The DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup team started their 2014 campaign with a deserved 16-8 win over the Boland Cavaliers at a windy City Park on Saturday.
The first points of the match belonged to DHL Western Province flyhalf Gary van Aswegen as he slotted an early penalty for the home side.
The Cavaliers were under immense pressure in the scrums, and tighthead prop Martin Dreyer was sent to the bin after repeatedly being dominated by his opposite number Alistair Vermaak.
DHL WP were unable to make Boland pay for being a man down and it was the visitors who nearly scored the opening five pointer.
Boland were inches away from a superb score after a strong break by centre Albert Trytsman saw prop Khwezi Mkhafu held off by Province.
Fullback Eric Zana opened his account with a penalty as WP had transgressed earlier in the passage of play and the teams were level at 3-3.
With the clock winding down to half-time, DHL WP eighthman Rayn Smid was shown yellow after being the unlucky player to incur the ire of the referee and the teams went into half-time at 3-3.
Boland were the first team to score after the break after Dreyer made amends for his earlier transgression when he forced his considerable bulk over the line to score. Zana missed the conversion and the visitors held an unlikely lead at 8-3.
The hosts started to compose themselves and young flyer Devon Williams crossed twice to draw his side level at 8-8 with Van Aswegen unable to convert, the speedster showing his trademark pace and smart footwork.
After a superb run by centre Johnny Kotze it was Williams who rounded off to help WP reclaim the lead at 13-8 after Van Aswegen missed the kick at goal.
After replacement prop Os Hamman won a penalty in the scrum, Van Aswegen widened the margin to 16-8 with his second successful penalty.
Boland were down to 14 men again after Ashton Constant was sent to the sidelines for 10 minutes after a yellow for repeated infringements at the breakdown. Cheswin Williams joined his teammate in the bin and WP were playing a rugby league side as Boland were down to 13 men on the field.
DHL WP emptied their bench in the final 10-15 minutes, with many of players either getting a first taste of senior rugby (like JD Schickerling and Dylon Frylinck) or making a return to the field after recovering from injuries (like Reuben Johannes).
Western Province coach John Dobson said afterwards: “It was by no means perfect from us, but we were expecting a tough, physical encounter, so we will take the four points – especially in our first match of the season.
“There is plenty to improve on and we know we’re in for a tough one next week against the Sharks in Durban,” he added in conversation with www.wprugby.com.
* Meanwhile, the other Vodacom Cup match at City Park on Saturday saw the Tusker Simba XV (from Kenya) take on the Eastern Province Kings, with the side from Kenya winning 17-10.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Williams 2
Pens: Van Aswegen 2
For the Boland Cavaliers:
Try: Jordaan
Pen: Zana
The DHL WP team: 15 Tiger Bax, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Rayn Smid, 7 Sikhumbuzo Nothse, 6 Rohan Kitshoff (captain), 5 Jan Uys, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Eital Bredenkamp, 17 Os Hamman, 18 JD Schickerling, 19 Carel du Preez, 20 Reuben Johannes, 21 Dylon Frylinck, 22 Kyle Lombard.
Referee: Lesego Legoete
