Western Province top Currie Cup with Lions win

Western Province went to the top of the Currie Cup standings when they beat the Golden Lions 27-14 in the top-of-the-table clash at Newlands on Saturday.

In the first half Western Province made better use of scoring opportunities and consequently enjoyed a 14-8 half-time lead.

The two teams enjoyed an even share of possession in the opening stages and
predictably they ran the ball at every opportunity.

There were several half-chances to score, mainly because clearing kicks were
charged down at either end, but the defences remained intact.

In the 11th minute, however, WP threatened several times after a maul from
a line-out five metres out but their three-quarters made the breakthrough when
right wing Kobus van Wyk rounded off, before flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis added
the conversion.

Lady Fortune smiled on WP four minutes later when Van Wyk gathered a poor Catrakilis
clearance kick from virtually on his own goalline and ran the length of the
field to snatch a second converted try.

Referee Craig Joubert punished WP for a breakdown infringement and left wing
Ruan Combrinck goaled the 40-metre penalty to open the Lions’ scoring in the
match.

The Lions staged a fightback in the final 10 minutes of the half but WP absorbed
the pressure with ferocious tackling in their own 22-metre territory and looked
set to retain their lead.

But then a minute ahead of the half-time whistle, Andries Coetzee, the Lions’
fullback, found an inviting opening out wide and dotted down his side’s first
try, which went unconverted.

The Lions looked strong at the start of the second half but they made no headway
against a stubborn WP defence.

Their early second-half territorial advantage proved handy when Combrinck goaled
a penalty, but the advance was blanked out three minutes later by a Catrakilis
penalty, which restored WP’s six-point lead.

The Lions continued to apply pressure for a 10-minute spell but they had to
rely on another Combrinck penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

However, WP struck back four minutes later with a second Catrakilis penalty.

By the time the second half reached the halfway stage, WP seemed to find their
early rhythm again. They did enough to record a third try but lost possession
twice when the tryline was at their mercy.

On both occasions, the Lions responded with counter-attacks from their in-goal
area but the WP cover-defence scrambled well enough to rescue the situation.

Seven minutes before the end, WP ran the Lions ragged in a move initiated on
their own 22-metre line and, despite several excellent tackles, substitute Jaco
Taute was handily placed to take a scoring pass and crash over for his side’s
third try.

Substitute pivot Kurt Coleman added the conversion to stretch the lead to 13
points.

Taute’s try effectively put the match beyond the never-say-die visitors and,
with their 13-point defeat, they surrendered the top spot on the Currie Cup
log.

Final Score Western Province 27 (14) Golden Lions 14 (8)

Scorers

Western Province
Tries: Kobus van Wyk (2), Jaco Taute
Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (2), Kurt Coleman
Penalties: Catrakilis (2).

Golden Lions
Try: Andries Coetzee
Penalties: Ruan Combrinck(3).

Teams

Western Province

15. Cheslin Kolbe , 14. Kobus van Wyk , 13. Juan de Jongh (captain) , 12. Michael van der Spuy , 11. Seabelo Senatla , 10. Demetri Catrakilis , 9. Nic Groom , 8. Nizaam Carr , 7. Michael Rhodes , 6. Siya Kolisi