Western Province needed a late penalty to beat the Boland Cavaliers 23-21, while there were also wins for the Blue Bulls, Sharks XV, Golden Lions XV, SWD Eagles and Free State XV in the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
In an entertaining South Section derby at Newlands, WP dominated the first half before Boland came back in the second, taking a 21-20 lead. Province flyhalf Josh Stander then stepped up to convert the winning penalty four minutes from full-time.
Two tries from scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies and a penalty from Stander gave the home side a 15-0 lead at the break.
Boland woke up in the second half and scored early through flank Ludio Williams. WP then scored a third try through wing Edwill van der Merwe, before two converted tries by scrumhalf Jovelian de Koker and wing Valentino Wellman gave Boland the lead with seven minutes to go. But Stander then saved face and his side’s unbeaten streak with his match-winning kick.
In Saturday’s other results, hat-tricks from fullback Ulrich Beyers and scrumhalf Embrose Papier gave the Blue Bulls a 64-33 win against the Valke. Wing Xolisa Guma, prop Matthys Basson, hooker Corniel Els and lock Marius Verwey also got on the scoreboard for the Bulls.
Wing Leolin Zas marked his return from a broken leg by scoring in the Sharks XV’s 33-22 win against the Griffons in Durban, scrumhalf Bradley Thain and hooker Pieter Jansen scored two tries each to power the Golden Lions XV to a 45-35 win against the Welwitschias in Windhoek, centre Tyler Fisher continued his good start to the season by scoring a brace in the SWD Eagles’ 38-17 win against the Border Bulldogs and the Free State XV scored six tries in a 40-20 win against the Leopards.
Round 3 results:
Welwitschias (35) – Tries: Darryl de la Harpe (2), Johan Tromp, Pieter Steenkamp, Leneve Damens. Conversions: Steenkamp (4), Helarius Kisting.
Golden Lions XV (45) – Tries: Ronald Brown, Wayne van der Bank, Bradley Thain (2), Pieter Jansen (2), Shaun Reynolds. Conversions: Reynolds (5).
Valke (33) – Tries: Lundi Ralarala, Ettienne Taljaard, Stokkies du Plessis, Jacques Alberts. Conversions: Stokkies du Plessis (3), Errol Jaggers.
Blue Bulls (64) – Tries: Ulrich Beyers (3), Embrose Papier (3), Xolisa Guma, Matthys Basson, Corniel Els, Marius Verwey. Conversions: Earll Douwrie (7).
Free State XV (40) – Tries: JP du Preez, Tertius Kruger, Darren Adonis, Daniel Maartens, Ayabonga Oliphant, Ruben de Haas. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (5).
Leopards (20) – Tries: Walt Steenkamp, Boela Venter. Conversions: Schalk Hugo, DP de Lange. Penalties: Hugo (2).
Sharks XV (33) – Tries: Jeremy Ward, Hyron Andrews, Leolin Zas, Garth April, Grant Williams. Conversions: April (3), Danrich Visagie.
Griffons (22) – Tries: Gavin Annandale, Anrich Alberts, Cody-Anthony Basson, Neil Claassen. Conversion: Jaun Kotze.
Western Province (23) – Tries: Herschel Jantjies (2), Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Josh Stander. Penalties: Stander (2).
Boland Cavaliers (21) – Tries: Ludio Williams, Jovelian de Koker, Valentino Wellman. Conversions: Jacquin Jansen (3).
SWD Eagles (38) – Tries: Teunis Nieuwoudt, Janneman Stander, Tyler Fisher (2), Leighton Eksteen. Conversions: Divan Nel (5). Penalty: Nel.
Border Bulldogs (20) – Tries: Soso Xakalashe, Sowso Mqala (2). Conversions: Bangi Kobese. Penalty: Kobese.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images