The match, played in perfect conditions at Tafel Lager Park, was a close fought affair and the Kimberley outfit enjoyed a slender 12-10 halftime lead.

Poor discipline in the first half by the visitors resulted in no less than nine penalties against them, with ace goalkicker Zander du Plessis (No 12) slotting four of them to give Tafel Lager Griquas a two-point lead at the break.

Jerome Paarwater’s side had the slight advantage in terms of possessions and chances created in the opening half, but committed far too many handling errors and as a result they couldn’t really find their rhythm, while the home team defended with gusto.

To compound matters, the visiting team had lock Ben-Jason Dixon sent to the sin bin for an early tackle on Stefan Ungerer while the Tafel Lager Griquas scrumhalf was involved in an attacking move.

DHL WP speedster Leolin Zas, a former Junior Bok wing, scored the only try of the opening stanza while flyhalf Tim Swiel slotted the conversion and also a penalty goal.

However, it was the home side’s replacement bench which made a huge and telling impact in the second half to ultimately tilt the outcome of this close-fought encounter their way.

Two well-worked lineout maul tries, one each by replacement prop Andries Schutte and Gustav du Rand (reserve hooker), took the game away from the Capetonians in the last ten minutes.

The script is never written in recent clashes between these two sides and again there was a dramatic end to the match when Griquas replacement prop Kudwazi Dube was sanctioned with a yellow card for a high tackle.

From the resultant penalty, the Cape team elected to run at the home defence, and it was Zas who was sent over in the corner for his second try of the evening. When Swiel slotted the conversion, it was suddenly a two-point game with the hooter sounding in the background.

The match finished in favour of the Northern Cape side when the visitors made another error, swinging a wild pass over the touchline to the absolute joy of the supporters at Tafel Lager Park.

The win was a second for Tafel Lager Griquas this season while DHL WP fell to a third defeat.

Scorers:

Tafel Lager Griquas 22 (12) – Tries: Andries Schutte, Gustav du Rand. Penalty goals: Zander du Plessis (4).

DHL Western Province 20 (10) – Tries: Leolin Zas (2). Conversions: Tim Swiel (2). Penalty goals: Swiel (2).