WP edge North-South derby

Five penalties were enough for Western Province to beat the Blue Bulls 15-12 in a try-less Currie Cup clash at Newlands on Saturday.

Despite what the scoreline might imply, the old foes produced an exciting spectacle in the truest traditions of their long rivalry that would have had the purists smiling.

Fly-halves Willem de Waal and Jacques-Louis Potgieter contributed all the points from their respective kicking tees in a match short on tries but not short on intensity.

In a first half of contrasting styles, Western Province's attacking enterprise and domination of territory and possession found little reward while the Bulls tried to kick-and-chase their way out of their own territory.

The second half saw the teams reverse roles somewhat but the result was the same as neither end-zone was penetrated.

It was all Western Province in the first half but a massive defensive effort from the visitors saw WP held to no more than a 6-3 lead at half time.

Wave after wave of attack rained down on the Blue Bulls try-line but the men in light blue showed tremendous courage and defensive organisation to keep their hosts at bay, even when Gerhard van den Heever was sent to the bin for a high tackle.

WP captain Anton van Zyl declined a number of opportunities to kick at goal in the first half, decisions he might well have been regretting when Potgieter kicked his second penalty of the day to level the scores shortly after the restart.

De Waal restored the hosts' three-point advantage with his third penalty after 48 minutes but Province's inability to crack the Bulls defence was frustrating Newlands faithful.

The home fly-half extended the lead to six points on the hour mark, obliging the Bulls to keep ball in hand...and keep it they did.

Potgieter was unable to find the mark when his side was awarded a penalty after stringing together 24 phases but he hit the target a few minutes later as the teams seemed to swap approaches with the WP kicking possession away.

Thus the teams entered the final ten minutes separated by just three points, but despite the mounting pressure there was no grand finale to come.

De Waal's accuracy from the kicking tee made the scores 15-9 only for Potgieter to reply with four minutes remaining.

The Bulls will head back to Pretoria with a losing bonus point but probably without captain Gary Botha, who sustained what looked like as serious knee injury. They will host the Griquas on Friday.

The result means WP remain the only unbeaten side in the competition but must travel to Durban to face the Sharks next week.

The scorers

For Western Province:
Pens: De Waal 5

For the Blue Bulls:
Pens: J-L Potgieter 4

Yellow card: Van den Heever (Blue Bulls - 21st min - high tackle)

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Koster, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (c), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JD Moller, 18 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 19 De Kock Steenkamp, 20 Pieter Myburgh, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronje.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuun, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Jeandre Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (c), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 22 Jaco Engels.

Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Marius Jonker