DHL Western Province scored three tries but could not avoid a 41-22 defeat against the Fidelity ADT Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The visitors fought hard until the final whistle, but were left frustrated at the end in the Carling Currie Cup clash at Emirates Airline Park.
The home side struck first with a try from flank Renzo du Plessis, after which the teams traded penalties.
DHL Western Province charged into the 22 with some impressive handling and it ended in a try for young JC Mars to draw them level at 8-8.
Du Plessis was awarded his second try by the TMO after being stopped short of the line and then propelled forward by a teammate arriving in support. They followed that up with a try from flyhalf Bronson Mills to go 10 points up.
Du Plessis went over for his hat-trick from a set line-out move which saw the hosts take a 20-point lead into the half-time break.
The Joburg team started the second half with a try as fullback Quan Horn scored from a charge-down and there was a penalty from scrumhalf Nico Steyn soon afterwards.
DHL Western Province hit back with a second try from Mars, who ran a great line to burst through a gap and score. They continued to fight and replacement Paul de Villiers was next to score, driving his legs to force his way over for the third try.
They finished the match as the dominant side, but could not find a way over the tryline to secure the fourth try and a bonus point.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Mars 2, De Villiers
Cons: Matthee 2
Pen: Matthee
For Fidelity ADT Lions:
Tries: Du Plessis 3, Mills, Horn
Cons: Steyn 2
Pens: Steyn 4
DHL Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 JC Mars, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Louw Nel, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Handre Stassen, 4 Andre Goedhals, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni (captain), 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Enos Ndiao, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Joshua Boulle.
