W Province the team to beat

WESTERN Province re-established themselves as the team to beat in this year’s Currie Cup with a thorough beating of the team that arrived as table toppers here yesterday.

Western Province established early gainline ascendancy, largely due to No 8 Nizaam Carr and flank Rynhardt Elstadt by going into the collisions with more ferocity, but equally tellingly, a greater grasp of what it is they wanted to achieve.

Their forwards played with more cohesion and for every rampaging player with ball in hand in support they had two, if not three with equal gainline busting intent.

No one exemplified the spirit more than hooker Scarra Ntubeni who cut a ubiquitous figure whenever WP frenziedly forced their way forward.

Ntubeni manned up in the tight exchanges and defended like a Trojan when the Sharks broke their shackles.

The Sharks played the first half under pressure and although they defended gamely cracks had to appear.

Cheslin Kolbe was denied by the TV match official after an electrifying run in concert with the outstanding Gio Aplon.

That came from a breakaway run but it was from sustained pressure they registered their first try when Juan de Jongh wriggled over in the corner in the 17th minute.

Six minutes later Kolbe was not to be denied when he rounded off a sweeping move thanks to Ntubeni’s well measured final pass.

Meanwhile, injury to Callie Visagie proved to be a blessing in disguise for Blue Bulls hooker Bongi Mbonambi, writes

Chumani Bambani. The 22year-old Mbonambi was a crucial cog in the Bulls’ 26-10 win over Free State Cheetahs at Loftus last night.

Bulls lock Paul Willemse scored the home side’s first try just after the hour mark to give his side a handy lead but Cheetahs’ flyhalf Elgar Watts set up an interesting closing 10 minutes when he crossed over for a try which trimmed the deficit to nine points.

However flanker Wiaan Liebenberg put the last nail in the Cheetahs coffin when he scored the Bulls’ second try.

In yesterday's early match the Lions edged Griquas 38-32 in Kimberley to keep their semifinal hopes alive.