DHL Western Province fought hard, but went down 36-30 to the Vodacom Blue Bulls in a nailbiting Currie Cup semifinal at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
DHL Western Province fought hard, but went down 36-30 to the Vodacom Blue Bulls in a nailbiting Currie Cup semifinal at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
With the game in the balance right up to the final whistle, the home side scored with just two minutes left to deny DHL Western Province a fifth consecutive Currie Cup Final place.
The match got off to a bruising start as both teams threw absolutely everything at each other from the first whistle.
The home side showed good patience on attack, and although DHL Western Province defended bravely, they were not able to prevent Vodacom Blue Bulls wing Travis Ismaiel from going over for the opening try.
DHL Western Province regrouped well and started applying some pressure of their own in opposition territory. The pressure told when a powerful driving maul on the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ 22 saw Nizaam Carr crash over for a try to level the scores at 7-7 after 20 minutes.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls went back in front shortly afterwards with a penalty from flyhalf Tian Schoeman and he followed that up with another two penalties to give the hosts a nine-point advantage.
However, DHL Western Province would have the final say in the first half, as a Rob du Preez penalty cut the deficit to 16-10 at the half-time break.
The visitors were first to strike in the second half as well, as another Du Preez penalty put them within three points of their hosts, but the Vodacom Blue Bulls responded with a penalty of their own.
DHL Western Province then took the lead for the first time in the match as captain Chris van Zyl made an interception before the ball was worked wide to Werner Kok who showed a clean pair of heels to go over for the try. The conversion from Du Preez gave the visitors a slender 20-19 advantage with 30 minutes left to play.
The lead changed hands again with another penalty from Schoeman to put the Vodacom Blue Bulls 22-20 ahead, but it was not long before DHL Western Province were back in front as lock Jan de Klerk barged his way over from close range to give them a 27-22 advantage.
The seesaw battle continued as the Vodacom Blue Bulls hit back with a try from Jason Jenkins which gave them a slender 29-27 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
DHL Western Province camped in the Vodacom Blue Bulls 22 for some time before they were awarded a penalty which Du Preez duly slotted to put them one point in front with five minutes left.
However, the home side would have the final say as a late try from replacement scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl sealed the win.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Carr, Kok, De Klerk
Cons: Du Preez 3
Pens: Du Preez 3
For Vodacom Blue Bulls:
Tries: Ismaiel, Jenkins, Van Zyl
Cons: Schoeman 3
Pens: Schoeman 5
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 JP Smith, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Johnny Kotze, 23 Scott van Breda.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Martin Dreyer, 18 Pierre Schoeman, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Hanro Liebenberg, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 Bjorn Basson.