Courtnall Skosan scored a hat-trick of tries as DHL Western Province overturned a first-half deficit to beat the Pumas in Stellenbosch on Sunday.
Trailing 15-17 at half time, WP scored three tries in the second 40 minutes to claw back for a 39-30 triumph at the Danie Craven Stadium, and their third win of the 2024 Currie Cup.
WP will refocus for a trip to Kimberley to face Griquas, who were thrashed 75-19 by the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday, in five days’ time.
Chasing a spot in the playoffs of rugby’s oldest competition, the fifth-placed Pumas will be gutted at missing out on a bonus point, and must now regroup to tackle the defending champion Cheetahs in Nelspruit next Saturday in the final round of the regular season.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok made his WP debut on Sunday, along with hooker Joseph Dweba, loose forward Dave Ewers and prop Brian le Roux in the Winelands.
Two-time Bok world champion Steven Kitshoff and fellow DHL Stormers star Ruben van Heerden also got a run in preparation for the 2024-25 Vodacom URC season.
WP dominated the set-pieces throughout the opening stanza, and a first-half brace of tries from right winger Skosan and a Wandisile Simelane touchdown powered the home side into the lead.
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However, Pumas prop Etienne Janeke and lock Deon Slabbert barged over either side of a yellow card for scrumhalf Godlen Masimla, and seven points from the boot of inside centre Clinton Swart earned the visitors the advantage at the break.
WP drew first blood after the restart courtesy of a well-finished try from inside centre Damian Markus and Libbok added the extras. But the Pumas reclaimed the lead before the close of the third quarter with a try from replacement Ross Braude and a third Swart conversion.
Another Swart penalty made it a five-point game as the clash entered the final 20 minutes, but Skosan soared over the whitewash for his third five-pointer and Libbok nailed the conversion for the fourth lead change of the match.
A clean strike from the kicking tee from substitute Jurie Matthee gave WP some breathing room with five minutes to go, only for Swart to reply with three points of his own.
But Matthee added the finishing touches to a hard-fought win for John Dobson’s charges after Dweba emerged from a pile of bodies in the endzone off the back of a powerful WP maul before the final hooter.
Photo: Khulani Media
The post WP outwrestle Pumas in Winelands appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
