DHL Western Province fought back bravely but ended with two bonus points to show for their efforts after going down 38-32 against the Lions in the Carling Currie Cup encounter in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Having trailed 38-10 heading into the final 20 minutes, DHL Western Province scored three unanswered tries at the death and almost pulled off an incredible comeback win, but it was not to be as the Lions held on for the win.

The home side scored two early tries as they converted their territorial pressure. Flank Sibusiso Sangweni peeled off a maul to score the first and wing Rabz Mawane picked up a bounce-pass to go ovr for the second.

DHL Western Province regrouped well and worked themselves into position to strike. After a strong maul, the forwards bashed away at the tryline and No.8 Juarno Augustus powered over for the try.

The Lions scored their third try from a maul and DHL Western Province responded with a penalty from Tim Swiel to make it 17-10.

However, the home side had the final say in the first half as another maul try saw them take a 24-10 lead into half-time against a DHL Western Province side that was down to 14 men after Evan Roos had been shown a yellow card.

The tries kept coming for the Lions early in the second half as they made their extra man count. first hooker PJ Botha forced his way over, before Maxwane grabbed an intercept to make it 38-10.

DHL Western Province refused to give in and finally got some reward as the Lions saw two forwards shown yellow cards.

The second yellow card saw a penalty try awarded and DHL Western Province scored from the restart, with Paul de Wet scoring in the corner to put them right back in it.

They continued to push and replacement Cornel Smit finished in the corner to secure the first bonus point, before a Swiel penalty brought them within seven points.

They pushed hard for the win at the end, but the Lions held out to claim a tense victory in the end.

The scorers:

For DHL WP:
Tries: Augustus, penalty try, De Wet, Smit
Cons: Swiel 3
Pens: Swiel 2

For Lions:
Tries: Sangweni, Maxwane 2, Nothnagel, Schoeman, Botha
Cons: Zeilinga 4

DHL Western Province: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Rikus Pretorius, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Evan Roos, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Justin Basson, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Cornel Smit.

Lions: EW Viljoen; Jamba Ulengo, Manuel Rass, Dan Kriel, Rabz Maxwane; Fred Zeilinga, Dillon Smit; Francke Horn (captain), Vincent Tshituka, Sibusiso Sangweni; Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruben Schoeman; Ruan Dreyer, PJ Botha, Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Banele Mthenjane, Carlu Sadie, Ruhan Straeuli, Emmanuel Tshituka, Morne van den Berg, Aidynn Cupido, Duncan Matthews