DHL Western Province went down 20-7 against the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Sunday for their first defeat of the Currie Cup.
It was the third straight away game for DHL Western Province, who will be at home for the first time this season when they take on the Windhoek Draught Griquas at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
The windy conditions proved a challenge for both teams and the home side opened the scoring with tries from fullback Yaw Penxe and wing Phikolomzi Sibahle.
DHL Western Province brought themselves back within striking distance when wing Duncan Saal judged a high ball perfectly, diving to claim it and score after it had bounced in the 22.
The Cell C Sharks took a 13-7 lead into half-time and that did not change until after the 60th minute, with Penxe scoring the only try of the second half.
While DHL Western Province were dominant in the final stages, they could not convert that into points as the home team held out for the win.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Try: Saal
Con: Wolhuter
For Cell C Sharks:
Tries: Penxe 2, Sibahle
Con: Zeilinga
Pen: Zeilinga
DHL Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Fazeel Robertson, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Bruce Sherwood, 11 Duncan Saal, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Louwan Horn, 21 Armand Maritz, 22 Labib Kennemeyer, 23 Eward Coulson.