Potent Province power to glory

Potent Province power to glory

27 Oct 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched Western Province break their 11-year Currie Cup drought with a famous 25-18 final win over the Sharks at Kings Park.

Everyone loves an underdog story. And this match was one of the greats in South African domestic rugby.

The pre-match odds laid heavily in the Sharks’ favour. They had home-ground advantage, the strongest pack of the competition and the best team on paper, one loaded with Springboks. The Sharks had the confidence of beating the Stormers and WP four out of five fixtures earlier in the season, and they never lost to a South African team in Durban all year. The stats also proved they were the best attacking and defensive side of the Currie Cup.

However, what stats can’t measure is heart, mettle and determination. And WP, who were missing the likes of Jean de Villiers, Andries Bekker, Tiaan Liebenberg, Siya Kolisi and Schalk Burger, had bucket loads of this on the day.

The Sharks started off strongly and created several try-scoring opportunities, but they unraveled against a gritty WP outfit that failed to tire. The men from the Cape might have come off second best at the collisions and scrums for most parts of the match, but their breakdown assault, superior lineout efficiency and accurate tactical kicking game was crucial in their surprising triumph.

Man of the Match Deon Fourie was a star at openside flank, while Eben Etzebeth, Juan de Jongh and Demetri Catrakilis also deserve special mentions for their individual contributions in a top team performance.

But it took a while for the visitors’ ascendancy to emerge.

The opening quarter was dominated by the Sharks, who exposed the usually resilient Province defence on several occasions. Conversely, the hosts’ guard was resolute.

If it wasn’t for a sensational cover tackle from Bryan Habana, which denied opposite number JP Pietersen a clear run to the whitewash in the seventh minute, the Sharks would’ve held a comfortable lead.

However, Habana’s moment of defensive brilliance came with a sacrifice. The Springbok speedster struggled to gather to his feet after that hit and was taken off the field moments later because of a knee injury. Big blow for Province, and to those who were hoping to see more from the face-off between the two in-form wings.

While the Sharks were denied try opportunities, flyhalf Pat Lambie punished most of the penalties the visitors conceded. The 22-year-old found the target on four occasions to give the Sharks a 12-3 lead by the half-hour mark. Catrakilis nailed one three-pointer during this period.

Then came the unexpected Province fightback.

The biggest damage was done by Juan de Jongh, who executed a telling break shortly after Joe Pietersen’s 32nd-minute penalty.

From a scrum in centre field, the outside centre ran a perfect angle off Catrakilis to expose a gap in the Sharks’ defensive line. His explosiveness saw him beat three defenders in Keegan Daniel, Marcell Coetzee and Lwazi Mvovo on his way to the chalk. Catrakilis converted.

The pivot also added his second penalty on the stroke of half-time, which saw WP lead 16-12 at the break.

The Sharks regained the ascendancy in the second stanza and jumped back into the lead thanks to Lambie’s fifth and sixth penalties.

But Catrakilis landed three vital shots at goal thereafter. First a penalty to regain the lead, which was their only reward after applying relentless pressure on attack against a solid Sharks defence in the opposition’s red zone. Then he nailed two drop goals to add to the buffer. The second drop goal was an important score as it forced the hosts to search for a converted try in order to level the scores.

The Sharks created late drama as Louis Ludik broke down the sideline during the closing stages, with Charl McLeod on his outside. He only had Pietersen to beat, but he passed the ball too early and the defender guessed right to tackle McLeod. The reserve scrumhalf then tried to offload to Lambie, but he lost the ball in contact.

The Sharks also won possession after the final hooter, but again, they lost the ball in contact – this time 10m from the tryline.

Province held on to complete an excellent victory. What an amazing underdog story.


1,055 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 22 » Show All

  • 1.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 16:55 pm

    Province dragons!

  • 2.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 16:58 pm

    Sharks by 10.

  • 3.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 16:58 pm

    SHARKKKKSSSSSSS

  • 4.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 16:59 pm

    Today am rooting for Province, too many Sharks fans here…

  • 5.Neilanate: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:02 pm

    HISTORY, the provider of the necessary experience
    . Some learn its lessons and others do not because they are too spoilt , for far too many generations, to the point they succumb to the weak attitude of entitlement.

    Sometime just recent history is required and if that is so, where should the smart money then go?

  • 6.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:04 pm

    I hate it when you clearly hear the ref say one thing when he blows the penalty and then the commentator says something completely different. Peyper said “advantage, from the side” and Skinstad immediately says “the ref blowing Alberts for not rolling away”. Come on, get it right.

  • 7.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:05 pm

    Shut up.

  • 8.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:05 pm

    Gp Peyper!
    Start the loot, SARU is watching!
    ;)

  • 9.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:08 pm

    Jordaan is dynamite.

  • 10.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:08 pm

    Jordaan is quick.

  • 11.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:11 pm

    Pieterson in ominous form. Quick paced match. Exciting.

  • 12.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm

    Wow Ginger ripped that ball off the Sharks.

  • 13.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm

    The pace is intense so far.

  • 14.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:12 pm

    Min 12
    No2 for WP is on his 3rd faked tackle already?!

  • 15.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:13 pm

    Plug it, hond.

  • 16.Neilanate: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:14 pm

    Is this dominant play as ominous as it seems to me?

  • 17.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:15 pm

    Habs off :-(

  • 18.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:15 pm

    @mikeybrass-15: Let him be. His high school sweetheart left him for a Zulu. He’s still smarting.

  • 19.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:16 pm

    Forgive Hondo

    He is nervous

    He may lose his house

  • 20.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:17 pm

    ******* hell Catrikilis!!!

  • 21.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:17 pm

    Too many penalties wp!

  • 22.Brendope: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:17 pm

    Go sharks.

  • 23.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:18 pm

    Thats a punch.off!

  • 24.David: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:18 pm

    @Dawn-19:
    That’s OK, tomorrow’s showday so he can steal some more estate agents signs and build a new one. :lol:

  • 25.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:19 pm

    Catrakilis has easily had the worst 20 minutes this season. Trying very hard to do a Dean Greyling here. Poor kid should be taken off and soooooooooooooooon

  • 26.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:19 pm

    I like JP, intercepting the banana pass destined to the two tokens squatting for it on the overlap,,, :-D

  • 27.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:20 pm

    @katman-18: Jealous of the stick :-)

  • 28.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:21 pm

    Ok.maybe not a punch.but vuilgat.

  • 29.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:21 pm

    The RC truck that delivers the kicking tee gets bigger and bigger. Pretty soon they’ll just send a bloke on with a Bantam bakkie.

  • 30.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:22 pm

    Wonder how many of our fellow bloggers are at the game.
    I understand Puma got some last minute tickets!
    Does the tank looked packed?

  • 31.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:22 pm

    WP ball handling is poor.

  • 32.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:23 pm

    @katman-29: No need. Just hire Skoppie the Datsun :-)

  • 33.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:24 pm

    Jaco jou doos

  • 34.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:24 pm

    @carol-30: Quite a few empty seats. That’s what happens at R350 a pop.

  • 35.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:25 pm

    @carol-30: Not really – the weather is bad and the tickets are expensive.

  • 36.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:25 pm

    Jaco missed a Sharks hand on the ground at the scrum

  • 37.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:26 pm

    Nice call Peyper…there goes your conspiracy theory Homdo. Wave your house goodbye. ;-)

  • 38.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:27 pm

    Aplon and DeJongh are busy today,, ;)

  • 39.assagai: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:27 pm

    I TOLD this dumb f’ng coach NOT to play the Greek at 10 and this doos don’t wanna listen.

    Goddamn greenhorn Greek is gifting the bloody game to the Sharks on his own get the mediocre journeyman off. All the momentum been fckd to hell already by starting the WRONG man AT 10

    DUMB f’ng coach still don’t know how to win finals after how many attempts?

  • 40.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:27 pm

    @katman-34:
    @kaksioek-35:

    Such a shame, you need a packed stadium for a final. Someone is being too greedy!

  • 41.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:28 pm

    FFS, that should have been a WP scrum!

  • 42.Dummy Runner: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:28 pm

    Thr3 poor calls by ref.

  • 43.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:28 pm

    Shut up old fool. Find another thread for your garbled rubbish.

  • 44.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:28 pm

    @assagai-39: Deep breathes Skop. Groom is playing well.

  • 45.carol: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:29 pm

    @assagai-39:

    Deep breath Skop….

    Have Grant and JR gone to Durban this time?

  • 46.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm

    Between the Sharks’ experience and Pepyer, WP is being dismantled.

  • 47.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm

    Ref not helping the WP cause!!

  • 48.AssassinWP: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm

    Skew throw,Beast hand deck scrum time,Joe Petersen knock on off the boot.What’s the point of playing here

  • 49.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm

    Wooow, allows the scrum to be reset twice afte sharks collapse and then they hit before the engage call and they get the penalty…. Maybe sarfu wants the sharks to win thus one :-)

  • 50.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 17:30 pm

    @Hondo-38: hondkak.

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