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Western Province assured a much needed 28-14 Currie Cup victory over him Pumas in Newlands on Friday after what has been a difficult week for the union.
The syndicate’s off-field deals with the Flyt real estate group, responsible for the development of Newlands beyond this season, and potential US investors MVM Holdings have made headlines, but on Friday night players got a chance to make a once plus the conversation about rugby.
They did it with a bonus points win, but it wasn’t an easy game for neutrals to watch with countless stoppages stopping any momentum in the contest.
On the field, WP had also suffered back-to-back losses to the Bulls and then the Lions in the Currie Cup heading into this match.
Friday night’s victory was often difficult and far from comfortable, but at least it ensured that the week ended in a positive way for WP coach John Dobson and his teammates.
The hosts found themselves 5-0 down after the first quarter with center Erich Cronje crossing the mark for the Pumas, but the WP forwards began to take control of the game.
Hooker Scarra Ntubeni scored a try in each half after two dominant WP mauls, while wing Angelo Davids also scored a try.
The Pumas’ Devon Williams voided a penalty shortly before full time to secure what looked like a losing extra point, but that small victory was short-lived when Steven Kitshoff crashed to score the fourth and the WP-winning extra point.
Scorers:
WP 28 (8)
Attempts: Scarra Ntubeni (2), Angelo Davids, Steven Kitshoff
Conversions: Kade Wolhuter
Penalties: Wolhuter (2)
Cougars 14 (5)
Attempts: Elrich Cronje
Penalties: Devon Williams (3)
Teams:
Western Province
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Michal Haznar, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Tristan Leyds, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Kwenzo Blose, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Dan du Plessis
Pumas
15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Ruwellyn Isbell, 10 Tiaan Botes, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude
Substitutes: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Wikus Groenewald, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Ewart Potgieter, 20 Ginter Smuts, 21 Devon Williams, 22 Japie Kleinhans, 23 Liam Hendricks
