Plenty to cheer in watered-down cup

Anyone that thought this year’s watered-down Currie Cup was on the decline would have gone to sleep on Saturday night with a different perspective. Western Province will host the Sharks in Cape Town next Saturday in a repeat of last year’s final after both teams had to dig deep to beat the Bulls and Lions respectively in the semi-finals in a competition that was reduced to just a single round of matches before the playoffs.

Western Province, the defending champions, had to negotiate another 20 minutes of extra-time after their thrilling semi-final finished deadlocked 32-32 after 80 minutes. Man-of-the-Match SP Marais, who scored 30 points, slotted the only penalty in extra-time in a bruising encounter.

In Durban, the Sharks romped to a 23-3 lead shortly after the break, but a spirited fightback from the Lions set up an exciting final 15 minutes. But the Sharks held on, and now have a chance to avenge last year’s loss to WP in the final following their 33-24 victory.

The Sharks and WP are worthy finalists. Province are unbeaten this season, while the Sharks’ only blemish in their campaign was against the men from the Cape in the round-robin phase.

Let’s hope for another entertaining 80 minutes of rugby next Saturday. A competition steeped in history certainly deserves it.