DHL Western Province scored a delightful 50-19 Absa Currie Cup win over the Steval Pumas at DHL Newlands on Saturday, their fourth bonus point win of the season.

DHL WP put an up-and-down first half behind them to run in a total of seven glorious tries in front of a crowd of just over 5,000 at a chilly DHL Newlands.

Flyhalf Robert du Preez scored a try double and kicked four conversions and one penalty goal, with skipper Nizaam Carr, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, right-wing Kobus van Wyk and flanker Jurie van Vuuren the other try-scorers.

DHL Western Province – who trailed by 15-19 at half-time – were dealt a blow before kick-off when it was revealed that in-form ball-winning flanker Chris Cloete would not be playing due to a calf muscle injury.

Sikhumbuzo Notshe took over at No.6, with Jurie van Vuuren starting at No.7 and former DHL WP age-group star Justin Benn came on to the bench on his Absa Currie Cup debut for Province.

DHL WP were already without fullback Cheslin Kolbe, flanker Rynhardt Elstadt, hooker Scarra Ntubeni and loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff in today’s clash, an important one against the Men from Nelspruit, but their brilliant second-half display more than made up for it.

Coach John Dobson gave his entire bench a run, including hooker Michael Willemse in his first appearance of the 2015 Currie Cup after suffering a knee injury during pre-season action.

The scorers:

For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Carr, J Vermaak, Van Wyk, Du Preez 2, Van Vuuren, A Vermaak
Cons: Du Preez 4, Catrakilis 2
Pen: Du Preez

For Steval Pumas:
Tries: Specman 2, Koch
Cons: Van Staden 2

The teams:

DHL Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Jean Kleyn, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Demetri Catrakilis, 22 Jaco Taute.

Pumas: 15 Hoffman Maritz, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Wilmaure Louw, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Francois de Klerk (captain), 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Giant Mtyanda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Jannie Stander, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Deon Helberg.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Divan Uys