Rob du Preez contributed 21 points as Western Province overcame a four-point half-time deficit to beat the Pumas 50-19 at Newlands on Saturday.

The Pumas established a shock 19-15 lead at half-time, with speedster Rosko Speckman scoring twice, but it was all one-way traffic in the second half as WP responded in emphatic fashion, while the visitors failed to score a single point after the break.

Winger Kobus van Wyk scored just after the restart to put WP back into the lead, while Du Preez then scored twice as the home side belatedly established their dominance, with replacements Jurie van Vuuren and Ali Vermaak also going over as the hosts ultimately racked up 50 points.

The bonus-point win draws Province level with the second-placed Vodacom Blue Bulls, and keeps alive their hopes of hosting a semi-final, with just two rounds of pool action left in the Currie Cup.

Western Province – Tries: Nizaam Carr, Jano Vermaak, Kobus van Wyk, Rob du Preez (2), Jurie van Vuuren, Ali Vermaak. Conversions: Du Preez (4), Demetri Catrakilis (2). Penalty: Du Preez.
Pumas – Tries: Rosko Speckman (2), Vincent Koch. Conversions: Justin van Staden (2).

Western Province – 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr (c), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Subs: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Jean Kleyn, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Demetri Catrakilis, 22 Jaco Taute.

Pumas – 15 Hoffman Maritz, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Wilmaure Louw, 11 Rosko Speckman, 10 Justin van Staden, 9 Faf de Klerk (c), 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Giant Mtyanda, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie.
Subs: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Rudi Mathee/Jannie Stander, 19 Uzair Cassiem, 20 Johan Herbst, 21 Hennie Skorbinski, 22 Deon Helberg.

Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images