WP see off Pumas in Athlone arm-wrestle
CURRIE CUP REPORT: Western Province boosted their play-off hopes with a 22-14 win over the Pumas in their Round 11 clash at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
The home side outscored their opponents by three tries to two in a tight contest.
John Dobson’s side only had a one-point lead when time was up on the clock, but a try by lock Adre Smith on the full-time hooter and a Jean-Luc du Plessis conversion ensured that the Pumas left Cape Town empty-handed.
It was a fantastic start for the visitors with prop Cameron Dawson easing through WP’s defence to score the opening try in the second minute. Tinus de Beer added the extra two points with the conversion.
WP thought they were in a few minutes later when Clayton Blommetjies crossed the tryline, but the TMO spotted a forward pass from Godlen Masimla to the fullback.
The home side eventually opened their account in the 15th minute when Masimla dived over for a try from the base of a ruck after sustained pressure inside the Pumas’ 22. Du Plessis levelled the scores with the conversion.
The Pumas were then reduced to 14 men in the 23rd minute when Lundi Msenge was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
Province then went in front in the 30th minute with Du Plessis crashing over after a strong scrum by his forwards inside the Pumas’ 22. The flyhalf was unsuccessful with the conversion.
At half-time, it was 12-7 in WP’s favour.
It was the Pumas who were first to draw blood in the second half with wing Andrew Kota diving over in the corner for a try in the 49th minute after some great passing by his teammates.
De Beer put his team in front with a great touchline conversion.
The Pumas seemed to be gaining momentum, but with seven minutes left on the clock, Du Plessis put WP back in front with a penalty.
The Capetonians had the final say at the end when Smith crashed over the tryline for his team’s third try.
Man of the match: The award goes to Western Province scrumhalf Godlen Masimla, he made some good decisions around the rucks and he scored a try as well. He also provided the final pass for Jean-Luc du Plessis’ try.
The scorers:
For Western Province:
Tries: Masimla, Du Plessis, Smith
Cons: Du Plessis 2
Pen: Du Plessis
For Pumas:
Tries: Dawson, Kota
Cons: De Beer 2
Yellow card: Lundi Msenge (Pumas, 23′ – cynical play, deliberate knock-on)
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Luke Burger, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Tom Nel, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Chad Solomon, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Armand Maritz, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Duncan Saal.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Deon Slabbert, 20 Franna Kleinhans, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Etienne Taljaard.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Griffin Colby
