DHL Western Province are back in action tonight in a midweek Carling Currie Cup coastal clash with the Cell C Sharks in Durban.
There are a few experienced players returning from injury for DHL WP. Ali Vermaak and David Meihuizen will make a difference up front, while flyhalf Kade Wolhuter is back after nine months and will play off the bench.
Conditions are good in Durban, slightly humid but dry, so we should be in for a good game tonight.
0 – Kick-off in Durban where DHL WP are up against the Cell C Sharks in a midweek Carling Currie Cup clash. First away game of the season for the blue and white as captain Tim Swiel gets us underway.
2 – Sharks knock on early and DHL WP have the scrum, but the home side win a penalty. Curwin Bosch has a shot at goal and pulls it wide.
5 – DHL WP win a line-out and Masimla hoists, the ball hits the ref so the Sharks have a scrum in their own half.
8 – DHL WP put great pressure on attack and hack the ball through. The Sharks knock it on in the 22 so DHL WP have an attacking scrum this time.
10 – Sharks stray offside so Swiel steps up and kicks the easy penalty to make it 3-0.
13 – Sharks turn to attack and the DHL WP defence holds firm as Bosch loses it forward in the tackle.
15 – Masimla goes on the blindside to Zas who chips ahead. Sharks maul it and it is collapsed so Bosch can kick for touch.
17 – Both teams knocking the ball on in the slippery conditions. Sharks with a scrum 10 metres inside the DHL WP half.
21 – Sharks win a scrum penalty and Bosch kicks it over to level the scores at 3-3.
23 – DHL WP on the attack again and the Sharks go off their feet, so Swiel takes aim at the poles but it goes wide.
25 – The Sharks get over for the first try with fullback Radebe scoring in the corner. Bosch converts to make it 10-3.
28 – Fantastic counter-attack from Leolin Zas who cuts his way through the defence and then gets it away to Godlen Masimla who is tackled high by Yaw Penxe. The Sharks wing is shown a yellow card. Swiel takes the points to make it 10-6.
32 – Sharks in front of the kicker so Swiel kicks to the corner as DHL WP look for a try.
34 – A strong maul from the forwards before Tim Swiel puts in a pinpoint cross-kick for an unmarked Leolin Zas who deserves that try. That’s how you make the extra man count as DHL WP go 13-10 up.
40 – Sharks have a scrum and take it up the middle, but it is a good turnover by Connor Evans. TMO calls Tim Swiel for a high tackle and shows him a yellow card. Bosch kicks the penalty and that levels the scores at 13-13 at half-time.
43 – Sharks win a high ball in the 22 and their forwards drive with Mpilo Gumede forcing his way over to make it 20-13.
48 – Sharks get a scrum and Bosch finds touch in the 22. They maul and hooker Fez Mbatha scores to make it 25-13.
52 – Keke Morabe goes off his feet, so Bosch kicks a penalty to make it 28-13.
54 – Penxe wins another high ball and the Sharks go wide to Marnus Potgieter and he scores in the corner to make it 35-13.
57 – DHL WP on the attack in the 22, but the ball is lost forward in the tackle.
60 – Bosch clears and DHL WP come back from the line-out and win a scrum in the 22 after Blose holds up Bholi.
64 – DHL WP hammer away in the 22, but can’t find a way through and it is eventually lost forward.
67 – Sharks on the attack this time but accidental offsides means DHL WP get it back.
70 – DHL WP come from their own half as they look for a way back. They win a penalty after the Sharks go offside. Can they hit back?
72 – DHL WP refuse to give in and come from their own half, with a few penalties putting them in the 22. A strong maul from the forwards before it goes wide to Kade Wolhuter, who burst through to score.
76 – DHL WP coming from their own half again, fighting until the last minute.
80 – Full-time in Durban. A tough second half but DHL WP never stopped fighting.