DHL Western Province showed pure class on attack and defence to defeat the Steval Pumas 37-23 in an Absa Currie Cup match at Mbombela Stadium tonight.
After dominating the first half, the Pumas fought back in the second half. It looked like the home team might just pull off the come-back of the season. It was not to be and Western Province were deserved winners of a thrilling encounter.
Western Province won possession from their kick-off and attacked the Pumas try line. The Pumas went offside and Demetri Catrakilis put his team three points up
The Pumas start did not get any better, conceding two tight heads in the next nine minutes. Province scored a try off the attacking possession from the second tight head with Nizaam Carr going over. The conversion put WP 10 points up.
The Pumas then seemed to settle down and had their first attacks in Western Province territory. JC Roos slotted a penalty to give the Pumas their first points of the match.
Roos missed two penalty attempts in the first half, one from 50 metres and the other from 41 metres out.
Catrakilis nailed another three-pointer through the posts after the Pumas were blown up for illegal scrumming. Minutes later Roos stroked a 52-metre penalty kick over the cross bar.
Just before half time Western Province ran a penalty 18 metres from the try line. The ball was passed slickly and flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe found himself on the left wing to score.
The conversion gave the visitors a 20-6 half-time lead.
The Cape Town-based team had the better of possession in the first 40 minutes. Their set pieces were well executed and the tactical kicking of Catrakilis and Cheslin Kolbe inch-perfect.
The Pumas were kept out of the game by the superior all-round play of Western Province. Considering the amount of attacking possession WP enjoyed the Pumas defended well but it was the lack quality possession to go on the offensive that counted against them.
Western Province absorbed pressure early in the second half and scored with their first foray into Pumas territory with Michael van de Spuy diving over. Catrakilis made it 27-6.
With 35 minutes left the Pumas seemed dead and buried. Justin van Staden scored the Pumas first try and added the two points.
The Pumas lifted their spirits and standard of play and minutes later Watermeyer went over in the right corner from an attack deep in the Pumas half. It was a brilliant team try. Van Rooyen converted from the touch-line.
Catrakilis and Van Rooyen traded penalties to take the score to 30-23.
The Pumas kept Province on the back foot for much of the rest of the game with high-risk running rugby They attacked with venom and passion, throwing caution to the wind.
Stefan Watermeyer was man of fire as the team pushed the Western Province defence to the limit. The lads in the hooped jerseys responded with excellent defence. They repelled one Pumas attack after the other.
Province showed tremendous calmness under pressure and fought back for one last attack in the Pumas half. Nizaan Carr scored his second try when he ran through an almost non-existent Pumas defence to score in the 80th minute. Catrakilis kicked the conversion for a final score of 37-23.
It was a match that will long be remembered for its thrilling action. In the end it was Western Province’s execution on attack and class under pressure that won the battle.
