DHL Western Province scored five tries in a hard-fought 35-28 SuperSport Rugby Challenge victory against Boland Cavaliers in Velddrif on Saturday.
DHL Western Province scored five tries in a hard-fought 35-28 SuperSport Rugby Challenge victory against Boland Cavaliers in Velddrif on Saturday.
The visitors took a 28-6 lead into the half-time break and held off a concerted fight back from Boland in the second half to secure their third straight SuperSport Rugby Challenge victory.
The home side were playing with the wind in the first half, but it would be DHL Western Province to score first as inside centre Scott van Breda grabbed an early intercept and raced the length of the field to score.
Boland hit back with two penalties from the boot of fullback Divan Nel as they began to put the DHL Western Province defence under some pressure.
DHL Western Province regrouped and moved deep into Boland territory where a powerful driving maul saw hooker Dean Muir go over for their second try.
The next try was sparked by left wing Craig Barry who raced down the touchline after being put in space by fullback Grant Hermanus. His chip ahead was won back and it was lock Ruben de Villiers who dotted down.
The fourth try for DHL Western Province came on the stroke of half-time as a well-weighted grubber from flyhalf Brandon Thomson found right wing Valentino Wellman and the touchline conversion saw DHL Western Province go into the break with a comfortable 28-6 advantage.
Boland were first to strike in the second half as flank Kenan Cronje got over for their first try and they followed that up with a superb individual effort from replacement Sergio Torrens to reduce DHL Western Province’s lead to 28-16.
DHL Western Province hit back with a try from big lock Eddie Zandberg who forced his way over from close range, but Boland responded soon afterwards with a try of their own to make it 35-23 with 15 minutes left.
Zandberg was shown a yellow card with 10 minutes left as Boland continued to put the DHL Western Province defence under pressure and it told as replacement Ludio Williams went over to cut the deficit to 35-28.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Van Breda, Muir, De Villiers, Wellman, Zandberg
Cons: Thomson 5
For Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: Cronje, Torrens, Bosch, Williams
Con: Nel
Pens: Nel 2
DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Scott van Breda, 11 Craig Barry, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Luke Stringer, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Eital Bredenkamp (captain), 5 Eddie Zandberg, 4 Ruben de Villiers, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Dean Muir, 1 Wesley Adonis.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Nyasha Tarusenga, 19 Conway Pretorius, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Ernst Stapelberg, 22 Harlon Klaasen.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Divan Nel, 14 Charles Myeza, 13 Alcino Izaacs, 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Freddie Muller, 8 Zandre Jordaan (captain), 7 Wayne wilschut, 6 Kenan Cronje, 5 Rinus Bothma, 4 Marlyn williams, 3 Clinton Theron, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Linda Thwala.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Arnout Malherbe, 18 Dylan Pieterse, 19 Ludio Williams, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Sergio Torrens, 22 Logan Basson.