way over from close quarters once again.
The Sanlam Boland Cavaliers were awarded a second try as wing Donavan Don finished and there was a maul try from Marcel Theunissen before the visitors responded with one of their own.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Matongo, Smith 2, Zas, Roche, Theunissen
Cons: Matthee 5
For Sanlam Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Van der Westhuizen, Don, Classen
Cons: Mostert 2
Pen: Mostert
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Cabous Eloff, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
