WP crowned Absa Currie Cup champions
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Photos: Werner Nysschen Photography
DHL Western Province on Saturday secured their first Absa Currie Cup victory at DHL Newlands since 2001 after defeating the Xerox Golden Lions 19-16 in a nail-biting final.
Four penalties by flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis steered the Cape side to their second title in three years and the R1,897m winner’s cheque in front of passionate crowd of 44500 supporters. The Xerox Golden Lions, meanwhile, walked away with a R1,26m for their efforts. However, they will be disappointed about their four missed penalty attempts, which could have swayed the result for them.
The home team dominated the opening exchanges with the possession and territory statistics favouring them, which allowed them to apply pressure on the Xerox Golden Lions. They earned the rewards as Catrakilis opened the scoring in the third minute with a penalty and added another minutes later to hand his team a 6-0 lead 10 minutes into the match.
The visitors, however, tried hard to stamp their authority in the following minutes which resulted in a handful of point-scoring chances. But they were unable to capitalise on this as flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff missed two penalty attempts, while the team was unable convert two possible try-scoring chances as DHL Western Province shut them out on defence. Such was the effectiveness of the home team’s defence, they forced the Xerox Golden Lions back in the tackle on several occasions.
The hosts stretched their score to 13-0 in the 35th minute after regaining possession thanks to a try by centre Jaco Taute, who received the ball out wide and cut inside into space to cross the tryline.
The Xerox Golden Lions received their last opportunity to open up their scoring on the stroke of half-time as wing Ruan Combrinck had a shot at goal, but this also proved unsuccessful, leaving the team scoreless at the break.
The Johannesburg side, however, managed to score their first points five minutes into the second half compliments of a penalty by Boshoff.
This bolstered their confidence immensely as they scored their first try minutes later after gathering a kick by the hosts and powering their way up-field, which saw fullback Jaco van der Walt dive over in the corner. Boshoff’s conversion was successful, which allowed them to reduce the deficit to 13-10.
The Xerox Golden Lions levelled the scores at 13-13 with 23 minutes left as Boshoff slotted over his second penalty after DHL Western Province infringed in a scrum five metres from their tryline. But this was short-lived as Catrakilis kicked a penalty two minutes later to nudge his team back into the lead.
The accurate goal-kicker added another three-pointer minutes later to extend the hosts’ lead to 19-13 with 14 minutes to go.
The battle of the kickers continued as Boshoff had another shot at goal, but his attempt hit the upright. However, Combrinck added three points in the dying minutes to reduce the hosts lead to only three points with four minutes left.
Boshoff had another penalty attempt in the dying seconds, which would have levelled the scores and forced the match into extra time, but he pushed it wide, which secured the victory for DHL Western Province.
DHL Western Province also claimed the Absa Under-19 title following their 33-26 victory against the Vodacom Blue Bulls, while the Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-21 side defeated DHL Western Province 20-10 in the Absa Under-21 competition.
Absa Currie Cup Final Scorers:
DHL Western Province 19 (13) – Try: Jaco Taute. Conversion: Demetri Catrakilis. Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (4).
Xerox Golden Lions 16 (0) – Try: Jaco van der Walt. Conversion: Marnitz Boshoff. Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (2), Ruan Combrinck.
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