DHL Western Province finished the Currie Cup Qualifying Competition on top of the standings with a resounding 71-7 win against Namibia Welwitschias in Windhoek on Saturday.
DHL Western Province finished the Currie Cup Qualifying Competition on top of the standings with a resounding 71-7 win against Namibia Welwitschias in Windhoek on Saturday.
Coach John Dobson’s team capped a remarkable campaign, which has seen them lose just one match, by scoring 11 tries in a dominant display.
The visitors struck early when right wing Khanyo Ngcukana crossed for the opening try, and they followed that up soon afterwards as No.8 Kobus van Dyk also dotted down, with fullback Grant Hermanus’ conversion putting them 12-0 up.
Namibia hit back with a try of their own from right wing, but DHL Western Province responded immediately with a try from scrumhalf Justin Phillips restoring their 12-point advantage.
Centre EW Viljoen would score the fourth try which earned DHL Western Province a bonus point which effectively sealed top spot on the Currie Cup Qualifying standings, and Van Dyk would get over for his second try before half-time to give them a 31-7 lead at the break.
Replacement hooker Mike Willemse scored first try of the second half, and DHL Western Province followed that up with another five-pointer from flank Christo van der Merwe to make it 45-7.
There were further tries from inside centre Johnny Kotze, Scott van Breda, Ngcukana and Viljoen which sealed a dominant victory in the end.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Tries: Ngcukana 2, Van Dyk 2, Phillips, Viljoen 2, Willemse, Van der Merwe, Kotze, Van Breda
Cons: Hermanus 8
For Namibia Welwitschias:
Try: 14
Con: 10
DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Dennis Cox, 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Christo van der Merwe, 6 Rikus Bothma, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Denzil Riddles, 18 Jacques Vermeulen, 19 Beyers de Villiers, 20 Eital Bredenkamp, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Scott van Breda.
