It was nearly a disaster, but Western Province pulled through at the death to qualify for the Currie Cup semi-finals with a 30-28 win over Boland on Friday night.
After the Golden Lions beat the Sharks 28-16 earlier in the day, Province needed just a win without a bonus point to go through to the last-four, and they just managed to get the job done.
WP will face the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in the one semi-final on October 15, while the Free State Cheetahs will host the Lions in Bloemfontein in the other playoff.
But perhaps not needing to score four tries hampered WP’s performance as they battled to find their rhythm on attack, with the last pass seldom going to hand.
And the lack of accuracy with ball-in-hand proved costly as Province wasted a number of chances inside the Boland 22, with the visitors finding their feet in the second half.
Despite WP leading 17-7 at halftime through tries by Scott van Breda and Kobus van Dyk, as well as two conversions and a penalty by Robert du Preez, John Dobson’s team allowed Boland back into the game when they couldn’t control a loose ball and fullback Adriaan Carelse danced through the WP defence in the 49th minute to bring his team to within three points of the lead.
Even after Du Preez added another penalty, Boland made the big play at the start of the last quarter when prop Francois Hanekom crashed over from a solid lineout maul, and suddenly Boland were 21-20 ahead.
It looked like Province’s worst nightmare was coming true, and a few minutes later, it turned into a horror movie as Nizaam Carr was unable to control an up-and-under, with the loose ball being picked up by Boland flank Jacques Engelbrecht, who handed off Damian de Allende in his 40-metre run to the line to give his team an eight-point lead with 15 minutes to go.
Coach Dobson looked distraught in his box as Province were on their way to missing out on the semi-finals after reaching the last four finals.
But after winning yet another scrum penalty, WP got into the Boland 22 and Cheslin Kolbe was brought down just short of the line. Replacement lock David Ribbans got the vital score after a series of pick-and-go drives, and Province were right back in it at 28-27 to Boland with eight minutes left.
Boland tried to hold on to the ball in the last few minutes, but they were caught just outside their own 22 when WP lock Jan de Klerk won the breakdown penalty when he timed his contest perfectly.
Du Preez stepped up and rifled the ball over from the middle of the field, and Province had a two-point lead. They nearly got over in the dying seconds through Man-of-the-Match Johnny Kotze, but he was just short.
WP didn’t care when the try wasn’t awarded, as referee AJ Jacobs blew the final whistle. It was sheer relief for Dobson and captain Chris van Zyl, but they will know that Province won’t stand a chance against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria in two weeks’ time.
They will have to hope that Springboks such as Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Juan de Jongh are allowed to play in the semi-finals, and that Sikhumbuzo Notshe is over his ankle injury.
Western Province– Tries: Scott van Breda, Kobus van Dyk, David Ribbans. Conversions: Robert du Preez (3). Penalties: Du Preez (3).
Boland Cavaliers– Tries: Shaun Adendorff, Adriaan Carelse, Francois Hanekom, Jacques Engelbrecht. Conversions: Theuns Kotze (4).