Clinical WP see off Bulls

The home side had the superior pack forwards at Newlands with the Bulls being driven back in the scrums throughout the 80 minutes.

WP also had to deal with the loss of Rynardt Elstadt just before the game, but it did not seem to trouble the home side as they put in a clinical performance to to get revenge for their 29-47 defeat in Round Three. 

It was a frenetic start to the game with both teams intent on testing the opposition defence. It was the home team who opened the scoring in the third minute when wing Dillyn Leyds finished off a brilliant sustained attack to get over for a try. Robert du Preez added the extras to give WP a 7-0 lead after four minutes.

A few minutes later WP then showed their strength in the scrum where they drove the Bulls back with ease. They used their advantage well and after spreading the ball wide centre Huw Jones finished well to get his team's second try. Du Preez could not convert, but WP were already 12-0 in front after nine minutes.

The Bulls got their first points on the board through a Louis Fouché penalty, but they were clearly playing second fiddle to a dominant WP pack. WP were also looking dangerous on the counter with Leyds, Jones and fullback Cheslin Kolbe often finding little gaps in the Bulls defence.

The away team did have their opportunities to score after some sustained pressure on the WP tryline midway in the first half, but some desperate defence from the home side kept them out. However the Bulls were able to reduce the deficit with another Fouche penalty before the half hour mark.

WP were back on the attack shortly afterwards with Seabelo Senatla nearly getting his team's third try after a charge down. They did manage to extend their lead a few minutes later after a Du Preez penalty made it 15-6. 

Despite being on the front foot for much of the first half, WP were penalised on a number of occasions for being offside by referee Rasta Rasivhenge with one of those indiscretions resulting in another three points for the Bulls, which reduced the deficit to just six points.

The Bulls finished the half with a flourish, but still could not find a way over the whitewash with the score reading 15-9 in favour of WP at half-time.

WP were the first to get on the scoreboard in the second half with another Du Preez penalty as the home side continued to dominate the tight phases. The Bulls also decided to change things around by bringing Tian Schoeman on for the ineffective Fouché at flyhalf.

Schoeman had a chance to reduce WP's lead to six again, but missed what looked like an easy penalty kick in the 56th minute. WP then found themselves further in front when Du Preez slotted yet another penalty to bring the score to 21-9 after 59 minutes.

With less than fifteen minutes left that lead increased from 12 to 15 after Du Preez added another penalty with the Bulls being penalised on the ground on a number of occasions.

There was a glimmer of hope for the Bulls in the 73rd minute when wing Travis Ismaiel got on the end of a well-waited Warrick Gelant kick to score his team's first try of the game. However, Schoeman could not add the extras. 

The game was the well and truly put to bed when replacement scrumhalf Jano Vermaak beat a number of Bulls' defenders in the red zone to get his team's third and final try of the night. 

Man of the match: Deon Stegmann showed his class at the breakdowns winning possession for his team on a number of occasions. Western Province's front row was dominant throughout the game with Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi and Steven Kitshoff driving Marcel van der Merwe, Bandise Maku and Pierre Schoeman in the scrums, while centre Huw Jones looked promising on attack. However, Robert du Preez once again controlled the game from the flyhalf channel for the Cape side and deserves the award. 

Scorers:

For Western Province:

Tries: Leyds, Jones, Vermaak

Con: Du Preez

Pens: Du Preez 4

For Blue Bulls:

Try: Ismaiel

Pens: Fouche 3

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Nic Groom (captain), 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Nizaam Carr , 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Demetri Catrakilis, 22 Kobus van Wyk.

Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 7 Roelof Smit, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Tian Schoeman, 22 Jan Serfontein.

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman, Lourens van der Merwe

TMO: Marius Jonker