Bonus for Province in Potch
It was mission accomplished for Western Province on Friday as they claimed a bonus point in their 47-9 win over the Leopards.
It was mission accomplished for Western Province on Friday as they claimed a four-try bonus point in their 47-9 Currie Cup win over the Leopards at Olen Park in Potchefstroom.
The hosts put up a good fight for 20 minutes and were trailing by a single point at the end of the first quarter but it was one-way traffic for the next hour as WP scored a total of five tries.
Rookie fly-half Demetri Catrakilis will be chuffed with his debut as he put in a near-flawless display, especially from the kicking tee from whence split the uprights nine times from eleven attempts.
Despite what the scoreline might imply, the visitors were made to work very hard for their five championship points and took all of 73 minutes to secure the bonus point.
The visitors led 23-9 at half-time in a scrappy encounter that was low on highlights but didn't lack for massive hits, especially from the home side.
The Leopards took the early lead thanks to a scrum-time penalty as fly-half Clayton Durand opened the scoring but WP were 10-9 ahead after 20 minutes when JJ Engelbrecht sliced through the midfield to score.
Catrakilis, who also impressed with ball in hand, extended the lead with two more penalties before Brok Harris created and finished off a try under the sticks just before the break.
Western Province dominated the second half as centre Johann Sadie crossed on the hour mark to give the visitors a unassailable lead.
Allister Coetzee's men had to wait for the last ten minutes to grab the bonus point which came via De Kock Steenkamp who burst clear from a ruck.
Number eight Nick Koster crashed over from close range in the dying minutes to rub salt in the Leopards' wounds.
The scorers:
For the Leopards:
Pens: Durand 3
For Western Province:
Tries: Engelbrecht, Harris, Sadie, Steenkamp, Koster
Cons: Catrakilis 5
Pens: Catrakilis 4
Leopards:15 George Tossel, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Joubert Engelbrecht, 12 Charl Weideman, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Clayton Durand (c), 9 Whestley Moolman, 8 Morne Hanekom, 7 MB Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Roan van Heerden, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements:16 Stoffel Duvenage, 17 Bêrend Botha, 18 Thabo Mamojele, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Hoffman Maritz.
Western Province:15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (c) and 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements:16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Adriaan Fondse, 19 Nicholas Fenton-Wells, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Isma-eel Dollie and 22 Marcel Brache.
Referee: Lesego Legoete