Western Province swarmed an experienced Vodacom Bulls outfit to complete a Currie Cup double over their rivals in Cape Town on Saturday night.
An intercept try from winger Luke Burger wrapped up a 31-7 bonus-point victory for the youthful Western Province side over a Vodacom Bulls outfit featuring plenty of Vodacom United Rugby Championship regulars.
It was Province’s first win since their home victory over bottom-placed Griffons on 8 April, while the high-flying Vodacom Bulls saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, as their hoodoo in Cape Town continued. Having beaten the Vodacom Bulls 41-33 at Loftus Versfeld in March, it saw the hosts complete a rare double against their rivals from Pretoria.
The win could also be an important psychological blow laid by the Cape side, ahead of the Vodacom URC quarter-final between the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at this venue next Saturday.
Despite facing a far more experienced side, Province were on the money from the off, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pouncing on an error to score the first try, before hefty lock Dylan de Leeuw strode over for his first Currie Cup try.
Dylan de Leeuw won’t forget his debut #CurrieCup try ?
Two massive hand-offs and then a step to leave the Bulls players on the floor ?
Great solo effort from the big man! pic.twitter.com/8C5Sic7Ajs
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 29, 2023
Western Province took a 14-0 lead into the break, which was extended when Feinberg-Mngomezulu nailed a penalty. The Vodacom Bulls responded by bringing some more senior players off the bench and it appeared to pay off when Chris Smith’s chip kick was grounded by Harold Vorster.
However, the youngsters came up trumps for the hosts, as 19-year-old flyhalf Damian Markus scored with his first touch of the game, before Burger wrapped up the victory with a last-minute intercept.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images