ROCK BOTTOM

WESTERN Province have been doomed to the wooden spoon of the Currie Cup Premier Division after Saturday’s 39-13 loss to the Pumas at Cape Town Stadium.

For the first time in the history of the Currie Cup’s professional era, the Kaapse span will finish heel laaste.

Coach Labeeb Levy’s team also face the real threat of finishing off the season with no wins when they tackle neighbours the Boland Kavaliers this weekend.

The loss against the Pumas will also hurt after Province competed really well during the first half, after a converted try by Connor Evans and penalty by Kyle Smith gave them a 10-7 halftime lead.

Evans’ try came straight from the kickoff to the game as WP put the visitors from Mbombela under groot pressure.

Smith’s penalty shortly after saw WP lead 10-0 before the Pumas hit back on the half-hour mark as Andre Fouche finished off a powerful lineout maul try.

After the break, Clinton Swart slotted his first of two penalties to make it 10-10 as the momentum shifted in favour of the Pumas.

That was followed up by another powerful rolling-maul try for Tiaan de Klerk and when Sango Xamlashe crossed the chalk for the Pumas’ third five-pointer, WP were trailing 22-10.

Smith’s second penalty cut WP’s deficit to nine points, but when Darren Adonis crossed for the Pumas’ bonus-point try, the koeël was deur’ie kerk.

Junior Banda then crossed for the Pumas’ fifth try to revive the Mbombela span’s hopes of reaching the semis.