DHL Western Province went down 32-12 in their Currie Cup encounter with Fidelity ADT Lions at Athlone Stadium on Friday night.
The game had been in the balance at half-time, but the visitors scored all the points in the second half to secure the win.
The Johannesburg side got on the scoreboard early with a try from Edwill van der Merwe.
DHL Western Province responded with a sustained period of pressure which eventually resulted in a try in the corner from wing Mnombo Zwelendaba.
The Fidelity ADT Lions hit double figures with a penalty from scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba and Van der Merwe’s second try saw them take a 10-point lead, but DHL Western Province hit back with a penalty try on the stroke of half-time.
Another long period spent camped in the 22 eventually resulted in a few scrum penalties before the referee awarded the penalty try, which made it 15-12 to the visitors at the half-time break.
DHL Western Province dominated territory at the start of the second half, but couldn’t find a way through and instead it would be the visitors who took control of the game with a try from No.8 Francke Horn and another Nohamba penalty.
The final blow came on the hooter as Horn went over for his second try to seal the bonus point.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Zwelendaba, penalty try
For Fidelity ADT Lions:
Tries: Van der Merwe 2, Horn 2
Cons: Nohamba 3
Pens: Nohamba 2
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Tom Nel, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 George van der Westhuizen, 20 Chad Solomon, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Jurie Matthee, 23 Lloyd Koster.