DHL Western Province went down 35-20 in their Carling Currie Cup encounter with the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.
After the teams had gone into the break level at 13-13, the home side managed to take control of the game early in the second half when DHL Western Province were down to 14 men.
Both teams battled to control the ball early on in the slippery conditions and the two flyhalves traded penalties to make it 3-3.
The home side came up with the first try through fullback Inny Radebe who scored in the corner, with Curwin Bosch adding the touchline conversion.
The game was turned when Leolin Zas split through the defence and put Godlen Masimla into the 22 where he was tackled high by Yaw Penxe.
The Cell C Sharks wing was shown a yellow card and Tim Swiel kicked the resulting penalty.
DHL Western Province had the lead soon afterwards when a pinpoint cross-kick from Swiel found an unmarked Zas who strolled over.
Swiel himself was shown a yellow card on the stroke of half-time for a tackle that was ruled to be dangerous and the penalty on the hooter sent the teams into half-time level at 13-13.
The Cell C Sharks took advantage of their extra man at the start of the second half, scoring three quick tries to race out to a big lead.
DHL Western Province rung the changes and kept fighting as they looked for a way back into the game.
Thir endeavour was finally rewarded with a try from Kade Wolhuter, but it was not enough to avoid defeat.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Zas, Wolhuter
Cons: Swiel 2
Pens: Swiel 2
For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Radebe, Gumede, Mbatha, Potgieter
Cons: Bosch 3
Pens: Bosch 2
DHL Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Andre Manuel, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Tim Swiel (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Jacques Goosen, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Hannes Gous, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Ethan James.
Cell C Sharks: Inny Radebe, Yaw Penxe, Werner Kok, Marius Louw (captain), Marnus Potgieter, Curwin Bosch, Cameron Wright, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Celimphilo Gumede, James Venter, Reniel Hugo, Emile van Heerden, Lourense Adriaanse, Fez Mbatha, Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Hanru Jacobs, Le Roux Roets, Thembelani Bholi, OJ Noa, Sanele Nohamba, Murray Koster.
