DHL Western Province scored five tries on their way to a tense 36-31 victory against the Toyota Free State XV in Bloemfontein on Friday.

DHL Western Province scored five tries on their way to a tense 36-31 victory against the Toyota Free State XV in Bloemfontein on Friday.

It was DHL Western Province’s second consecutive win of the Currie Cup Qualifier campaign, following their victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands in the first round of action.

Although the Free State XV had gone into half-time with the lead and scored five tries of their own in the end, DHL Western Province held their nerve to pick up the away win.

The home side got off to a fast start as hooker Joseph Dweba went over for the opening try after just four minutes.

DHL Western Province recovered from that early setback and eventually reponded with a try of their own from lock Jurie van Vuuren, which was converted by flyhalf Scott van Breda to put them 7-5 up after 20 minutes.

The Free State XV would have the final say in the first half as wing Mosolwa Mafuma got over for their second try, which gave then a slender 10-7 lead at the half-time break.

However, they would not have that lead for long as DHL Western Province made a storming start to the second half with three quick tries which put them firmly in control of the match.

Centre Dan du Plessis scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half, with replacement scrumhalf Justin Phillips also crossing the whitewash in between to give DHL Western Province a 26-10 cushion.

The Free State XV hit back with their third try through scrumhalf JP Smith, and the conversion from flyhalf Sias Ebersohn cut the deficit to 26-17.

Van Breda put a penalty attempt wide, but fullback Grant Hermanus made no mistake when he was given the opportunity in the 68th minute, and they were not done there as a late try from Luke Stringer effectively sealed the result.

The Free State XV had the final say as late tries from former DHL Western Province hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and Mafuma made for a nervy ending, but DHL Western Province held on for the win.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Van Vuuren, Du Plessis 2, Phillips, Stringer
Cons: Van Breda 4
Pen: Hermanus

For Toyota Free State XV:
Tries: Dweba, Mafuma 2, Smith, Liebenberg
Cons: Ebersohn 3

Teams:

DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Scott van Breda, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Tertius Daniller, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 JP Smith, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Cullen Collopy, 17 Kyle Whyte, 18 Eduard Zandbergh, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 JP Lewis, 22 EW Viljoen.

Toyota Free State XV: 15 Reinhardt Erwee, 14 Mosolwa Mafuma, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 JP Smith, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Tienie Burger, 6 Ntokozo Vidima, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Chase Morison, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Refuoe Rampeta, 21 Renier Botha, 22 Jean-Pierre Coetzee.