DHL Western Province completed the league phase of their 2015 Absa Currie Cup campaign with a resounding 45-14 win over the EP Kings at DHL Newlands on Friday night.
Going into this evening’s match, the hosts needed nothing less than a bonus point victory to keep alive their hopes of hosting a semifinal – knowing, too, that the Bulls needed just a win over the Pumas in their clash in Nelspruit (at the same time).
However, any ‘what ifs’ or ‘could haves’ went out the window as DHL Western Province started the match in ruthless fashion, No.8 Nizaam Carr getting over for a try in the third minute following incessant pressure from the hosts.
Flyhalf Robert du Preez slotted the conversion from the right-hand side, landing a penalty goal soon after for a handy 10-3 lead – the Kings’ Scott van Breda having opened his team’s account just minutes before.
Van Breda made it 10-6 and then 10-9 after 28 minutes, before two brilliant tries by the hosts, one created by Godlen Masimla and the other scored by the selfsame Masimla.
The first instance saw a quick tap from Masimla end up in the hands of skipper Juan de Jongh, the inside centre showing great skill to stay in at the left-hand corner, before Masimla again exploded into action almost straight afterwards with a superb run in from an attacking line-out just outside the Kings’ 22.
Du Preez converted both tries to make it 24-9 with half-time approaching, before Kings No.9 Enrico Acker scampered over just before the break to make it 24-14 after forty minutes.
The 7,793 supporters did not have to wait long for the bonus point try, which was picked up by Dillyn Leyds (from a brilliant Huw Jones back of the hand off-load in the tackle), with replacement Justin Benn crashing over from a rolling maul a bit later.
Crucially, however, despite a few substitutions in the end and some hopes of the match perhaps opening up a bit more perhaps the watertight DHL WP defence did not relent in the second half as the Kings remained scoreless.
Leyds strolled through a gap in the final act of play to grab his second try down the right-hand flank, replacement flyhalf Kurt Coleman landing his second conversion as both Province kickers sported a 100% record at goal on the night.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Carr, De Jongh, Masimla, Leyds 2, Benn
Cons: Du Preez 4, Coleman 2
Pen: Du Preez
For Eastern Province Kings:
Tries: Acker
Pens: Van Breda 3
The teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Juan de Jongh (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Jaco Taute.
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Ronnie Cooke (captain), 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Stefan Willemse, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Basil Short, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Dwayne Kelly, 22 Karlo Aspeling.
Referee: Lesego ‘Pro’ Legoete
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Christie du Preez
