DHL Western Province secured a third successive home Vodacom Cup quarterfinal after a deserved 41-37 win over the Free State XV in Bloemfontein.

Province, the defending champions, scored their fifth win in a row of the season to end second on the log in the South Section of the 2013 Vodacom Cup.

That means that DHL WP, under the coaching of John Dobson, have lost just one league match in three seasons of Vodacom Cup rugby and they will now meet Griquas in next week’s home quarterfinal – in a repeat match-up of last year’s epic final in Kimberley.

Free State were quick out of the blocks in Bloemfontein on Saturday, with former SA Sevens star Boom Prinsloo crossing for a try in the first minute.

But DHL WP hit back with tries by centre Berton Klaasen and fullback Cheslin Kolbe, as the visitors took the lead at 14-10 after 22 minutes.

Klaasen collected his double in the 26th minute – with flyhalf Kurt Coleman (who kicked superbly at goal on the day) adding his third conversion of the day to stretch WP’s lead to 21-10.

Oupa Mohoje claimed one back for Free State – 21-17 – before Coleman slotted a penalty on the stroke of full-time to make it 24-17 in DHL WP’s favour at the break.

WP started the second half with a bang as centre Mike van der Spuy notched up their bonus point try, with Coleman again converting, but the hosts kept up the pressure thanks to a converted Tewis de Bruyn try just two minutes later.

Province remained in the lead – at 31-24 – but the Free Staters drew level almost against the run of play in the 51st minute when Prinsloo notched up his try double to make it 31-31.

The teams traded penalties between the 65th and 73rd minutes to suddenly have the hosts leading by 37-34 with seven minutes left but Dobson’s charges showed great composure under pressure in the final exchanges to secure a great win away from home and booking their home quarterfinal in the process.

Replacement back Kobus van Wyk got the five-pointer in the 75th minute after a good build-up and Coleman’s conversion made it 41-37 to Province with four minutes left on the clock.

Eventually, WP held out in the final four minutes for the valuable victory to finish just two log points shy of the Sharks in the South Section of the tournament and to keep alive their hopes of a successful title defence.

The scorers:

For the Free State XV:
Tries: Prinsloo 2, Mohoje, De Bruyn
Cons: Smit 3, Scheepers
Pens: Smit, Scheepers 2

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Klaasen 2, Kolbe, Van der Spuy, Van Wyk
Cons: Coleman 5
Pens: Coleman 2