DHL Western Province beat the Sharks by 17-13 in Durban on Saturday, meaning a top-of-the-log finish for the unbeaten and defending Absa Currie Cup champions.
Captain Deon Fourie scored his team’s only and No.8 Duane Vermeulen walked off with the official Man of the Match Award as DHL WP finished the regular season unbeaten and in first position on the log.
It means that Province will take on the MTN Golden Lions in next Saturday’s first semifinal (kick-off 14h30), with a right to a home final too should they win their Last Four match.
It was a brave performance from the Men in Blue & White, with flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis missing just one kick at goal as he landed three penalty goals and also slotted a first-half drop-goal.
WP led 14-6 at half-time and managed to keep their hosts at bay during a tough second half in some wet and rainy conditions at Kings Park.
Vermeulen, Fourie and hooker Scarra Ntubeni were deadly on the ground for DHL Western Province, whilst the rest of the team tackled with heart and great intent and Catrakilis kept his team in front through some great kicking out of hand and at goal.
Catrakilis opened his team’s account in the sixth minute with a penalty, before the Sharks drew level via their flyhalf Fred Zeilinga.
The two flyhalves traded kicking blows until Fourie put WP back in the lead in the 25th minute, the WP skipper doing his best wing impersonation as he surfed over in the left-hand corner after a brilliant pass from Man of the Match Vermeulen.
Catrakilis was unable to convert from out wide – his only miss at goal on the night – but he added another penalty goal in the first half as WP led 14-6 at the break.
The Sharks scored the first points of the second half when Keegan Daniel – who ended up starting the match from the bench – dived over in the same corner as Fourie for the Sharks’ only try.
Replacement flyhalf Pat Lambie kicked a stunning touchline conversion to make it a one-point game, but a third Catrakilis penalty goal – with 20 minutes left on the clock – stretched his team’s lead to four points at 17-13.
The final 20 minutes were a real slug-fest, with WP fortunate to call upon Springbok stars Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers from the bench – that after centre Juan de Jongh was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up after failing a fitness test.
“It was a big result. We came here on a mission and hopefully we can retain the cup this year in the next two weeks,” said WP skipper Deon Fourie.
“I think Duane Vermeulen showed his class. The conditions were tough, but we did well under pressure.”
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The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Try: Daniel
Con: Lambie
Pens: Zeilinga 2
For DHL Western Province:
Try: Fourie
Pens: Catrakilis 3
DG: Catrakilis
The teams:
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes (captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Stephan Lewies, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Louis Ludik.
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 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Frans Malherbe, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Jean de Villiers.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan