Western Province’s season came to a crashing halt in Saturday’s Currie Cup final against the Sharks at Newlands.
Having wiped the floor with their opposition throughout the season, WP entered the home final as heavy favourites to successfully defend the title they won in Durban last year.
But the Province side that pitched up for the season decider was by no means the same one that bulldozed the Sharks 50-28 last month.
This time around their lineout didn’t function, the Sharks beat them in the collision and their backline never looked a threat.
The expectation at Newlands was huge – a warm day in Cape Town, fans expected the action to be heated on the field as well.
FIGHTER: Coenie Oosthuizen.Photo: NOOR SLAMDIEN
Instead, it was an error-strewn encounter that failed to live up to the hype.
It was from another failed WP lineout that the hosts actually got their first points of the match.
With a lineout on the Sharks’ 22, the visitors contested and Sharks hooker Akker van der Merwe gathered the loose ball.
CUP HERO: Akker van der Merwe
From there, the Sharks conceded an unfortunate penalty, with SP Marais giving WP a 3-0 lead after 19 minutes.
The Sharks thought they had scored nine minutes later, but tighthead prop Thomas du Toit was held up in-goal.
Four minutes from the break, Sharks centre Jeremy Ward was penalised for a tackle on Josh Stander and Marais doubled his team’s lead (6-0).
The Sharks finally opened their account in the second half when Man of the Match Van der Merwe powered his way over for the first five-pointer of the encounter (7-6).
A Dan du Preez tip-tackle on Sikhumbuzo Notshe gave Marais another shot at goal and WP again took the lead (9-7).
With 30 minutes left – after having a Dan du Preez try disallowed – the Sharks regained the lead with a Robert du Preez penalty conversion (10-9).
FAMILY AFFAIR: Du Preez bros./ Photo: NOOR SLAMDIEN
With 10 minutes left on the clock, the Sharks that got what would turn out to be the winning score via Tyler Paul, who crashed over from close range.
A Damian Willemse penalty set up a thrilling finish, but it wasn’t to be in the end for WP.
Sharks – Tries:
Akker van der Merwe and Tyler Paul; Conversions: Robert du Preez; Penalty: Robert du Preez.