Eighthman Evan Roos crossed for two tries as Western Province powered to a bonus-point victory against the Lions at Newlands in a Wednesday night Currie Cup match.
The hosts scored four tries to one as the Lions were kept scoreless in the second half of a 35-13 for Western Province.
Matchflow
Playing in what can hesitantly be called their final outing at Newlands, Western Province signed off with a victory against a Lions side that find themselves in all sorts of turmoil.
It will be Roos who deservedly catches the headlines and gains the most plaudits after his powerhouse performance. The No 8 continues to stake a claim for higher honours, scoring two tries and contributing as a ball-carrier all game.
Though only three points could separate the sides at half time (16-13), it was Western Province who would have felt they had the better of the half and deserved more than a three-point lead. Despite playing into a headwind, they consistently stretched the Lions in the opening exchanges and looked threatening when given an opportunity.
Godlen Masimla was the first to score for the home side after Tim Swiel and Jordan Hendrikse exchanged penalty kicks. The try was, however, cancelled out minutes later when EW Viljoen scythed through the defence of his former club.
Swiel’s boot that gave Province a slender lead at the break but it was all one-way traffic in the second stanza. Roos scored his brace to put Province in a dominant position by the 65th minute and the Lions looked toothless and unable to fight back.
A final try in the 79th minute by Andre-Hugo Venter added insult to injury for the men from Johannesburg.
Province’s win moves them up to third place on the Currie Cup log, while the Lions continue to plumb new depths at the foot of the table.
