A last-minute penalty saw DHL Western Province go down 22-19 in a tense Carling Currie Cup encounter at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
The visitors had led throughout the game, but a heavy penalty count on favour of the home team took its toll in the end as the Xerox Lions claimed a slender win.
The first half was a tryless and tense affair, with both teams swapping penalties at regular intervals.
DHL Western Province had considerable scrum dominance and plenty of opportunities to impose themselves in the set-piece thanks to regular handling errors on both sides.
Flyhalf Tim Swiel kicked three penalties in the first half and the home side’s fullback Tiaan Swanepoel was successful with two long-range attempts at goal, which saw DHL Western Province take a 9-6 advantage into the break.
DHL Western Province made one change at half-time, with Johan du Toit coming on for No.8 Juarno Augustus. It did not take them long to extend their lead further as Swiel kicked his fourth penalty after the Xerox Lions were blown up for not rolling away in the tackle.
The DHL Western Province backline were blown up for straying offside and Swanepoel kicked his third penalty before the visitors came up with the first try.
Some magic feet from Seabelo Senatla created some space to put Ruhan Nel away down the touchline before getting it back to race away for the try which took their lead out to 19-9 heading into the last half-hour.
Swanepoel kicked his fourth penalty after Dan du Plessis was blown up for obstruction before Xerox Lions wing Stean Pienaar took a quick tap to stretch and score, which levelled the scores at 19-19 heading into the last 10 minutes.
The Xerox Lions were awarded a penalty in front of the poles in the last minute and Swanepoel kicked it over to claim victory for his side.
The scorers:
For DHL WP:
Try: Senatla
Con: Swiel
Pens: Swiel 4
For Xerox Lions:
Try: Pienaar
Con: Jantjies
Pens: Swanepoel 5
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds.
Xerox Lions: Tiaan Swanepoel; Stean Pienaar, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies (captain), Ross Cronjé; Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka, Jaco Kriel, Marvin Orie, Willem Alberts, Ruan Dreyer, Jaco Visagie, Sti Sithole.
Replacements: Jan-Henning Campher, Dylan Smith, Wiehahn Herbst, Reinhard Nothnagel, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Roelof Smit, Morné van den Berg, Dan Kriel.
