By Ross Roche.
©Backpagepix.
DHL Western Province saved their best performance of the Currie Cup season for last as they absolutely demolished the Cell C Sharks 44-5 in their final pool clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
Despite the Cheetahs beating the Bulls 31-27 in the day’s earlier game at Loftus, the two bonus points picked up by the Bulls meant that they had sealed their place in the semifinals and no matter what Province did, they couldn’t make it into the knockouts.
The Sharks had already secured a home semifinal but were still playing for top spot on the log after the Cheetahs moved back above them. However, they produced a dismal showing to end their amazing seven-match winning run in the competition.
Province got off to a steady start in the game as flyhalf Jurie Mathee slotted two early penalties for a 6-0 lead after 11 minutes.
Four minutes later, they were in for their first try as lock Ben-Jason Dixon seized on a mistake from Sharks wing Werner Kok to grubber the ball ahead and go over for a converted score.
In the 25th minute, a penalty deep in the Sharks’ 22m was taken by Province, catching the visiting defence napping as flank Marcel Theunissen went over to score, converted by Mathee for a 20-0 lead.
The home side then finished the half with a flourish in the 36th minute as they went through a number of phases and spread the ball quickly for eighthman Hacjivah Dayimani to put on the afterburners and go over in the corner, giving them a big lead at the break.
The second half started as it finished for the hosts as they attacked from a lineout, with Dayimani showing good strength to get in range and reach over and score, as Mathee added the extras to put them 32-0 up after 45 minutes.
The Sharks then thought they had finally got on the board with a try to inside centre Manus Potgieter, only for the score to be chalked off after the TMO spotted a knock-on in the build-up.
This allowed Province to surge even further ahead as they attacked into the Sharks 22m, with lock Ruben van Heerden crashing over for the converted score in the 54th minute.
In the 68th minute, a scintillating break from his own half by fullback Clayton Blommetjies saw him release replacement loose forward Jarrod Taylor to sprint away and go over in the corner, which moved them 44-0 ahead.
The Sharks were desperate to make sure they got something out of the game and managed to do so with a try after the fulltime hooter from Potgieter.
But it turned out to be a silly end to the match as Taylor made a late dive in on Potgieter who had already scored, leading to a yellow card and a penalty for the Sharks on the halfway, but they weren’t able to make anything of it in the end.
SCORERS
Western Province: Tries – Ben-Jason Dixon, Marcel Theunissen, Hacjivah Dayimani (2), Ruben van Heerden, Jarrod Taylor; Conversions – Jurie Mathee (4); Penalties – Mathee (2)
Sharks: Try – Marnus Potgieter.