John Dobson’s DHL Western Province Vodacom Cup side recorded an impressive 26-3 pre-season win over the SWD Eagles at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
Having opened their pre-season campaign last Thursday with a 46-3 win over club side Sir Lowrians, coach Dobson would have been pleased with his young teams’ four tries to nil victory against a very similar SWD team that pushed the DHL Stormers all the way in George in a friendly back in January.
No.8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe was the standout for DHL Western Province – especially in the first half, his pace and power making telling contributions from close-range, whilst Rob du Preez kicked three conversions and helped himself to a try in the second half.
DHL WP led 14-3 at half-time, after the SWD Eagles had taken the lead – by 3-0 – after three minutes of play.
Notshe, who scored a brace of tries, scored his first try in the sixth minute – from a quick tap by scrumhalf Godlen Masimla – as the hosts took the lead, which they would not relinquish again in the match.
DHL WP’s next try, by inside centre Kyle Lombard, came shortly before half-time and they did not allow the visitors a gap in the second half as tries by Notshe and Du Preez virtually double their lead in the second forty minutes.
Province will head to camp next week – in Hermanus – before opening their 2015 Vodacom Cup campaign (away) against Boland on Saturday, March 21.
The scorers:
For DHL Western Province:
Tries: Notshe 2, Lombard, Du Preez
Cons: Du Preez 3
For the SWD Eagles:
Pen: Smith
The teams:
DHL Western Province: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Willy Ambaka, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Kyle Lombard, 11 Mat Turner, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Luke van der Smit, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Deacon Chowles, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Charlton van Jaarsveld, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Entienne Swanepoel, 19 AN Other, 20 SP Ferreira, 22 Ryno Eksteen, 23 Grant Hermanus, 24 Jarryd Sage, 25 David Ribbans, 26 Cornelis van Niekerk, 29 Justin Phillips, 30 Rayn Smid.
SWD Eagles: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 Clint Wagman, 13 Anver Venter, 12 Ashwin Scott, 11 Daniel Robberts, 10 Gerhard Nortier, 9 Johan Steyn, 8 Christo du Plessis (captain), 7 Lyndon Hartnick, 6 Janneman Stander, 5 Mzwanele Zito, 4 Schalk Oelofse, 3 Pieter Stemmet, 2 Brandon Booysen, 1 Nemo Roelofse.
Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Peet van der Walt, 20 Dillon Snell, 21 Leighton Eksteen, 22 Kirsten Heyns, 23 Fanie Booysen, 24 Alshaun Bock, 25 Ashley Buys.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
