DHL Western Province started their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a seven-try 48-36 win against the Sigma Lions in front of the Faithful at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

It was a free-flowing game to open the season and there was no shortage of entertainment for the crowd as both team showed great attacking intent.

DHL Western Province did not waste any time getting the scoreboard moving, with lock Adre Smith powering over from close range after a driving maul had been stopped just short.

Flyhalf Timothy Swiel kicked the touchline conversion and he had three more points from the kicking tee after the Sigma Lions had scored a maul try, to make it 10-5 after an intense opening 15 minutes at DHL Stadium.

The Sigma Lions responded with a penalty of their own, but the ball was won back from the resutling restart, with Leolin Zas bursting into the 22 before it was sent wide to wing Angelo Davids who finished in the corner.

The home side had the momentum and took further advantage as hooker Chad Solomon went over from a driving maul.

DHL Western Province were reduced to 14 when Smith was shown a yellow card and the visitors managed another maul try from the resulting penalty.

However, DHL Western Province would have the final say in the first half as Davids went over in the corner again for the bonus-point try which gave them a 29-15 advantage at the break.

The hosts picked up where they left off after half-time as the forwards applied the pressure through a series of line-out drives before it went to No.8 Hacjivah Dayimani, who glided through a gap for the fifth try.

The visitors hit back with a try from wing Zeilinga Strydom, but DHL Western Province came up with another of their own shortly afterwards as some magic in midfield and a perfect grubber from Tristan Leyds saw Davids score his hat-trick try.

The teams traded tries once again, with first the Sigma Lions wing Boldwin Hansen and then replacement DHL Western Province loose forward Deon Fourie scoring.

DHL Western Province next face the Vodacom Bulls at DHL Stadium on Wednesday.

The scorers:

For DHL WP:
Tries: Smith, Davids 3, Solomon, Dayimani, Fourie
Cons: Swiel 5
Pen: Swiel

For Sigma Lions:
Tries: Snyman, Venter, Strydom, Hansen
Cons: Isaacs 3
Pen: Isaacs

DHL Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Leolin Zas, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Paschal Ekeji, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Jacques van Zyl, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Keke Morabe, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Chris Schreuder, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba.

Sigma Lions: Quan Horn, Boldwin Hansen, James Mollentze, Aidynn Cupido, Zeilinga Strydom, Vaughen Isaacs, Jurich Claasens; Emmanuel Tshituka, Jarod Cairns, Mark Snyman, Simon Dionisio, PJ Steenkamp, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (captain), Dameon Venter, Banele Mthenjane
Replacements: Darnell Osuagwu, Heiko Pohlmann, Sibusiso Shongwe, Ruan Venter, Lunga Ncube, MJ Pelser, Nico Steyn, Tyler Bocks