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

  • 201.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm

    @mikeybrass-194: I understand though. When your team’s in the final you see what you want to see. Most people do this.

  • 202.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm

    Yessssssssssss….. The Kat making up for a poor first half

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

    Wow Greek, WOW

  • 204.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:35 pm

    Well done WP – game over. Man of the match: Katrakilis.

  • 205.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:36 pm

    @katman-201: Oh quit your patronising attitude. The ref has had a cr*p game. Klaar.

  • 206.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:36 pm

    @David-199: I’m not. I think he’s been good. But the 50 50 calls have gone WP’s way for a while now.

  • 207.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    @Dusky-197:
    :lol:

    ja, and it looks like its time for you to grieve too :lol:

  • 208.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    HG will be in depression for the next week. BOOM

  • 209.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    game over

    the greek wins it

  • 210.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    Proooovince!!!! Die Currie Cup Kim weer!!!!!!!!!

  • 211.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    AC gonna have a heart attack

  • 212.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    squeaky bum time!!!!

  • 213.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    wat se jy nou skop?

  • 214.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:37 pm

    @mikeybrass-205: Relax bud. He’s letting you win now. The war is over.

  • 215.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm

    I had a feeling WP would win once the Keo boytjies cursed the Banana Boys.

  • 216.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm

    Daniel gone missing. Not Bok quality

  • 217.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm

    Booooooooom!!!!!!!!!!! The silence is deafening!!!!

  • 218.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:38 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-207: Yep – WP deserved this victory. No excuses.

  • 219.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm

    Who is this woman they keep showing

  • 220.OCO: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm

    Well done Province. Better team won on the day.
    Shark’s won’t sleep well tonight because they slept the whole time during the game. :-)
    See you next year.

  • 221.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm

    Duane outplayed the Cullen.

    Well done Joe!

  • 222.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm

    Great tackle by Pietersen. Saved the Cup there.

  • 223.virvarksteaks: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:39 pm

    BOOOOOOOM!!!!

  • 224.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:40 pm

    Big mistake by Ludik! No one was marking him.

  • 225.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:40 pm

    OCO don’t leave!

  • 226.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:42 pm

    Peyper might still ensure the Sharks win this. lol

  • 227.Golden Boy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:42 pm

    Good game WP :-) you made us proud today!!!! Well done Sharks. You were the best team this season, but in a final anything is possible. Stormers and sharks looking good for next years super season.

  • 228.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:42 pm

    What a wally.

  • 229.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    Very well done PROVINCE players, you played out of you skin, a well deserved win…fizzle !!! :twisted:

  • 230.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    its over!!!!!!

  • 231.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    PPPPPPPRRRROOOOVVVIIIIINNNNCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

    Take that all you WP-haters!

  • 232.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    BOOM!!!!!!!!

  • 233.katman: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    Well done to WP. After a shaky start, they were the better team for a good 60 minutes.

  • 234.rossoneri: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:43 pm

    Sharks cant complain. Peyper worked hard. Congrats WP!!!!. Now where the hell is Heavens Game

  • 235.LoanShark: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    Catti showing Bambie that a drop can and will win the CC

  • 236.W.P: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    PROOOOOOOOVIIIIIIIIIIINCE!!!!!!

  • 237.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    Well done WP. Nice try at the death Sharks.

  • 238.grant10: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    ALL I WANT TO SAY

    BOOM

  • 239.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    Well played WP. Definitely deserved the win. Great game.

  • 240.virvarksteaks: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    3 finals in a row for Sharks.

    Chokers?

  • 241.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    @Golden Boy-227: They were the best CC team, but overall WP and the Stormers have been superior :-)

    Top of the Super log, Conference Cup and now the CC :-)

  • 242.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    BOOOM!!!!!

  • 243.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    @Dusky-218:
    hard luck, boet
    and better luck next time. sharkies still a dangerous squad and with one or two good signings or juniors coming through should easily be in the running next super season

  • 244.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:44 pm

    Congratulations to Wp, deserve the win, you where exceptional today.

    To the supporters, enjoy, its been a long time for you.

  • 245.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm

    @grant10-238: HG was so sure WP would lose. The Loosie Cullen was not a factor.

  • 246.grant10: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm

    FARKEN BOOM

  • 247.mxhosa: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm

    Well done Pronvince… Etsebeth is a beast, MOM!

  • 248.Rhys7: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:45 pm

    YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    FIIIIIIIIIINNNAAAALLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

    PROVINCE!!!!!

  • 249.umfezi: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:46 pm

    Well done WP and supporters. If we had won this game I would have felt sorry for you, because you deserved it. Great game of rugby! Thanks to both sides.

  • 250.David: Reply to this comment
    27 Oct 2012, 18:46 pm

    Ah, all is right with the world! HGs “traditional” union has shown him why their are.

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