DHL Western Province made it four from four in the 2015 Vodacom Cup with a clinical 34-6 win over the Border Bulldogs at City Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a game dominated by the DHL Western Province forwards, who scored three of their team’s five tries as they claimed a third bonus point win of 2015.

There was also a dream start for DHL WP fullback Garth April, from Durb-Bell, on debut after being named Young Player of the Tournament in the Community Cup, who opened the try-scoring spree in the 25th minute.

That came just five minutes after Masixole Banda had opened the scoring with a penalty for the visitors. He repeated the effort after 30 minutes, but that was as good as it got for the lowly Bulldogs. Jean-Luc du Plessis, Province’s leading points-scorer, added a penalty of his own as they went into the break at 8-6.

Six minutes into the second half, prop Deacon Chowles (a second-minute replacement for Sti Sithole) rumbled over, and was followed at regular intervals by No.8 Rayn Smid, lock Chris van Zyl and, finally, inside centre Robert du Preez.

Du Plessis kicked two conversions, before Du Preez, after taking over the kicking duties late in the game, added another.

April was one of seven changes from the team that defeated the EP Kings by 19-13 last weekend. One notable gap was that left by the irrepressible forager Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who was called up to the DHL Stormers squad against the Western Force. The squad was further reduced by call-ups to the SA Under-20 squad – the likes of Jacques Vermeulen, EW Viljoen and Grant Hermanus (to name just three) all missing.

DHL Western Province still top the log in the South Section of the Vodacom Cup, with 19 out of a possible 20 points from four games thus far in 2015.

They face a big challenge in Kimberley next week the shape of defending champions Griquas, who are second on the South Section log.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: April, Chowles, Smid, Van Zyl, Du Preez
Cons: J du Plessis 2, Du Preez
Pen: J du Plessis

For the Border Bulldogs:
Pens: Banda 2

The teams:

DHL Western Province: 15 Garth April, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Kyle Lombard, 2 Robert du Preez, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 SP Ferreira, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Luke van der Smit, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Charlton van Jaarsveld, 17 Wilco Louw, 18 Deacon Chowles, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Justin Benn, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Willy Ambaka.

Border Bulldogs: 15 Masixole Banda, 14 Sipho Nofemele, 13 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Michael Makase, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Ntando Kebe (captain), 8 Nkosi Nofuma, 7 Siya Mdaka, 6 Lukhanyo Nomzanga, 5 Wandile Putuma, 4 Lindokuhle Welemu, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Ludwe Booi, 1 Yanga Xakalashe.
Replacements: 16 Mihlali Mpafi, 17 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 18 Siyamthanda Ngande, 19 Billy Dutton, 20 Bangi Kobese, 21 Lundi Ralarala, 22 Lester Mgwadleka.

Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi
Assistant referees: Boneparte Rodney, Divan Uys