DHL Western Province have successfully defended their Southern Amateur Provincial Competition title, after beating SWD 28-19 in today’s final in Saldanha.

WP went through the tournament unbeaten, recording wins over a Boland XV (41-8) and Eastern Province (39-30) on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, before claiming the overall title with a win over SWD on Friday.

Captain Freddie Muller was, once again, at the fore for the WP Emerging team – scoring a try and kicking two conversions and two penalty goals.

Outside centre Danwill Erasmus, who was part of the WP Club Sevens team that competed in London last month, scored a brace of tries, whilst replacement back Andy Huysamen kicked a penalty.

WP trailed by 3-7 at half-time, but rallied strongly in the second half to score three tries to two and successfully defend their title.

They will now play against the winners of the other regions – Northern and Central – for the right to be crowned the overall Amateur Provincial champions of South Africa.

The DHL Western Province Emerging team scorers:
Tries: Erasmus 2, Muller
Cons: Muller 2
Pens: Muller 2, Huysamen

The DHL Western Province team (v SWD): 15 Raymond Olivier (Durb-Bell), 14 Sinethemba Mapaqa (Bellville), 13 Danwill Erasmus (SK Walmers), 12 Ethan Coenraad (Bellville), 11 Craig Pheiffer (SK Walmers), 10 Shane Vallender (Hamilton’s), 9 Freddie Muller (UWC – captain), 8 José Julies (UWC), 7 Oswin Mentoor (Bellville), 6 Matthew Faught (UCT), 5 Pallo Manuel (UWC), 4 Ryen Etzebeth (Goodwood), 3 Christo van Wyk (Tygerberg), 2 Shameegh Allen (False Bay – vice-captain), 1 Denzil Riddles (SK Walmers).
Replacements: 16 Marco Janse van Rensberg (Victorians), 17 Christo McNish (Hamilton’s), 18 JP Kellerman (Tygerberg), 19 Stephan Botha (Hamilton’s), 20 Louis Nel (Victorians), 21 Vivian Fredericks (Hands and Heart), 22 Andy Huysamen (Belhar).

MANAGEMENT:
Coaches: Lionel Langenhoven and Kevin Musikanth
Manager: Gavin Sheldon

Physiotherapist: Brent Martin