Du Preez beats his dad ... again

The result ensures WP finishes second on the standings and will host one of the two semifinals – at Newlands next week.

It is also another win for Du Preez – who scored two tries, four conversions and a penalty – over a team coached by his father, Robert du Preez senior.

Junior has only ever lost once, a one-point defeat at Newlands earlier this season, against a team coached by senior.

Having trailed 3-13 at half-time, Western Province showed incredible character to fight back and secure what was ultimately a comfortable bonus-point win against the table-topping Sharks – who had won their 10 previous games.

The hosts were first to score at Kings Park with a try from centre Marius Louw, which was followed up by a penalty from flyhalf Curwin Bosch to give them a 10-0 lead.

Western Province got on the scoreboard with a penalty from flyhalf Rob du Preez, but those would be their only points of the first half, with a Bosch dropgoal giving the Sharks a 10-point advantage at the break.

Western Province came out in a determined mood in the second half and they soon got some reward as Du Preez scored two tries, both under the poles, in quick succession to give them the lead.

They were not done there, however, as first scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage darted over before lock John Schickerling secured the bonus point by barging over the line.

The Sharks scored a late try from wing Kobus van Wyk, but it was not enough to make a difference to the result as Western Province claimed a vital away win which sees them take some important momentum into the play-offs.

Man of the match: Garth April was stead at fullback for the Sharks, while Daniel du Preez and Jacques Vermeulen worked hard – with Daniel du Preez the most productive of the Sharks players. John Schickerling, as usual, was the spark in the Western Province pack. However, the undoubted match-winner was WP flyhalf Robert du Preez – who had some great moments with the ball in hand, including two sublime tries, and directed the show well from flyhalf.

The scorers:

For the Sharks:

Tries: Louw, Van Wyk

Cons: Bosch 2

Pen: Bosch

DG: Bosch

For Western Province:

Tries: R du Preez 2, Duvenage, Schickerling

Cons: R du Preez 4

Pen: R du Preez

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Garth April, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Sibusiso Nkosi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha (captain), 4 Tyler Paul, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Thomas du Toit.            

Replacements: 16 Mahlatse Ralepelle, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Jean Droste, 19 , 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Tristan Blewett, 22 Jacobus van Wyk.

Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Ruhan Nel, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Jacobus Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Kobus can Dyk, 20 Justin Phillips, 21 Werner Kok, 22 EW Viljoen.

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Archie Sehlako

TMO: Willie Vos

Picture: Wayne Seagreen