DHL Western Province moved into the semifinals of the 2015 Vodacom Cup with a 47-22 win over the Leopards XV at City Park on Saturday.

DHL WP scored seven tries to three, converting their 21-19 half-time lead into a clinical victory in the end – as the top, and unbeaten, team from the South Section booked their place in the Last Four.

Flanker Justin Benn scored two tries, both from mauls either side of half-time, with scrumhalf Godlen Masimla having opened the scoring with a brilliant individual effort within the first five minutes.

Inside centre Robert du Preez rounded off the first-half scoring with a try under the uprights, as DHL WP led by just two points at the break – having been guilty of two or three missed tackles which led to Leopards tries.

The second half, however, was a different story as the hosts assumed full control of proceedings to rack up four second-half tries – Benn, centre Jaco Taute, flanker Tapiwa Tsomondo and fullback EW Viljoen all crossing.

Tsomondo’s effort came from close-range, but the final try of the day – by Viljoen – was a cracker, the big No.15 crossing from a clever angle, after replacement No.9 Justin Phillips had put his team on the front foot with a great break from the restart.

Flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis missed just one conversion from seven attempts for a points haul of 12 points, as DHL WP moved one game away from a possible home final in the 2015 Vodacom Cup.

First, however, DHL Western Province will have to take on the Vodacom Blue Bulls (who beat the Free State XV on Friday night) in next week’s semifinal (details TBC).

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Masimla, Benn 2, Du Preez, Taute, Tsomondo, Viljoen
Cons: J du Plessis 6

For the Leopards XV:
Tries: Torrens 2, Smith
Cons: Engelbrecht 2
Pen: Engelbrecht

The teams:

DHL Western Province: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Robert du Preez, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Justin Benn, 6 Tapiwa Tsomondo, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Charlton van Jaarsveld, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Entienne Swanepoel, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Pat Howard, 22 Willy Ambaka.

Leopards XV: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Adi Jacobs, 10 Adriaan Engelbrecht, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Juan Language (captain), 7 HP Swart, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Loftus Morrison, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Dane van der Westhuyzen, 1 Johan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Molotsi Bouwer, 19 Jaco Jordaan, 20 Malherbe Swart, 21 Kobus du Plessis, 22 Myburgh Briers.

Referee: Jaco Kotze
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Francois Pretorius