Griquas beat Western Province for the seventh consecutive time in the Currie Cup. Photo: SA Rugby.
Western Province crash out of Currie Cup playoff contention
Less than a week after his Stormers side tasted defeat in the URC final, head coach John Dobson’s Western Province side has now been bounced out of the Currie Cup as well.
Griquas beat Western Province for the seventh consecutive time in the Currie Cup. Photo: SA Rugby.
Western Province have dropped out of the race for the Currie Cup playoffs after suffering a 38-29 against Griquas in the penultimate round of action in Kimberley on Friday.
The result was not only Griquas’ seventh consecutive win over Western Province, it also kept the hosts in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stage of the Currie Cup, while the it all but ends WP’s hopes of progressing to the playoffs.
The outcome of this match will especially sting for the Cape side, who also had to deal with a shock defeat against Munster in the URC Grand Final at home less than a week ago.
ALSO READ: Currie Cup — Fixtures, team sheets, venues and kick-off times for round 13
MATCH SUMMARY: GRIQUAS VS WESTERN PROVINCE
The visitors had the lead at half-time at Griqua Park, but the hosts pulled away in the second half to take the win.
Western Province made a fast start, charging into the opposition 22 and opening the scoring with a maul try from Marcel Theunissen.
The home side responded with a maul try of their own to level things up, but Western Province were back in front when Paul de Wet finished off a slick blindside move sparked by a deft pass out the back of the hand by centre Ruhan Nel.
Theunissen went over for his second five-pointer from close quarters, capping a period of dominance and although the hosts scored just before half-time against the run of play, it was WP who took a 19-14 lead into the break.
Griquas scored first in the second half through flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela to take the lead for the first time and although Western Province were back in front following a maul try from Willie Engelbrecht, they home side scored two more tries to seal what proved to be an emphatic win.
MATCH SCORERS:
Western Province — Tries: Marcel Theunissen 2, Paul de Wet, Willie Engelbrecht. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (3). Penalty: Matthee.
Griquas — Tries: Dylan Sjoblom, Jay-Cee Nel, Lubabalo Dobela, Sean Swart, Sango Xamlashe. Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty: Whitehead.
ALSO READ: Griquas vs Western Province — Currie Cup Live scores Friday 2 June 2023
