Vodacom Western Province on Saturday had to fight all the way before subduing a game Boland Cavaliers side 38-7 in a Currie Cup match at Wellington.

WP led 8-7 at halftime but at that stage it was clear that they would have to lift the standard of their game considerably if they wanted to hang on to their third spot on the points´ table.

How much the shaky start had to do with the absence of captain and star No 8 Luke Watson was anybody´s guess. Watson was withdrawn at the eleventh hour due to a bout of flu.

Pieter Louw started the game and was one of Province´s better players on the day.

The WP game lacked intensity and cohesion in the first half and on the occasion that they did manage to find gaps in the defence their finishing let them in the lurch. They played much better in the second half, but the important thing is that they won and won with a bonus point.

The bonus point try came courtesy of a try by prop Brok Harris in the 77th minute and it was well-deserved because WP managed to play a much better brand of rugby after halftime.

The visitors started the game strongly, taking the ball through several phases. Lock Christ Jack found a gaping hole in the Boland defence and Peter Grant took it to within 10 meters from the try-line but Tiaan Liebenberg was penalised for a shoulder charge into the ensuing ruck.

In the 9th minute WP fullback Joe Petersen failed with a long-range penalty attempt.

In the 19th Boland attacked strongly and set up camp on the Province try-line. Jack joined a ruck from the side and referee Marius Jonker had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try to Boland and a yellow card to Jack. Justin Peach converted to give the home side the early advantage (7-0).

Province hit back with a try by wing Gio Aplon, who crossed in the corner after a long pass from Grant found the defenders wanting (7-5).

In the 29th minute Pietersen slotted an easy penalty after a high tackle by Boland lock Rito Hlungwane on an attacking player. Jonker allowed advantage and Province came close to scoring but for a try-saving tackle by Boland captain Clemen Lewis (8-7).

Shortly thereafter Pietersen ripped open the defence with a darting run in which he beat several would-be tacklers but flank Zolani Mofu poached the ball in a ruck a few metres from his try-line.

WP started the second half with a lot of intent, taking the ball through several phases before Boland were penalised for offside play and Petersen slotted a penalty in the 42nd min.

Boland had a chance to reduce the deficit by three points five minutes later but flyhalf Elgar Watts however failed with a sitter, much to the disappointment of the home crowd.

WP didn´t make the same mistake when Petersen added another 3 points two minutes later when Boland was penalised at a ruck (14-7)

Juan de Jongh showed just what an exciting prospect he is when the young outside centre cut through the defence strongly from a set scrum to fall over close to the poles. The Television Match Official confirmed the try and Pietersen added two by converting to hand his side a comfortable lead with 21 minutes left on the clock.

WP scored their third try after a clever chip kick by Peter Grant was followed up nicely by wing Tonderai Chavhanga, who had no problem dotting down. Pietersen failed with the conversion.

The try by Harris and a brilliant one by replacement wing JJ Engelbrecht after great play by De Jongh and Gio Aplon just confirmed WP´s supremacy on the day.

Points scorers:

Vodacom WP– Tries: Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Tonderai Chavhanga; Brok Harris, JJ Engelbrecht; Conversions: Joe Pietersen (1), Peter Grant (1); Penalties: Joe Pietersen (3).

Boland Cavaliers – Penalty Try; Conversion: Justin Peach.

KingPaul