Defending Currie Cup champions Western Province are absolutely ruthless in their quest to successfully defend their title.
Coach John Dobson’s side extended their unbeaten run in this tournament to five matches on Saturday, handing the Sharks their first defeat of the campaign at Newlands.
The impressive 50-28 win secured Province a top-two spot and a home semi-final ahead of their final match of the round-robin season against the Bulls at Loftus.
WP only need one log point to secure top spot and also bag a home final if they progress to the semis.
Judging by the way they put 50-points on a Sharks team that would have fancied their chances coming to Cape Town, WP will be tough to stop.
While they conceded too many points again, it’s Province’s ability to finish off their chances that currently separates them from the other contenders in the competition.
Against the Durbanites, they ran in seven tries.
But it was the visitors that dotted down first – from the kickoff when centre Marius Louw finished off a move after his initial break down Province’s right touchline.
WP hit back four minutes later after some good interplay, with No.8 Jaco Coetzee – a late replacement for injured Juarno Augustus – powering over the whitewash.
After 10 minutes, the Sharks took the ball through a number of phases in their own half, before WP centre Ruhan Nel intercepted a pass to give his team the lead (14-7).
Province never surrendered the lead after that and after a SP Marais penalty kick, Dillyn Leyds operated as first receiver and flung the ball wide to flank Ernst van Rhyn.
Leyds followed his pass well and got the ball again on Van Rhyn’s inside to slice through for their third try (24-7).
In the 26th minute, WP again launched an attack from inside their own half.
This time a short pass from Kobus van Dyk saw Nel break the line before offloading to Sergeal Petersen.
The WP winger then made Curwin Bosch a pop, beating him on his outside on his way to the tryline (31-7).
Province then went to sleep as the Sharks fought back to make it 31-28.
But the hosts then pulled themselves back together to score further tries via Marais, JJ Engelbrecht and Chad Solomon.
WP - Tries:
Jaco Coetzee, Ruhan Nel, Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, SP Marais, JJ Engelbrecht and Chad Solomon; Conversions: Marais (6); Penalty: Marais.
Sharks - Tries:
Marius Louw, Tyler Paul, Gideon Koegelenberg and Aphelele Fassi; Conversions: Robert du Preez (4).