‘Vintage’ Province maul the Lions

THE Western Province faithful would have left Newlands last night with a warm, fuzzy feeling after the home side ran in six tries to blitz the Golden Lions 39-3.

The slick handling between backs and forwards, the pace of Dillyn Leyds and Seabelo Senatla out wide and the brilliant decision-making from veteran scrumhalf Jano Vermaak would all have been duly appreciated.

But within the team, and especially the management of coach John Dobson and his support staff, they will know this victory was based upon on the hard work from the men up front and the physicality in defence.

Province survived a torrid early onslaught from the visitors, and really put their bodies on the line to stem the red tide. Home team captain Chris van Zyl had spoken in the build-up about how his team had worked on countering the “direct running lines” of the Lions, especially close to the rucks.

The intensity in defence, and speed off the line, certainly paid dividends with WP holding the Lions at bay before – very much against the run of play – the home side struck through an opportunistic try from centre Huw Jones. The Scotland international poached a Lions 22m clearance straight out of the air and ran in unopposed.

The Lions managed to hit back immediately when Province conceded a penalty from the restart to allow flyhalf Jaco van der Walt to slot a penalty.

That was, however, as good as it got for the visitors, with WP showing further class 10 minutes later. After a Lions scrum infringement on half-way, the visitors’ lack of discipline cost them an extra 10 metres which allowed Vermaak to pounce with a quick tap penalty.

After good inter-passing between Vermaak and Nizaam Carr, the ball was spread to centre EW Viljoen, who beat his opposite number Rohan Janse van Rensburg, before off-loading on the inside to captain Chris van Zyl. The best was kept for last though, with 20-yearold debutant Cobus Wiese showing brilliant handling skills to pick the ball up off his bootlaces before diving over in the corner.

WP had certainly found their rhythm and it was only a matter of time before Leyds left his mark. The Springbok wing started a move 80 metres out, beating defenders almost at will with his pace, before popping the ball to Jones on the 22m line for the centre to run through for his second try.

It was vintage WP rugby and certainly had the faithful cheering heartily from the terraces. Leyds was, though, caught with a high-tackle in the movement and the referee had no choice but to punish Lions wing Antony Volmink with a yellow card.

For the second week running the Lions’ were left to rue being a player short for a period of the match as Province pounced on the opportunity to stretch their lead after halftime.

They certainly made use of the extra man count with Senatla dotting down after running onto a perfectly-weighted grubber kick from Viljoen before Vermaak finished off a another telling move in the opposite corner within the next 60 seconds.

Province had to wait until the final minutes of the match before adding to their tally, when Senatla collected his brace on the night, but once again had his fellow wing Leyds to thank after the former Bishops prodigy twinkle-toed his way through the Lions defence. The victory also propelled Province into third position on the Currie Cup log. – Zaahier Adams