Absa Currie Cup champions, DHL Western Province, suffered a 22-46 loss to Saracens in Sunday’s Sanlam Private Investments Challenge match at Allianz Park.
The visitors scored three tries, but conceded six in sunny conditions in North London, with both of Saracens England wingers, Chris Ashton and David Strettle, crossing for two tries each.
DHL WP flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis scored a brace of tries himself, also adding one conversion and one penalty goal, but the hosts were just too strong in the end in what was an entertaining match between two top-quality and well-drilled teams.
Catrakilis opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a well-taken penalty goal, DHL WP having started strongly – with forwards Scarra Ntubeni and Michael Rhodes leading the charge – to make all the early running.
Province’s finishing, however, let them down in the opening exchanges as they were unable to make their possession count on the scoreboard and it was Saracens who opened their try tally via Ashton in the 17th minute – former Cape star Neil de Kock feeding the England speedster for the try.
Wing partner Strettle was not about to be outdone and he soon added a second five-pointer – punishing a stray DHL WP clearance kick – before Catrakilis dummied and powered over for his opening try to leave the score at 8-12 after 24 minutes in North London.
The hosts pulled away a bit before half-time, however, as Ashton scored a second try and lock Mouritz Botha finished superbly down the right-wing, to leave the score at 26-8 in Saracens’ favour at half-time.
DHL Western Province started the second half strongly, as Catrakilis finished well for his second try after a brilliant counter-attack which began in their own half via captain Juan de Jongh – the Absa Currie Cup champs scoring the try of the match as Catrakilis’s conversion narrowed the gap to 15-26 with 37 minutes left on the clock.
Saracens flyhalf Charlie Hodgson landed two penalty goals – despite replacement flanker Will Fraser being in the sin bin – and they led 32-15 going into the final quarter, Strettle’s second try – from a clever kick-ahead after stealing possession from DHL WP – in the 64th minute once again stretching Saracens’ advantage at a crucial stage in the game.
Replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi thundered over for a try – on debut – three minutes later, after a powerful burst from fellow front-row replacement Oli Kebble, but, once again, the hosts hit back right-away to extend their lead with ten minutes remaining.
DHL WP coach Allister Coetzee emptied his bench in the final few minutes, as the full 23-man squad got a run (handing another debut – to prop Wilco Louw), but it was not to be for the Absa Currie Cup champions who will now get a two-week break before resuming pre-season preparations for the 2015 Vodacom Super Rugby season.
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Ashton 2, Strettle 2, Botha, Fraser
Cons: Hodgson 4, Mordt
Pens: Hodgson 2
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Catrakilis 2, Mbonambi
Cons: Catrakilis, Coleman
Pen: Catrakilis
The teams:
Saracens: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Tim Streather, 12 Chris Wyles, 11 David Strettle, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Jamie George, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Will Fraser, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Nils Mordt, 23 Duncan Taylor.
DHL Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Michael van der Spuy, 24 EW Viljoen.
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Assistant referees: Andy Watson (England), Simon Mcconnell (England)
Television Match Official: David Sainsbury (England)
