By Grant Winter.
DHL Western Province cracked into the Currie Cup Premier Division top-four with a bonus-point 31-7 (HT 14-0) win over the Vodacom Bulls at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.
The rivals were in very similar positions going into the Round-Eight fixture.
Both teams had won just three of their seven games – although the Bulls added an extra level or two to their confidence tanks after their three Ws came on the bounce.
The 34-time Currie Cup kings started their campaign strongly, but they have been patchy until now.
Apart from elevation up the Currie Cup points table, the match had extra spice considering next Saturday’s United Rugby Championship quarter-final between the third-placed Stormers and Bulls, who finished their regular-season campaign in sixth position.
John Dobson’s men’s strong defensive display – combined with how they made use of their possession – ultimately proved the difference in the Mother City.
The traveling side stayed in the fight, although the score wouldn’t exactly suggest it, but will no doubt be lamenting the opportunities they did not convert, especially in the second half.
The interplay between the Province backs and forwards and overall hunger on attack were instrumental in their first win since their victory at home over the NovaVit Griffons in early April.
Province got on the scoresheet 10 minutes into the game after a strong scrum by the hosts and good pressure by scrumhalf Godlen Masimla on his opposite number. With that solid foundation laid, a simple pick-up-and-pass to the outside saw the Capetonians get their first converted try (7-0).
Dylan de Leeuw, who put in a Man-of-the-Match performance, put his power on full display as he bumped a couple of defenders towards the end of the opening quarter to score his first Currie Cup try in fine style (14-0).
While the Bulls played with more intent after the break, they could only manage a solo try via replacement Harold Vorster around the 60th minute (14-7).
Damian Markus properly announced his presence on the field as he scored a superb intercept try minutes after coming on, but Province weren’t done yet.
In the dying seconds of the game, they scored another intercept try to pull a double over the Bulls.
The positive result catapulted WP to fourth spot on the standing, while the Bulls stay put in sixth position.
Province next face the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, May 6, while the Bulls will host the Cell C Sharks at Loftus.