WP end their Currie Cup season on a high

DHL Western Province finished their Carling Currie Cup campaign with a comfortable 40-22 win against neighbours the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

A dominant second-half performance saw the men in the blue and white hoops pull away after half-time to secure a six-try win on the occasion of captain Deon Fourie’s 100th match.

It was attritional from the start, as both teams threw everything into the contest without being able to break the defensive line.

The deadlock was eventually broken when Kavaliers prop Dayan van der Westhuizen forced his way over from close range and it was a prop who scored the first try for the home side as well, with Vernon Matongo crashing over shortly afterwards.

The conversion from Jurie Matthee gave Western Province a slender lead but it would be the visitors who took a one-point advantage into the break thanks to a penalty from flyhalf Juan Mostert.

The home start made a good start to the second half as first Adre Smith powered his way over from close range before it was spun out to Leolin Zas for the third try.

The bonus point was wrapped up when centre Jonny Roche finished off a flowing move and they followed that up with a second try from Smith who forced his way over from close quarters once again.

The Kavaliers were awarded a second try as wing Donavan Don finished and there was a maul try from Marcel Theunissen before the home side responded with one of their own.

The Kavaliers know they have a lot of work to do before they play in next week's semi-finals of the Carling Black Label Currie Cup.

This was the final round-robin match and head coach Hawies Fourie's men will have to wait on the results from the remaining Round 7 games to know who they will be playing and where.

Score

DHL Western Province 40 (7) - Tries: Vernon Matongo, Adre Smit (2), Leolin Zas, Jonathan Roche, Marcell Theunissen. Conversions: Jurie Mathee (5)

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 22 (8) - Tries: Dayan van der Westhuizen, Donovan Don, Llewellyn Classen. Conversions: Jayden Bantom, Donovan Don. Penalty: Juan Mostert.