The hosts, who have struggled in this year’s competition, started strongly with loose forward Connor Evans crashing over for a try in the first minute of the game. The rest of the first half was a tussle for possession as both teams tried to win dominance.  

Western Province flyhalf Kyle Smith slotted a 25th-minute penalty to put his side 10-0 up, but replacement loose forward André Fouché scored for the hosts just before half-time, making it 10-7 at the break.

The Pumas came out firing in the second half, with Clinton Swart levelling the scores in the 43rd minute with a penalty goal and lock Tiaan de Klerk scoring shortly after to put them into a 15-10 lead. Their next try came just four minutes later when outside centre Sango Xamlashe crossed the whitewash for a converted try.

‘Penalty goal in the 55th minute’

Province reduced the Pumas’ lead to nine points with a penalty goal in the 55th minute before Swart cancelled it with a three-pointer of his own in the 64th minute.

But the Pumas would run in two more tries (and secure a bonus point) before the final whistle – the first in the 69th minute by Darren Adonis and the second by replacement prop Junior Banda in the final minute of the game.

In next week’s final round of the competition, the Pumas will travel to Durban to face the Sharks on Friday, while Province will host the Boland Kavaliers in Cape Town on Saturday.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg