The round-robin stages of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend reached an exciting conclusion, as DHL Western Province maintained their unbeaten run to retain the No1 spot on the log by edging the Sharks 17-13 (14-6).
In Durban, DHL Western Province flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis’ pin-point goal kicking placed his team on the front foot against the Sharks in soaking conditions. With the rain pelting down for a large part of the match both teams resorted to a tactical kicking game, and as expected goal-kicking proved to be crucial. Catrakilis opened up the scoring with his first penalty in the sixth minute and backed this up with a drop goal five minutes later, while Sharks’ flyhalf Fred Zeilinga kicked two penalties to level the scores. Western Province captain Deon Fourie scored the only try of the half in the 25th minute after the Sharks fumbled the ball, which the visitors capitalised on by spreading the ball out wide to Fourie for an 11-6 lead. Catrakilis added another penalty to hand his team an eight-point lead at the break.
The second half was equally tightly-fought, although Sharks’ replacement looseforward Keegan Daniel managed to cross the tryline seven minutes in, to close the gap to 14-13. Catrakilis, however, did enough to seal the victory in the 60th minute with his third penalty of the day for a 17-13 win.
Scorers:
- The Sharks 13 (6): Try: Keegan Daniel. Conversion: Pat Lambie. Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (2).
- DHL Western Province 17 (14): Try: Deon Fourie. Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (3). Drop Goal: Catrakilis.
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division log:
- Western Province – 37
- Sharks – 33
- FS Cheetahs – 26
- Golden Lions – 26
- Blue Bulls – 17
- Griquas – 11
Sharks to meet Cheetahs in home semifinal