DHL Western Province are aiming to secure a spot in the Carling Currie Cup in the final game of the regular season against the Cell C Sharks in Durban. Follow all the action live here.
Cold and wet conditions in Durban today where DHL WP need a bonus-point win or a win by 24 points to secure a semifinal spot, after Tafel Lager Griquas and New Nation Pumas played out a draw earlier today.
0 – Kick-off in Durban where it is cloudy and cold for the final match of the league phase of the Carling Currie Cup. DHL WP need a win with four tries or by 24 points against the Cell C Sharks to secure their place in the semifinals next week.
3 – DHL WP blown up for taking a jumper out on the air and Curwin Bosch has a kick at goal from just in front of halfway and it goes wide.
6 – Both teams kick for territory and DHL WP win a breakdown penalty and Swiel kicks into the corner as they go for the try.
8 – They are awarded another penalty and maul again. A pass goes into the ref so DHL WP have a scrum.
10 – Scrum penalty awarded, quick tap from Paul de Wet who puts Dan du Plessis over for the first try to put them 7-0 up.
12 – DHL WP blown up for offside so Bosch kicks the three points to make it 7-3.
15 – What a counter from DHL WP. Tim Swiel’s chip is regathered and then sent out to Dan du Plessis who grubbers and collects to score his second try in the corner. That takes the lead out to 14-3.
17 – DHL WP blown up for offside. Sharks maul but a big tackle knocks the ball loose so DHL WP have a scrum in their 22.
21 – DHL WP clear it and Sharks come from the line-out, going wide to wing Yaw Penxe who scores in the corner to make it 14-10.
24 – DHL WP on the attack again and they burst into the 22. They win a penalty and take it quickly but a knock-on gives it back to the Sharks to clear.
27 – DHL WP come again, offloading in the tackle and taking the game to the home side. They win another penalty after Mchunu doesn’t roll away, so Swiel has a shot at goal but pulls it wide.
30 – Both teams kicking for territory. DHL WP break out with Juan de Jongh putting a kick in for Edwill van der Merwe to chase, but it runs dead.
32 – Quick tap from Nohamba who gives it to Buthelezi to score and put the Sharks up 17-14.
35 – DHL WP on the attack again in the 22, hammering away at the defence and offloading well, but the Sharks keep scrambling it away.
38 – DHL WP have a penalty in front of the poles, but it is overturned after Ruhan Nel slid into the back of Thaakir Abrahams in-goal.
40 – Half-time in Durban where DHL WP have played some great attacking rugby to score two tries, which could have been a couple more. They are 17-14 down at the break. Two more tries and a win required in the second half.
42 – DHL WP win the ball back and go on the attack early in the second half. They are keeping the ball and playing in opposition territory but no way through the defence yet.
45 – The relentless attack finally gets reward as Paul de Wet dummies to score the third try and give DHL WP a 21-17 lead.
49 – Sharks get a penalty at a line-out and they kick to the corner as they look for another try. The maul is held up so DHL WP have a scrum in the 22.
53 – Sharks get another line-out penalty and they kick into the corner again. This time DHL WP win a breakdown penalty so they can clear.
57 – DHL WP being forced to defend for an extended period and they are holding firm under pressure.
62 – DHL WP win a few penalties and kick to the corner where they will go for the bonus-point try.
65 – Maul forced into touch. Sharks win the line-out and clear so DHL WP will have to come again from outside the 22.
67 – A loose ball is snapped up by the Sharks and they kick deep to pin DHL WP back in their half.
69 – Great defence from DHL WP again to shake the ball loose and a rolling grubber goes into the Sharks half this time.
71 – Sharks come from a scrum and Penxe scores his second try to give them a 24-21 lead.
73 – DHL WP win a penalty from the restart and kick to the corner as they look for the fourth try.
75 – Big play when it matters most from DHL WP as hooker JJ Kotze bursts through to score the bonus-point try. That puts them 28-24 ahead and in a semifinal next week if they can hold on for the last five mins in Durban.
80 – DHL WP have the final say as Edwill van der Merwe runs away for the fifth try to secure a 35-24 win which secures a semifinal against the Vodacom Bulls next week. They had to dig deep and delivered a superb performance.