Province book Currie Cup Blue Bulls Semi-final

Western Province booked a place in the Currie Cup Semi-finals by beating the Eastern Province Kings 45-14 with a bonus-point at Newlands on Friday.

The result means that Province will finish the regular season in third place behind the Blue Bulls who finished in second place behind the Golden Lions.

On Saturday the Sharks will play the Cheetahs for the fourth place or final place in the Semi-finals and the top three cannot be displaced.

Province will now travel to Loftus Versfeld next week for their play-off clash against the Bulls.

The EP Kings were under the whip right at the start when Province prised open their defence and eighthman Nizaam Carr streaked through for his eighth Currie Cup try in the second minute.

Flyhalf Robert du Preez goaled the conversion and then he and Kings fullback Scott van Breda traded penalties soon afterwards for a 10-3 scoreline after 16 minutes.

Province were giving away numerous penalties and Van Breda exploited the advantage to reduce the lead to one point by converting two penalties after 27 minutes’ play.

Godlen Masimla, the Province No 9 was having a useful game at the base of the scrum and he set one try and made another before half-time.

First he fed centre Juan de Jongh with a scoring pass off the deck and then he scythed through the Kings defence to round off a solo effort. Du Preez was on target with both conversion attempts.

Towards the end of the half, Kings’ scrumhalf Enrico Acker snatched his side’s first try when he sold the Province defence a dummy from five metres out.

The conversion was off target and the teams changed ends with Province leading by 10 points (24-14).

Province treated the 8 000-strong crowd to a two-try burst when they returned for second-half play. First fullback Dillyn Leyds dotted down and then a driving maul was rounded off by replacement loosie Justin Benn. Du Preez and his replacement Kurt Coleman goaled the conversions (38-14.)

In the remaining 20 minutes play. Province had ample opportunity to add to their scoreline but a lone try by Leyds, his second, offered scant reward.

Final Score Western Province 38 (24) Eastern Province Kings 14 (14)

Scorers

Western Province
Tries: Nizaam Carr, Juan de Jongh, Godlen Masimla, Dillyn Leyds (2), Justin Benn
Conversions: Robert du Preez (4), Kurt Coleman (2)
Penalty: Du Preez

Eastern Province Kings
Trys: Enrico Acker
Penalties: Scott van Breda (3)

Match Officials
Referee: Pro Legoete

Teams

Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Juan de Jongh (c), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Jurie van Vuuren, 5 Chris Van Zyl, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Michael Willemse, 1 Oliver Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Jaco Taute.

EP Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Ronnie Cooke (captain), 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Stefan Willemse, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.

Replacements: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Basil Short, 19 David Bulbring, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Dwayne Kelly, 22 Karlo Aspeling.