A young DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup team suffered a 25-44 semifinal loss to a more experienced Golden Lions outfit in Johannesburg on Saturday.
It was DHL WP’s third loss only in three seasons of Vodacom Cup rugby, but the defeat saw them fall out of Vodacom Cup trophy contention this season – the Men in Blue & White hoops having triumphed in last year’s final.
Fullback Tim Swiel (with a try) and flyhalf Kurt Coleman (through his boot) kept WP in contention in the first half for what would have been a memorable win against a near Super Rugby outfit in the shape of the Lions.
The Province team – up against a more experienced and battle-hardened Lions side – trailed by 14-18 at half-time, but put themselves under pressure in the second half against a Lions team which fed off their errors.
The home team had led the first-half possession stakes and they scored early in the second half through Namibian World Cup star Chrysander Botha, after SA Sevens speedster Deon Helberg collected his own chip ahead.
But Province flyhalf Kurt Coleman slotted two penalties, narrowing the score to 20-25 after 55 minutes, before Lions left-wing Anthony Volmink benefited from a lucky bounce to dot down and once again extend his team’s lead at 32-20.
Two more Lions tries, in quick succession – by Willie Britz and Botha, suddenly saw the home side run into an unassailable lead at 44-20, but the WP youngsters showed tremendous fighting spirit in the final ten minutes and were rewarded on the stroke of full-time when replacement centre Kobus van Wyk crossed for their second five-pointer.
“I’m gutted and disappointed,” said WP coach John Dobson. “The better team won on the day, but the ball did not bounce our way against a more battle-hardened Lions team.”
The Lions boasted over 10 players with Super Rugby experience in their matchday squad, whilst DHL Western Province had ten Under-21 players in their matchday 22. In the end, it was a bridge too far for the youthful Province line-up – but it was also a case of lessons learnt for Dobson’s charges.
The WP Vodacom Cup boss added: “I thought we had a few try-scoring opportunities which we did not take, with a bit of madness (with the yellow card) and a lack of big-game experience costing us, but I think their physical edge also counted for something (more) in the end.”
The scorers:
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Van Rensburg, Helberg, Botha 2, Volmink, Britz
Cons: Boshoff 4
Pen: Boshoff
DG: Boshoff
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Swiel, Van Wyk
Pens: Coleman 5