Cape Town - Western Province were woeful for the greater part of the match but then pulled off a Houdini act in the final minutes to secure a 30-28 win over neighbours Boland in the Currie Cup derby at Newlands on Friday evening.
Defeat was starring WP in the face until flyhalf Robert du Preez stepped with a match-saving penalty three minutes from the end to overturn a 27-28 deficit into a 30-28 winning scoreline, although Boland won the try count 4-3.
The result ensured that WP leapfrogged from a pre-match fifth-placed log position to a season-ending third-place berth which ensured a play-off against the second-placed Blue Bulls in Pretoria.
Afterwards, WP captain Chris van Zyl reflected on his team's inability to look after possession.
“We were our own worst enemy in terms of ball handling, while we were on attack. I don't even know how many balls we gave away which resulted in unnecessary turnovers at the wrong time. “This is definitely not the way they wanted to finish the round robin stages and head off into the semifinals,” said Van Zyl.
“We seem to always make it hard for ourselves and in saying that, it was a tough start and we did well to win in the end. It was a performance that we're not proud of.”
The semifinal will be played in two weeks' time and Van Zyl said the break will allow the team to work on their shortcomings and regroup for their next bid for 2016 Currie Cup glory.
“In view of the break in the competition, There will be a chance to regroup and look at the problem areas. We also need to make sure that players coming back from injury are ready and up for the game at Loftus.
“Playing in the semis means it is knockout stages and anything could happen.”
WP midfielder Johnny Kotze, who won the 'Man-of-the-Match' award echoed his captain's sentiments in respect the team's handling shortcomings.
“It wasn't our best of games and we struggled to keep the ball. It is something we'll have to work on going into the semis. “Sometimes you got to win ugly,” Kotze remarked.
Boland skipper Clement Lewis was a proud man afterwards despite defeat and felt a poor scrummaging performance contributed to their demise. “We here to give our best but unfortunately we didn't pull it through. I'm proud of the boys for giving their all,” said Lewis.
“I think we lost the game at the scrums but otherwise, other set-pieces like lineouts and play in the loose made up for it.
“We now realise we can come and beat them (WP) here at Newlands and was this was the time but unfortunately we couldn't pull it through.”
Province will play the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, on October 15 in the first semifinal. Two hours later at 17:00, the Free State Cheetahs will host the Golden Lions at Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein, in the second Currie Cup semifinal.
African News Agency (ANA)