DHL Western Province’s Carling Currie Cup campaign kicks off with a North-South clash with the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
There are five players in the matchday squad set to make their DHL WP debut today. Hooker JJ Kotze, flank Niel Otto and No.8 Evan Roos are in the starting line-up and lock Justin Basson and loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani are on the replacements bench.
0 – Great conditions for rugby in Pretoria at kick-off of this North-South Carling Currie Cup showdown at Loftus Versfeld. DHL WP looking to get their campaign off to a winning start away from home.
3 – DHL WP make the early running as they take the ball wide with purpose but a loose ball is picked up by the Bulls and wing Kefentse Mahlo runs away to score the opening try and put the home side 7-0 up.
6 – DHL WP continue to carry with purpose and it goes wide again, but a loose pass is knocked on so the Bulls have the first scrum near halfway.
11 – A scrum penalty is followed by a powerful maul and then they go wide to wing Sihle Njezula who steps over to score. Set up by the forwards, finished by the backs. Abner van Reenen adds the touchline conversion to level the scores at 7-7.
14 – Bulls try to run it out from their own 22 and eventually scramble it away into touch, so DHL WP will come from the line-out.
16 – Bulls come in at the side at the maul, so they set another one and hooker JJ Kotze is over for the try on debut. Another wide conversion from Abner van Reenen and DHL WP have a 14-7 lead.
18 – Evan Roos blown up at the breakdown so Bulls kick the penalty but it goes wide from right in front.
20 – DHL WP continue to run the ball and it goes wide to Johan du Toit this time, but it is lost forward in the tackle so the Bulls have scrum on halfway.
22 – Bulls give away a breakdown penalty this time, so DHL WP can set up another attacking line-out. It goes to the backline but the ball is intercepted so the Bulls clear it.
25 – A line-out is won against the throw but then lost forward. The Bulls put n a low kick that goes out on halfway and DHL WP gain some ground back into opposition territory with another maul.
28 – Relentless attack from DHL WP, quick ball and multiple phases in the 22 smashing over the gainline time and again until JJ Kotze crashes over for his second try. That takes the lead out to 21-7.
30 – First scrum for DHL WP just outside their 22 after a knock-on from the Bulls. They run it out and carry it over halfway but a loose pass goes astray and the Bulls have another scrum of their own.
33 – Bulls surge into the 22, but the scramble defence tracks them down and the ball is lost forward, so DHL WP have a defensive scrum to clear the threat.
35 – Forwards produce a scrum penalty, so they set up a line-out near halfway. It goes to the backline but there is a forward pass so the Bulls have another scrum.
37 – Bulls playing with advantage and a cross-kick finds it mark. Fullback David Kriel is over for the second try, which cuts DHL WP’s lead to 21-12 just before half-time.
40 – A scrum penalty is followed by a maul penalty and Bulls loosehead prop Simphiwe Matanzima is shown a yellow card as a result. Another maul and JJ Kotze is over for his hat-trick try which also secures the bonus point at half-time.
42 – Second half underway and a forward pass from the Bulls means that DHL WP have a scrum on halfway.
44 – Ball taken into the 22, but then lost forward on the ground. Bulls find touch so DHL WP will come again from the line-out. Bulls steal it and then clear it.
47 – Both teams looking for territory and kick it back and forth. Quite disjointed play in the middle of the field.
49 – Huge scrum from DHL WP earns another penalty and another attacking line-out. Another maul and a fourth try for JJ Kotze. That takes the lead out to 33-12.
54 – DHL WP making metres with every carry now and it goes out to big Evan Roos who puts the hammer down out wide and busts over for the sixth try. That takes the lead out to 38-12.
58 – A DHL WP scrum on the front foot again. It goes wide and Paul de Wet finds Rikus Pretorius in the 22. Bulls turn it over and clear to touch.
61 – Bulls go offside this time and DHL WP take the points with Tim Swiel kicking the first penalty of the match to make it 41-12 with 20 mins to play at Loftus.
64 – Bulls playing from their own half as they look to come back into the game, but the DHL WP defence holds out well.
67 – DHL WP go wide again and go deep into the 22 but Bulls turn it over and clear again.
68 – Attack from the line-out and Paul de Wet steps through and puts Dan du Plessis over for the seventh try which takes the lead out to 48-12.
70 – The Vodacom Bulls cross for their third try to reduce the lead to 48-19.
74 – Sergeal Petersen shown a yellow card for a late charge, but the turnover is won at the breakdown by Hacjivah Dayimani.
77 – DHL WP on the attack again, but the ball is lost forward so the Bulls have a scrum in their own half as they search for a late bonus point.
80 – The Bulls get over for a try after the hooter to salvage a bonus point, but that is a 48-24 win for DHL WP.