Western Province produced a superb comeback in the second
half to down the Cheetahs 40-39 in a gripping Currie Cup encounter played at
Newlands on Saturday.
The win moves the Cape side up to fourth on the table, still four points behind third-placed Griquas.
The home team looked dead and buried as the Cheetahs took a 31-16 lead early into the second period.
AS IT HAPPENED | Western Province 40-39 Cheetahs
Province scored four tries in the second half while the unerring boot of flyhalf Tim Swiel made sure of the victory.
The hosts started the points-scoring early in the game as fullback Sergeal Petersen went in for a try in the fifth minute, which Swiel converted.
The Cheetahs, though, hit back immediately from the kick-off as flanker Jeandré Rudolph went over with Ruan Pienaar adding the extras.
The visitors scored their second try of the afternoon when wing Cohen Jasper finished off a good team move, with Pienaar again successful from the kicking tee.
Swiel's boot was keeping Province in touch on the scoreboard, and the flyhalf added two more penalties as the Cheetahs led 14-13 after 25 minutes.
The home team suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when flanker Nama Xaba had to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin for giving away a cynical penalty.
The visitors took full advantage of the extra man and scored two tries before the halftime interval through Rudolph and Tian Meyer.
Swiel added another penalty, but Province found themselves 28-16 behind at the break.
Pienaar added another three points from the kicking tee early in the second half as the Cheetahs extended their lead and looked to be cruising to victory.
Replacement forward Evan Roos started the comeback with a 51st-minute try, with Swiel again adding the extras.
Province's ill discipline cost them as Pienaar again slotted a penalty in the 63rd minute as the Cheetahs took a 34-23 lead.
The deficit was reduced to just four points when wing Seabelo Senatla went over for Province, and Swiel converted in the 65th minute.
The see-saw nature of the contest continued when Cheetahs replacement back Chris Smit broke through the Province defence and scored.
Pienaar's conversion from touchline, however, hit the post, and those extra two points would prove to be costly with the visitors nine points ahead and 10 minutes remaining.
The deficit was then reduced to two points as Province reserve scrumhalf Godlen Masimla scored a try, and Swiel converted his fourth conversion.
Swiel won the game for the hosts with five minutes remaining when he slotted a penalty from in the front of the poles to end a perfect day with the boot.
Scorers
Western Province - (16) 40
Tries: Sergeal Petersen, Evan Roos, Seabelo Senatla, Godlen Masimla
Conversions: Tim Swiel (4)
Penalties: Tim Swiel (4)
Cheetahs - (28) 39
Tries: Jeandré Rudolph (2), Cohen Jasper, Tian Meyer, Chris Smit
Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (4)
Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (2)
Teams
Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Deon Fourie, 7 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Dian Bleuler.Replacements: 16 Leon Lyons, 17 JJ Kotze, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Johan du Toit, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 David Brits, 12 Siya Masuku, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Jeandré Rudolph, 5 Jean Droste, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Aluluthu Tshakweni.Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Chris Smit.