Western Province demolish Lions

Western Province (30) 59

Lions (9) 16

Newlands, Cape Town - Western Province got their Currie Cup campaign back on track with a stunning turnaround win against a hapless Lions teams.

It was all so different from last week's 64-29 horror show against the Bulls at Loftus. This week, WP played with some verve and when they got opportunities, they scored. But even more importantly, they made their tackles this week.

Before the Province faithful get too carried away with this performance, however, it has to be said that this was a shocking performance from the Lions.

They knocked on when there were no pressure and frankly looked as bereft of ideas as the Springboks did in Brisbane on Saturday morning.

While Robbie Fleck got the home team going in the first half, scoring two tries and creating another for Gaffie du Toit, Province star performer was South Africa under-21 captain Schalk Burger.

He was everywhere. He set up Fleck's first try and but was even more impressive in the way he supported the backs and drove up with the ball close to the rucks.

The second half was a farce, however, as referee Mark Lawrence played a huge, if not detrimental part in the game, and handed out five yellow cards and one red in a match that was not particularly bad-tempered. Where the game was open and flowing in the first half, the second was a parade of players running to and from the sin bin and at one stage WP was reduced to 12 players, and the Lions to 14.

The match could have been turned on its head a minute into the second half when Tjoepie van der Heever received his second yellow card of the match and therefore a red. Van der Heever, who spent 10 minutes in the sin bin at the end of the first half for killing the ball, came back on at the start of the second half and landed a flurry of punches on a Lions opponent right in front of referee Mark Lawrence. Lawrence had no option but to send Van den Heever off the field.

Flank Hendrik Gerber had to go off to make way for replacement hooker Pieter Dixon. Province were helped a few minutes later when tight head prop Baksteen Nell was also binned for killing the ball which meant that, for a 10-minute spell at least, both packs were reduced to seven men.

Province took full advantage when they scored their fourth try from a lineout drive. Chris Rossouw converted to give the hosts a huge 40-9 lead with 30 minutes to go.

Things got worse for WP however after 15 minutes of the second half when WP tight head Eddie Andrews was sent to the sin bin for mountaineering on an opponent. At that stage it was 13 playing 14 and the game was turning into a farce.

When Nell came back on with 20 minutes left on the clock, the Lions had a two-man advantage for five minutes. Province survived this period well and looked like the team more likely to score even though they had the two-man disadvantage.

Province were then briefly reduced to 12 men when Breyton Paulse and Pietman van Niekerk were sent to the sin bin for having a go at one another. Fortunately, Andrews came back shortly thereafter and it was back to 13 against 14.

Province wrapped up the game in the final 10 minutes when first Pieter Rossouw, then intercept-tries by replacement wing Lean van Dyk and Du Toit.

Scorers.

Western Province. Tries: Robbie Fleck (2), Gaffie du Toit (2), Pietie Ferreira, Pieter Rossouw, Lean van Dyk. Conversions: Chris Rossouw (4), Du Toit (2). Penalties: Rossouw (4)

Lions. Try: James van der Walt. Penalties: Louis van Rensburg (3). Conversion: Nel Fourie