Three-try Western Province zone in on Currie Cup playoffs with win over Pumas

Western Province have further stacked a claim for the Currie Cup playoffs in beating the defending champions, the Pumas, 22-14 in their clash at Athlone Stadium on Friday.

The Pumas were quickest out of the blocks when prop Cameron Dawson scored a stunning solo effort in the first minute of the game, which Tinus de Beer converted for an early 7-0 lead.

Province thought they had their first try of the match five minutes later as Clayton Blommetjies cruised through a gap after taking a flat pass to cross the whitewash.

The pass to Blommetjies was checked by the officials and deemed forward.

Province dominated the next 10 minutes, and while the Pumas did well to repel numerous attacks, eventually, their defence was breached when Godlen Masimla snuck over from a ruck close to the visitor's line.

Skipper Jean-Luc du Plessis added the extras as Province levelled up the match at 7-7 in the 16th minute.

The Pumas were down to 14 men in the 22nd minute when winger Lundi Msenge thwarted a dangerous Western Province counter-attack from deep.

He was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball down and received a yellow card.

Province made the extra man count in the 30th minute when Du Plessis scored an unconverted try on the left from a scrum close to the Pumas line to extend the home side's lead to 12-7.

Despite having several other opportunities to extend their lead before the break, Western Province couldn't breach the Pumas' defence as they took a five-point lead into the shed.

After repelling Western Province for the opening eight minutes of the second half, the Pumas struck on their first foray into the Province half.

After setting up a rolling maul near the Province line, the visitors opted to go wide once it was stopped, which put