A sensational performance from SP Marais led Western Province to a 35-32 extra-time win over a valiant Blue Bulls in Saturday’s Currie Cup semi-final at Newland.
After six bonus point wins from six round robin fixtures this year, Western Province came into the match as heavy favourites on home soil. However, they were stunned by the Blue Bulls in the first half. The visitors went into the break having scored the only two tries of the game, although their indiscipline and the boot of Marais had kept WP in it.
WP had the better of the second half, although a late Blue Bulls fightback came within one kick of snatching the game from them. Nevertheless, in extra time, the reigning champions ultimately prevailed.
Marais slotted over two penalties – both for offside play – in the opening 15 minutes of the match to put the hosts in the driving seat early on.
However, they struggled to break through a resilient Bulls defence and were soon made to pay at the other end of the field. A spell of pressure following an attacking scrum culminated in Ruan Steenkamp powering over from a pick-and-go in the 23rd minute.
Five minutes later, a moment of genius led to a second try for the visitors: Divan Rossouw grubbered into space and Manie Libbok raced onto the ball on the right-hand side of the field before passing inside to Duncan Matthews for the finish.
Both tries were converted by Libbok, who also added a penalty kick to the Blue Bulls’ tally before half-time. Meanwhile, WP kept the scoreboard ticking with three more penalties from Marais.
However, after the break, the Blue Bulls were quicker out of the blocks. After they were denied the chance to make up territory from the driving maul at the lineout, the visitors put together a spectacular attacking move, featuring some wonderful hands.
Matthews returned a first-half favour, setting Libbok up for the finish in the 47th minute.
Five minutes later, WP hit back, getting numbers out wide on their left and taking advantage. Dillyn Leyds released a perfectly-timed offload to Marais, allowing him to finish unchallenged.
A scrum penalty kept the scoreboard ticking for the Bulls, but in the 60th minute, WP swung the game in their favour. It all started with an error from an attacking lineout for the visitors, allowing WP to kick and Sergeal Petersen to chase. The wing got to the ball ahead of Rossouw and was dragged down just short of the try-line, allowing Paul de Wet to finish the job and go over.
The Bulls’ indiscipline continued to let them down, as a late tackle from Johnny Kotze allowed Marais’ to stretch Province’s lead to five points in the 63rd minute.
However, the visitors refused to concede defeat. They heaped pressure on John Dobson’s side and won a scrum against the put-in with the clock already in the red. From there, they worked the ball out right to Dylan Sage, who went over the try-line and levelled the scores. Despite having been perfect off the tee until the crucial moment, Libbok was unable to convert and the match went to extra time.
WP were given the chance to get in front in the 10th minute of the additional 20 when Ruan Steenkamp was penalised for an early penalty, but Marais missed for the first time all evening.
However, within two minutes after the second half of extra time got underway, he made amends, nailing a penalty for a high tackle from Hanro Liebenberg.
The kick that took Marais’ personal points tally up to 30 ultimately proved decisive, as WP set up a second successive final date with the Sharks, which will take place at Newlands next Saturday.
The scorers:
For Western Province:
Tries: Marais, de Wet
Cons: Marais 2
Pens: Marais 7
For Blue Bulls:
Tries: Steenkamp, Matthews, Libbok, Sage
Cons: Libbok 3
Pens: Libbok 2
Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 SP Marais, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Josh Stander, 23 JJ Engelbrecht.
Blue Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Duncan Matthews, 13 Dylan Sage, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Marco van Staden, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Frans van Wyk, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Nic de Jager, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Franco Naude.
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Paul Mente
Television match official: Willie Vos