WP win despite poor form
FRUSTRATED Western Province coach John Dobson summed it up perfectly when he said his team’s 36-6 win over the EP Kings had been a poor and frustrating game of Currie Cup rugby to watch.
Though the crowd of 2 126 fans were treated to six tries from Western Province, it was largely a stop-start affair and error-riddled Premier Division encounter.
The win was vital for Western Province because it was their first of the season and kept alive their hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs.
“I have got to watch that four times again,” quipped Dobson as he contemplated what will be a painful video analysis session of an uninspiring contest.
“But credit to the Kings because they never went away. Considering what they have done in three weeks it was a hell of an impressive performance. Our Super Rugby pack got shaded by the Kings’ pack so it was a very disappointing performance.
“Every scrum took three minutes and there were lots of them. Then somebody sat down all the time so the game never had any rhythm.
“We did not look after the ball and some of the guys said it was very slippery out there, but I think they were just trying to get themselves out of trouble,” Dobson said.
“The same problems that bedeviled us in the first two weeks which was losing too much ball. But I thought we had much more width on attack and we had moments in the first half when two tries were rightfully disallowed.
“We seemed to have a bit more shape to our game which gives me hope, but we are not controlling the game well at all.”
Kings coach Barend Pieterse agreed with Dobson that it has been a frustrating game to watch.
“It was frustrating because there are areas we do better in each game and in the next game we don’t do as well,” Pieterse said.
“I don’t think it was the defensive effort that cost us the game . I think it was more system errors in the defence with two guys shooting up and one or two missed tackles.
“Once again it was a brave performance by the guys, but like I said last week you can only go so far with passion.
“Luckily for us I think the most important thing for us is that it does not look like we have any serious injuries.
“I was frustrated, but it was our fault because we did not look after the ball. We got a turnover and then they got one,” Pieterse said.
For WP, centre Huw Jones scored a hat-trick of tries as the Kings struggled to hold the visitors at bay.
The Kings’ bid to record a first win in the Premier Division were also jolted when when eighthman Christiaan de Bruin and then flank Etienne Oosthuizen were both shown yellow cards by referee Lesego Legoete.
The Kings play their fourth match in the competition against Griquas on Wednesday. Scorers: Western Province 36: Tries: Leolin Zas, Huw Jones (3), Sikhumbuszo Notshe, Jano Vermaak; Conversions: Brandon Thomson (3). EP Kings 6: Penalties: Kobus Marais (2).