Province pummel Pumas

Flyhalf Robert du Preez scored two tries and landed four conversions and a penalty for a personal points tally of 21 points.

But it was the manner in which the home side controlled the second half that gave their supporters hope of hosting a Currie Cup semifinal and a chance of defending their title.

Province are now level on points with the Blue Bulls after eight rounds, with the Bulls sitting in second thanks to a slender three-point advantage in the points difference department.

The Pumas, despite conceding an early try to No.8 Nizaam Carr after 10 minutes, dominated the early exchanges and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck with tries from left wing Rosco Specman and prop Vincent Koch.

Specman raced down the left side of the field shortly after Province had opened the scoring and caught the Province defence napping.

Koch’s try came about as a result of a yellow card to Province centre Johnny Kotze, who was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle.

Flyhalf Justin van Staden kicked for the corner and Koch used his power to rumble over from close range.

Province hooker Mbongeni Mbonami made a storming run down field and then offloaded to his scrumhalf Jano Vermaak to round off close to the poles.

Du Preez converted to level the scores with five minutes remaining in the half.

Pumas again caught the home side napping and Specman managed to grab his second try of the afternoon immediately after the kickoff.

Van Staden converted to hand the visitors a seven-point lead which was cut to four points when Du Preez landed a penalty to send the teams into the changing rooms.

The second half was all about the hosts, with Du Preez controlling play brilliantly.

Province grabbed the lead just two minutes after the restart when Kotze broke through the Pumas defence and offloaded to right wing Kobus van Wyk who scored in the corner.

Du Preez converted from a tight angle as Province gained a slender three-point lead.

The Province flyhalf then started to play with more ball in hand, running at the Pumas defence which resulted in Province’s bonus-point try – then on the hour mark, Du Preez was at it again.

Province had been mounting some serious pressure on the Pumas tryline and Du Preez spotted a gap in the defence and accelerated through it to score close to the poles.

With both conversions successful, the hosts opened up a commanding lead of 17 points.

Five minutes later Province put the game beyond doubt when replacement flanker Jurie van Vurren burst over the tryline for the sixth try of the afternoon.

Demetri Catrakilis, who had replaced Du Preez on the hour mark, slotted the conversion to put the hosts out of sight.

The home side decided to rub salt into the wounds of the Nelspruit outfit and with just 30 seconds left on the stadium clock, replacement prop Ali Vermaak rumbled over the line and the half century mark was brought up when Catrakilis landed the conversion.

Man of the Match: The award goes to Western Province flyhalf Robert du Preez who got 21 of his team's points, including two tries.

Scorers:

For Western Province:

Tries: Carr, J Vermaak, Van Wyk, Du Preez 2, Van Vuuren,  A Vermaak

Cons: Du Preez 4, Catrakilis 2

Pen: Du Preez

For Pumas:

Tries: Speckman 2, Koch

Cons: Van Staden 2

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jean Kleyn, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Demetri Catrakilis, 22 Jaco Taute.

Pumas: 15 Hoffmann Maritz, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Wilmaure Louw, 11 Rosco Speckman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Francois de Klerk (captain), 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Rudi Mathee, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Deon Helberg.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Divan Uys

Source: @SaRugby