DHL Western Province stormed home to beat the Toyota Cheetahs 40-39 in a pulsating Carling Currie Cup clash at Newlands on Saturday.
Despite opening the scoring through Sergeal Petersen in a wonderful backline move, the home side found themselves down 12 points at the break.
The boot of Tim Swiel punished almost every indiscretion of the Cheetahs. A yellow card for Nama Xaba shifted momentum in the favour of the Bloemfontein side. Jeandre Rudolph and then Tian Meyer scored as the Cheetahs headed into the half with their tails up.
The introduction of Evan Roos in the second helped DHL WP power back into the contest. Roos’ try was following on from the good work laid down by the forwards which saw Neethling Fouche’s try ruled out. The home side trailled 31-23 after 51 minutes in what was shaping up to be a hall of fame encounter.
The points were flowing as both side attacked, and scored, freely. Replacement scrumhalf Godlin Masimla was denied a try but almost immediately hit back with a try as the home side edged closer.
The defining moment came six minutes from time as Cheetahs’ Junior Pokomela fouled Masimla which left Swiel with a chance to win the game. He did not fail.
The win lifts the DHL Western Province hopes while the visitors remain rooted to the bottom on the table.
DHL Western Province:
Tries: Sergeal Petersen, Evan Roos, Seabelo Senatla, Godlen Masimla
Cons: Tim Swiel 4
Pens: Tim Swiel 4
Toyota Cheetahs:
Tries: Jeandre Rudolph 2, Cohen Jasper, Tian Meyer, Chris Smit
Cons: Ruan Pienaar 4
Pens: Ruan Pienaar 2
Yellow card: Nama Xaba (DHL WP)
DHL Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Deon Fourie, 7 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Leon Lyons, 17 JJ Kotze, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 David Brits, 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Jean Droste, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Aluluthu Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Chris Smit.
