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

  • 151.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:13 pm

    139. You are watching the wrong game. Every single poster on here including the neutrals are seeing the same thing except you. Not playing in the cc does that I hear.

  • 152.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:14 pm

    @AssassinWP-145: He must move. SImple as that. Any ref should and will blow him. Don’t listen to the Province commentator. If he was blocking the ball from coming out, it doesn’t matter if an elephant fell on top of him. It’s a penalty.

  • 153.Neilanate: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:15 pm

    Does watching Arsenal win solve, or add to, your -itchy problem?

  • 154.virvarksteaks: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:15 pm

    Hope Peyper asked someone to tape the game for him. He’s missing a good one…

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

    @Golden Boy-151: That’s lame, bud. You can do better.

  • 156.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:15 pm

    What the hell!!! Peyper couldn’t wait to blow up that side entry ( although he did get it right)

  • 157.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:16 pm

    Katman you impartial?

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

    @Dawn-157: 100%

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

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-144:
    95kg, 1.86m

  • 160.W.P: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:17 pm

    Peyper has done so much for the Sharks this game.

  • 161.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:18 pm

    Pulsating stuff.

  • 162.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:18 pm

    Hate saying this but Province look the hungrier team and much more together than the Sharks.

  • 163.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:18 pm

    155. I’m drunk. Forgive me…actually I meant super rugby ;-)

  • 164.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:19 pm

    For a player playing his first season in senior rugby, Etsebeth has been immense… He gets my vote fo SA rugby player of the year…

  • 165.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:20 pm

    @Treehugger-162: Agree, WP are looking better now.

  • 166.Melchizedek: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:20 pm

    How Craig Burden is a Springbok is a wonder

  • 167.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:21 pm

    Penalty try

  • 168.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:21 pm

    WP have actually been the better team so far.

  • 169.AssassinWP: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:21 pm

    WP line out+Sharks scrum there you go Heyneke

  • 170.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:21 pm

    @Dawn-167: You drunk too?

  • 171.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:21 pm

    YES

  • 172.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:22 pm

    just saw grantie with a blue wig on, he looks good :grin:

  • 173.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:23 pm

    @David-159:
    well there you go.

  • 174.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:23 pm

    yeessss

  • 175.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:24 pm

    No katman why?

    Four penalties in the area is a penalty try

  • 176.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:24 pm

    anything to say about the wp fh now skop..?..

  • 177.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:25 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-173: LOL

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-173: JdJ is the future at Bok 13.

  • 178.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:25 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-176: The Greek has guts. He has recovered well.

  • 179.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:26 pm

    @Dawn-175: Since when? A penalty try is just when a foul prevents a certain try from being scored. Don’t make up new rules out of frustration.

  • 180.W.P: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:26 pm

    C’mon Province!!!!!!

  • 181.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:27 pm

    @mikeybrass-178:
    listening to skop explain that one away will be a larf, as always :lol:

  • 182.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:27 pm

    @Dawn-175: Really ? Where in the rule book does it say that ? At the one kept at Newlands ?

  • 183.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:27 pm

    Wow the youngsters destroyed Beast and Doc at that scrum

  • 184.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:28 pm

    :lol: katman!

    Too easy!

  • 185.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:28 pm

    sharkies folding…

    wait

    what’s that

    think i hear something

    think it sounds like a

    BOOM!

    :lol:

  • 186.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm

    Ohlala my Sharkies really just not even in it right now.

  • 187.W.P: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:29 pm

    Game could have been so different if Peyper didn’t stand so k@k

  • 188.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:30 pm

    Gotcha Dusky!

  • 189.LoanShark: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:30 pm

    Guppies looking like a fish out of water?

  • 190.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm

    @Dawn-188: Having someone respond to something particularly dumb that you say is some form of victory for you ?

  • 191.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:31 pm

    Come on, Peyper has been all WP for the last half hour. Surely these Province girls see this too?

  • 192.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:32 pm

    KD being outplayed by a hooker :-D is he still good enough to be a Bok???

  • 193.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm

    still anyones game

    very exciting

    regardless of the ref

  • 194.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm

    @katman-191: Don’t make me laugh.

  • 195.AssassinWP: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm

    5 minutes laaities

  • 196.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm

    Lighten up Dusky it’s the weekend

  • 197.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:33 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-193: What you doing here ? You finished grieving after last weekend ?

  • 198.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:34 pm

    Groom was better than Schreuder at scrumhalf.

  • 199.David: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm

    @katman-191:
    Now, take your own advice, and stop criticising the ref. :lol:

  • 200.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm

    YYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

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