Courtnall Skosan scored a hat-trick of tries as DHL Western Province overturned a first-half deficit to beat the Pumas in Stellenbosch on Sunday.
Trailing 15-17 at half time, WP scored three tries within the second 40 minutes to claw again for a 39-30 triumph on the Danie Craven Stadium, and their third win of the 2024 Currie Cup.
Within the last spherical of the common season, WP journey to Kimberley to face Griquas on Friday.
Fifth-placed Pumas, gutted at having missed out on a bonus level in Stellenbosch, should now regroup to sort out the defending champion Cheetahs in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok made his WP debut on Sunday, together with hooker Joseph Dweba, free ahead Dave Ewers and prop Brian le Roux.
Two-time Bok world champion Steven Kitshoff and fellow DHL Stormers star Ruben van Heerden additionally bought a run in preparation for the 2024-25 Vodacom URC season.
WP dominated the set-pieces all through the opening stanza, and a first-half brace of tries from proper winger Skosan and a Wandisile Simelane landing powered the house aspect into the lead.
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Nonetheless, Pumas prop Etienne Janeke and lock Deon Slabbert barged over both aspect of a yellow card to scrumhalf Godlen Masimla, and 7 factors from the boot of inside centre Clinton Swart earned the guests a bonus on the break.
WP drew first blood after the restart courtesy of a well-finished strive from inside centre Damian Markus, and Libbok added the extras. However the Pumas reclaimed the lead earlier than the shut of the third quarter with a strive from alternative Ross Braude and a 3rd Swart conversion.
One other Swart penalty made it a five-point recreation within the last quarter, however Skosan soared over the whitewash for his third attempt to Libbok nailed the conversion for the fourth lead change of the match.
A clear strike from the kicking tee from substitute Jurie Matthee gave WP some respiratory room with 5 minutes to go, just for Swart to answer with three factors of his personal.
However Matthee added the ending touches to a hard-fought win for John Dobson’s expenses after Dweba emerged from a pile of our bodies pushed into the endzone by a strong WP maul.
Photograph: Khulani Media