DHL Western Province showed plenty of character to secure a bonus-point 30-18 victory against EP Kings in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge encounter in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

DHL Western Province showed plenty of character to secure a bonus-point 30-18 victory against EP Kings in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge encounter in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

Despite trailing 13-10 at the half-time break, DHL Western Province fought back well in the second half to outscore the EP Kings by four tries to three in the end.

The hosts were first to score through an early penalty from flyhalf Matheus, but they did not have the lead for long as DHL Western Province hit back with a try.

A great offload from outside centre Harlon Klaasen put flying right wing Valentino Wellman over for the try, with the conversion from flyhalf Brandon Thomson putting them 7-3 up.

Thomson followed that up soon afterwards with a penalty and the home side responded with their first try as wing Siyanda Grey snuck over out wide to reduce the deficit to 10-8.

DHL Western Province were struck a blow when flank Luke Stringer was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements and the EP Kings took advantage with a try from scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer on the stroke of half-time which gave them a 13-10 advantage at the break.

DHL Western Province made a determined start to the second half as they looked to regain control and as a result the EP Kings were down to 14 men with Grey shown a yellow card for repeated infringements.

The resulting penalty from Thomson levelled things up, but the EP Kings were back in front soon afterwards with a try in the corner from wing Alshaun Bock which gave them a 18-13 lead.

The teams were on level terms again when Grant Hermanus stepped his way over for a try following a strong run upfield from No.8 Jaco Coetzee.

The visitors kept the pressure on and showed good composure in the EP Kings 22 as flank Luke Stringer went over from a powerful driving maul to put them 25-18 ahead with 20 minutes left to play.

DHL Western Province would have the final say as Coetzee went over for the bonus-point try in the last minute off the back of a powerful scrum.

The scorers:

For DHL WP:
Tries: Wellman, Hermanus, Stringer, Coetzee
Cons: Thomson 2
Pen: Thomson

For EP Kings:
Tries: Grey, Ungerer, Bock
Pen: Matheus
DHL Western Province: 15 Grant Hermanus, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Scott van Breda, 11 Khanyo Ngcukana, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Luke Stringer, 5 Eduard Zandberg, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Michael Kumburai, 2 Chad Solomon (captain), 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Neil Oelofse, 18 Ashley Wells, 19 Nyasha Tarusenga, 20 Brenden Esterhuizen, 21 Justin Phillips 22 Michal Haznar.