Soaring Falcons down WP

2008-07-18 22:01

Brakpan - Playing with 14 men for 32 minutes of the second half, the Falcons toppled one of the big ones, at last, when they deservedly beat Western Province 38-32 in a Currie Cup match at Bosman Stadium on Friday night.

It was a disappointing Province's second loss in successive weeks to one of the so-called small unions. They squandered chances, missed tackles and were outplayed in every facet but the lineouts where Ross Skeate was as monumental as he was in the tight loose - but to no avail.

"We disrespected the ball," WP captain Gcobani Bobo aptly summed it up afterwards.

The match saw three cards for dangerous play, but the loss of Falcons wing Johan Schwartz in the 19th minute for a spear tackle seemed to be the death knell for the home side, which led 35-18 at that point.

Some reprieve for the home side

When Western Province used their number advantage shortly afterwards, through a second try by lock Adriaan Fondse to trail by only 10 points at 35-25, the writing seemed to be on the wall.

However, the Falcons defence held firm, and when WP flank Francois Louw was yellow-carded in the 65th minute, there was some reprieve for the home side.

Western Province, who had led only briefly at 15-14 in the first half, threw everything into their attacks. When Wylie Human scored for Willem de Waal to convert with four minutes remaining, the score at 35-32 and Louw on his way back, it seemed all over.

But justice was done and Falcons substitute Jeffrey Perkins clinched it with a penalty on the hooter at 38-35.

Falcons flyhalf Len Olivier was magnificent. He attacked when the opportunity presented, kicked well and distributed brilliantly. That Sean Plaatjies was the Man of the Match, is just award to this near-veteran who worked, tackled, ran and organised from No 8 and no slight whatsoever to Olivier.

Home side kept on running

The frost-hardened surface and the cold, albeit windless, night were the ally of the Falcons and their first two tries in 12 minutes and a lead of 14-3 were well-deserved.

A hesitant Western Province side initially seemed loathe to go to ground on attack or defence and only came into the game after the first quarter to take the lead after 23 minutes.

But the home side kept up their running, and when WP lock Ross Skeate was yellow-carded after 31 minutes, it paid off when scrumhalf Gerrie Odendaal and Sean Plaatjies set up a corner try for hooker Ryno Barnes, followed shortly afterwards by a try from winger Dewald Pretorius.

Underdogs Falcons scored a bonus point after just 38 minutes and an unlikely halftime lead of 28-15.

Amazing defence

Just after the restart it became 35-18 after a WP penalty and a converted try by Rouan Cloete for the Falcons. Great continuity and excellent advantage by referee Marius Jonker brought about this try.

Then came the red card and the most amazing defence for the shock of the season.

Scorers:

Falcons: Tries: Nico Kritzinger, Len Olivier, Ryno Barnes, Dewald Pretorius, Rouan Cloete. Conversions: Len Olivier (5). Penalty: Jeffrey Perkins.

Western Province: Try: Adriaan Fondse (2), Brock Harris, Wylie Human. Conversions: Willem de Waal (3). Penalties: De Waal (2).

- SAPA