WP survive brief Boland scare
In the penultimate game of the day, the men from the Winelands made a blistering start but the powerhouse WP side managed to find their groove before the half-time interval and eventually stamped their authority on proceedings.
Against everyone's expectations, it was Boland who grabbed the opening points of the contest when Albert Liebenberg charged down a clearance kick inside WP's 22. He raced after it to score next to the uprights. Anton du Toit converted to take a 7-0 lead after just four minutes.
That lead was extended to 14-0 after eight minutes when Shandrey Pietersen crossed the try line for a converted score, much to the shock of the packed stands.
Those scores seemed to spur WP into action as they bashed away at the Boland defence. The pressure told in the 12th minute when Damian Willemse jinked through a gap to cross the try line. Gianni Lombard made no mistake with the conversion to trail Boland 7-14.
Du Toit was deadly accurate with the boot and punished WP when they infringed inside their 22, to stretch Boland's lead to 17-7 after 14 minutes. Boland were holding their own against their more fancied opponents and refused to be intimidated.
However, WP would be the next to score as a flowing team move - that saw them create an overlap on the outside - found the hands of Daniel Jooste to score in the corner. Lombard was pin-point accurate with his conversion to narrow the gap to just three points.
With their tails up, WP took the lead for the first time in the game in the 29th minute when Lombard crashed over for his side's third try. He picked himself up and duly converted to ensure a 21-17 lead. Boland finished the half on the front foot though but could not add any further points to the scoreboard at the break.
The tackles came in hard and fast at the resumption of play as the teams wrestled for ascendency. Lombard and Du Toit exchanged penalties within 10 minutes of the second half before WP were reduced to 14-men - Jesse Johnson sent to the naughty boys' chair in the 47th minute.
Despite the one-man disadvantage, it would be WP who would extend their lead to nine points when a brilliant break by Damian Willemse eventually led to Lombard diving over in the corner. He missed with his conversion attempt though but the lead was 29-20 after 54 minutes.
Four minutes later and they bagged their fifth try through Willemse - his second. Lombard once again failed with the extras but WP had managed to stretch their lead to 34-20 with 11 minutes remaining in the contest.
The match was seemingly over with four minutes remaining after Khanya Ncusane ensured his name got onto the scoresheet when he rounded things off. Lombard added the conversion to ensure a 41-20 lead.
That was to be the final points of what an enthralling game.
Scorers:
For Western Province:
Tries: Damian Willemse 2, Daniel Jooste, Gianni Lombard 2, Khanya Ncusane
Cons: Gianni Lombard 4
Pen: Gianni Lombard
For Boland:
Tries: Albert Liebenberg, Shandrey Pietersen
Cons: Anton du Toit 2
Pens: Anton du Toit 2
Yellow cards: Jesse Johnson (Western Province, 47), Cohen Kiewit (Boland, 71)
Teams:
Western Province: Gianni Lombard, Mike Mavovana, Manuel Rass, Henco Marais, Muller du Plessis, Damian Willemse, Vusile Dlepu, Khanya Ncusane, Muller Uys, Charl Serdyn, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Ben-Jason Dixon, Adam Neethling, Daniel Jooste, André Booysen, Liam Larkan, Reece Bezuidenhout, Tristan Leitch, Jesse Johnson, Athi Magwala, Deon Carstens, Lubelo Scott, Quan Eymaan.
Boland: James Mao Cheia, Bradley van Turha, Bertho le Roux, Anton du Toit, Caleb Dingane, Lloyd-Deslin April, Rick Jordaan, Charlie Gerber, Charl Schoeman, Michael Goodall, Albert Liebenberg, Stiaan Basson, Cohen Kiewiet, Neil Burger, Kayden Kiewiet, Henry Hagen, Igne Erasmus, Gerrit Bester, Jan-Ernst Terblanche, Bronlee Mouries, Hanreco van Zyl, Keenan Williams, Shandré Pietersen.
Referee: Ricus van der Hoven
Assistant referees: Vusi Msibi, Pieter Maritz
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe