A late surge from DHL Western Province saw them secure a 52-26 victory against a willing Border Bulldogs at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

A late surge from DHL Western Province saw them secure a 52-26 victory against a willing Border Bulldogs at DHL Newlands on Saturday.

The match had been in the balance with 20 minutes to play, but four late tries from the hosts saw them pick up their 12th win from 13 games this season, keeping them in the hunt to finish on top of the Currie Cup Qualifier standings.

DHL Western Province made a confident start to the game, and a powerful driving maul put them on the front foot for skipper Tim Whitehead to stretch over for an early try next to the poles.

Border got on the scoreboard with a penalty from flyhalf Masixole Banda, and they took a 10-7 lead on the 20 minute mark as inside centre Lunga Dumezweni scored under the poles.

However, they did not have the lead for long as DHL Western Province stormed into their 22 immediately where hooker Chad Solomon was able to force his way over from close range to give his side a 14-10 advantage.

Border fought back again, with two penalties from Banda giving them the lead again, but the home side would have the final say in the first half as scrumhalf Godlen Masimla scored on the stroke of half-time to put them 19-16 ahead at the break.

The Bulldogs were first to strike in the second half as fullback Sonwabiso Mqalo danced his way through the DHL Western Province defence to give them a 23-19 lead.

DHL Western Province responded with the bonus-point try as the ball was sent wide to left wing Edwill van der Merwe who scored in the corner, but Border were back in front soon afterwards thanks to another penalty from the boot of Banda.

However, a DHL Western Province responded with three quickfire tries as first replacement hooker Cullen Collopy scored from a driving maul before Hermanus finished off a counter-attack and then Van der Merwe grabbed his second try to give them a 45-26 advantage heading into the final 15 minutes.

Replacement scrumhalf Justin Phillips got over for their eighth try at the death to seal what was a comfortable victory in the end.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Whitehead, Solomon, Masimla, Van der Merwe 2, Collopy, Hermanus, Phillips
Cons: Hermanus 6

For Border Bulldogs:
Tries: Dumezweni, Mqalo
Cons: Banda 2
Pens: Banda 4

DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Tim Whitehead (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Dennis Cox, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Jacques Vermeulen, 7 Luke Stringer, 6 Eital Bredenkamp, 5 David Ribbans, 4 Eduard Zandberg, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Kyle Whyte.
Replacements: 16 Cullen Collopy, 17 Denzil Riddles, 18 Jurie van Vuuren, 19 Beyers de Villiers, 20 Rikus Bothma, 21 Justin Phillips, 22 Johnny Kotze.

Border Bulldogs: 15 Sonwabiso Mqalo, 14 Sipho Nofemele, 13 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lunga Dumezweni, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Masixole Banda, 9 Sinovuyo Nyoka, 8 Athenkosi Manentsa, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Onke Dubase, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Ludwe Booi, 1 Blake Kyd.
Replacements: 16 Mihlali Mpafi, 17 Siyamthanda Ngande, 18 Nkosi Nofuma, 19 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Sethu Tom, 22 Saneliso Ngoma.