A rampant Western Province outplayed the Border Bulldogs as the stormed to a massive 45-7 win in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge match at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane yesterday afternoon.
A valiant Bulldogs side stayed in the match right up to the final 10 minutes, when they still had an outside chance of overhauling the visitors’ score, but a yellow card and three late tries saw Province pull away emphatically for a comprehensive victory.
The Bulldogs started the first half in cracking fashion as they took a 7-0 lead within the first five minutes through flyhalf Oliver Zono, who enjoyed a solid match.
Zono had a chance to put the hosts on the board in the second minute with a long-range penalty, but his effort was short and wide.
He then received the final pass, after a break down the right-hand touchline, from fullback Sonwabiso Mqalo, and scored under the poles, converting his own try.
However, Province came storming back and took the lead in the 20th minute as a superb chip-and- chase from fullback Craig Barry saw him go over near the left- hand corner, while hooker Dean Muir then dotted down in the right-hand corner after a driving maul. Inside centre Brandon Thompson slotted both tricky conversions to put them 14-7 up.
In the 26th minute a contentious decision saw the Bulldogs disallowed a try after lock Lindokuhle Welemu crashed over from short range. However, the referee referred it upstairs, saying his on-field decision was to award a try.
The TMO ruled Welemu had played the ball on the ground, and awarded Province a penalty.
With seven minutes left in the half Province flank Brendan Esterhuizen scored a converted try to give them a 21-7 lead at half-time.
The second half then saw only a Thompson penalty in the 62nd minute which put Province 24-7 up going into the last 10 minutes.
Repeated red zone infringements from the Bulldogs then saw eighth-man Sokuphumla Xakalashe given a yellow card with nine minutes of the match left. Province then scored three tries through flank Johan du Toit, eighthman Jaco Coetzee and replacement back Grant Hermanus, with Thompson keeping his perfect kicking record intact as they cruised to a 45-7 win.
In the other match on the day the Eastern Province Kings claimed a nailbiting 24-21 win over the South Western District Eagles.
Fullback Keanu Vers was arguably the Kings’ standout performer, with some electrifying runs which saw him bag a brace of tries.
The Kings held a 10-7 lead going into the break, thanks to a try from Old Selbornian and former Border Schools’ hooker Tango Balekile. Vers then crossed for a try before the Eagles scored through flyhalf Johnny Welthagen, whose try was converted.
Vers scored in the corner at the start of the second half, before Chris Heiberg barged his way over for the bonus point try, with flyhalf Pieter-Steyn de Wet converting both tries for a 24-7 lead.
However, the Eagles scored two tries through eighthman Thor Halvorsen and replacement back Marlo Weich to make it a three-point game, with the Kings then holding on for the win.
The results see the Kings move to third on the log on 15 points, one point behind the Bulldogs, while the Boland Kavaliers are in fourth place on 12 points and have a game in hand on both, making the fight for progression to the quarterfinals a very interesting one. Western Province have sealed the top spot.
Bulldogs fight to end: WP pull away in final 10 minutes
A valiant Bulldogs side stayed in the match right up to the final 10 minutes, when they still had an outside chance of overhauling the visitors’ score, but a yellow card and three late tries saw Province pull away emphatically for a comprehensive victory.
The Bulldogs started the first half in cracking fashion as they took a 7-0 lead within the first five minutes through flyhalf Oliver Zono, who enjoyed a solid match.
Zono had a chance to put the hosts on the board in the second minute with a long-range penalty, but his effort was short and wide.
He then received the final pass, after a break down the right-hand touchline, from fullback Sonwabiso Mqalo, and scored under the poles, converting his own try.
However, Province came storming back and took the lead in the 20th minute as a superb chip-and- chase from fullback Craig Barry saw him go over near the left- hand corner, while hooker Dean Muir then dotted down in the right-hand corner after a driving maul. Inside centre Brandon Thompson slotted both tricky conversions to put them 14-7 up.
In the 26th minute a contentious decision saw the Bulldogs disallowed a try after lock Lindokuhle Welemu crashed over from short range. However, the referee referred it upstairs, saying his on-field decision was to award a try.
The TMO ruled Welemu had played the ball on the ground, and awarded Province a penalty.
With seven minutes left in the half Province flank Brendan Esterhuizen scored a converted try to give them a 21-7 lead at half-time.
The second half then saw only a Thompson penalty in the 62nd minute which put Province 24-7 up going into the last 10 minutes.
Repeated red zone infringements from the Bulldogs then saw eighth-man Sokuphumla Xakalashe given a yellow card with nine minutes of the match left. Province then scored three tries through flank Johan du Toit, eighthman Jaco Coetzee and replacement back Grant Hermanus, with Thompson keeping his perfect kicking record intact as they cruised to a 45-7 win.
In the other match on the day the Eastern Province Kings claimed a nailbiting 24-21 win over the South Western District Eagles.
Fullback Keanu Vers was arguably the Kings’ standout performer, with some electrifying runs which saw him bag a brace of tries.
The Kings held a 10-7 lead going into the break, thanks to a try from Old Selbornian and former Border Schools’ hooker Tango Balekile. Vers then crossed for a try before the Eagles scored through flyhalf Johnny Welthagen, whose try was converted.
Vers scored in the corner at the start of the second half, before Chris Heiberg barged his way over for the bonus point try, with flyhalf Pieter-Steyn de Wet converting both tries for a 24-7 lead.
However, the Eagles scored two tries through eighthman Thor Halvorsen and replacement back Marlo Weich to make it a three-point game, with the Kings then holding on for the win.
The results see the Kings move to third on the log on 15 points, one point behind the Bulldogs, while the Boland Kavaliers are in fourth place on 12 points and have a game in hand on both, making the fight for progression to the quarterfinals a very interesting one. Western Province have sealed the top spot.
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