DHL Western Province secured home-ground advantage in the Absa Currie Cup play-offs, with an impressive 36-23 bonus point win over the MTN Golden Lions at DHL Newlands.
Province kept up their unbeaten run in 2013 in front of 13,642 fans in Cape Town, the Men in Blue & White hoops also running in four tries on a cold, but dry Saturday afternoon.
That means that DHL WP have returned to the top of the Absa Currie Cup log, knowing that just a win next weekend – over the Sharks in Durban – will give the defending champions the right to a home final in 2013, having, of course, already sewn up a home semifinal with this victory.
The hosts led 18-9 at the break, after first-half tries by centre Damian de Allende and captain Deon Fourie, with flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis kicking one conversion and two penalties after the Lions had taken a 6-0 lead early on.
The second half got off to a cracking start for DHL WP, as Catrakilis added another penalty and powerful right-wing Gerhard van den Heever smashed his way over after taking a pass from fullback Gio Aplon.
Catrakilis kicked the conversion and, suddenly, after WP had trailed by 6-9 in the 27th minute, the defending champions jumped into a healthy 28-9 lead through three tries (and a few goal kicks by their deadeye No.10) just six minutes into the second half.
There was also more than enough time for the Province coaching staff to introduce 'Comeback Kid' Schalk Burger in the 55th minute, a loud roar from the DHL Newlands Faithful signalling his return to action at his beloved ground – his first appearance here since February 2012.
Burger's introduction coincided with a mini-fightback from the Lions, who clawed back some points through a try double by captain Derick Minnie, but a Kurt Coleman penalty – after replacing Catrakilis at flyhalf – kept his team's noses in front by more than the magical seven-point mark.
Not even a sin-binning for hooker Scarra Ntubeni could spoil WP's day and their afternoon was capped off on a high when hard-working lock Michael Rhodes crashed over in the left-hand corner on the stroke of full-time to also secure the four-try bonus point.
The build-up to Rhodes' try was vintage stuff from WP, with backs and forwards playing their part. Left-wing Cheslin Kolbe gave them impetus at a crucial time, with Frequently students are surprised to find out that truck drivers ed have job placement assistance. a trademark dart into the Lions 22, before the strongmen smashed it up one more time – allowing Rhodes to power in off the left wing much to the crowd's delight.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: De Allende, Fourie, Van den Heever, Rhodes
Cons: Catrakilis 2
Pens: Catrakilis 3, Coleman
For the MTN Golden Lions:
Tries: Minnie 2
Cons: Boshoff 2
Pens: Boshoff 3
The teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Frans Malherbe, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Schalk Burger, 19 Josh Katzen, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Ryan Nell.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Chrysander Botha, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Lionel Cronje, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Willie Britz, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Warwick Tecklenberg, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Deon Helberg.
Referee: Stuart Berry
