WP drop bonus point in the sawdust
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:23
Western Province (WP) failed to secure a vital bonus point on Saturday in their 23-7 Currie Cup victory over Boland in Wellington, leaving their semifinal hopes in dire straits.
With a venue debacle preceding this match, the fixture eventually kicked off at Boland Stadium as originally scheduled, although certain parts of the field proved an eye-sore with a combination of white sand and sawdust being used to patch up saturated areas.
The Cavaliers put on a stout defensive effort (leading 7-6 at half-time), but a host of missed opportunities and handling errors cost WP in the end.
Schalk Burger led WP onto the field in Wellington, due to Jean de Villiers' late withdrawal (stomach ailment) - which may have had a bearing on WP's unconvincing performance.
WP were first to score when flyhalf Peter Grant succeeded with a penalty in the third minute. Grant then made it 6-0 in the 25th minute after another penalty goal.
Although Province had close on 90 percent possession in the first half, the Cavaliers defended bravely throughout.
Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki followed up a creative Grant grubber up to the try-line, but failed to secure an easy try with the ball popping out his hands like a bar of soap.
Seconds before the half-time whistle the home team were rewarded for some excellent play when left wing Danwel Demas scored under the posts after centre Piet van Zyl set up the movement. Fullback Justin Peach slotted the easy conversion to give the hosts an unlikely 7-6 lead at the interval.
It was a desperate Western Province who came out in the second half, with Naqelevuki redeeming himself by scoring out wide in the 42nd minute. Grant's conversion attempt unfortunately struck the upright, although WP finally began to build a lead (11-7).
Six minutes later, No. 8 Luke Watson scored after the Province pack drove the Cavaliers over their try-line. Morgan Newman added the extra two points (18-7).
In the 60th minute a Province try was begging, but Burger was bundled out on the corner flag.
Five minutes later a Wylie Human try was disallowed when the Television Match Official (TMO) indicated that the final pass to the wing (from Conrad Jantjes) went forward.
In the 70th minute, Province once again drove Boland over their try-line, but the visitors were awarded a scrum instead as referee Christie du Preez was subsequently booed.
Naqelevuki scored a second try late in the final quarter after some fine handling, taking the final score to 23-7.
WP are now one log-point behind the Cheetahs in fifth position, and will need some miraculous permutations in next week's final round to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Scorers:
For Boland:
Try: Demas
Con: Peach
For WP:
Tries: Naqelevuki 2, Watson
Con: Newman
Pens: Grant 2
Teams:
Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 David Hendricks, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Angelo Brinkhuis, 5 Brad Mockford, 4 Nico Esterhuyse, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Danie van der Merwe, 17 Lionel Cornelius, 18 Hein Myburgh, 19 Jean Botha, 20 Cecil Kemp, 21 Zolani Mofu, 22 TBC.
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Morgan Newman, 11 Wylie Human, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 AJ Venter, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Schalk
Ferreira, 18 Pieter Louw, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 21 Joe Pietersen, 22 Percy Montgomery.
Referee: Christie du Preez
Touch judges: Sindile Mayende, Linston Manuels
TMO: Michael Cupido
SAPA
