Cape Town - The unerring boot of flyhalf Morné Steyn condemned Western Province to also-rans when he landed seven match-winning penalties in the Bulls 21-19 win in the Absa Currie Cup semi-final at Newlands on Saturday evening.

VIDEO: Match highlights

GALLERY: The match in pictures

Province enjoyed the distinction of scoring the only try of the match and, late in the second half, they looked like they could score an upset win over the highly-fancied Bulls but the Springbok marksman landed the decider three minutes from the end.

The match marked the end of a woeful day for Province who saw their age-grade sides taste defeat in the Under-19 and Under-21 divisions as well.

But knock-out clashes are all about using one's opportunities and Province had enough to chances at the death to wrap up a berth in the 2009 Currie Cup final but it was not to be.

The Bulls suffered a first-minute setback when their lock Bakkies Botha was yellow-carded for dangerous play. However, playing with a man short did not prove costly at all and, in fact, the Bulls ran up a 6-0 lead in the space of two minutes after their Steyn banged over two penalties to punish Province's early indiscretions.

Province tried to bounce back from their poor start but they lacked penetration once they managed to take play beyond the halfway line. Poorly placed upfield kicks by flyhalf Peter Grant, scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage and fullback Joe Pietersen did not help their cause either.

The Bulls, on the other hand, showed far more cohesion in their early drives but their moves broke down once they approached the Province 22 metre area.

They did manage to capitalise on their territorial advantage when Steyn doubled his side's score after 18 minutes with two further penalties (12-0).

Province continued to battle to get their gameplan off the ground but they did manage to reduce the deficit in the 29th minute through a penalty by Pietersen after they took play up to the fringes of the Bulls 22 metre area (12-3).

In the ensuing play, the Bulls really piled on the pressure and they pinned Province down in their 22 metre area but they failed to break down the stubborn but well-organised Province defence after an eight-minute passage of intense pressure.

Province finished the half strongly and for the first time in the match looked like scoring a try as they took the ball through several phases ahead of the break. Their efforts were worth a try but, in the absence of variation, they were thwarted just short of the Bulls' tryline.

They did, however, exact a measure of reward when Pietersen goaled a penalty a minute ahead of the break (12-6).

This fiery display at the death of the first half saw Province return to the field stoked with fierce determination to take the game to the visiting Bulls. As a result Province ran hard at the Bulls' defence in early second-half play but again Province could not find a way to the tryline.

A 50th minute penalty by Pietersen raised a mighty cheer from the crowd of 47, 982 and this was the cue for the home side to persist with their adventurous approach in their efforts to topple the powerful Bulls line-up (12-9).

Six minutes later, Steyn again intervened with a penalty to open a six-point lead (15-9) but this failed to put a damper in the ranks of Province who briefly turned the match on its head with a 58th minute try.

Wing Gio Aplon outstripped the cover defence to pounce on a kick-ahead and Pietersen added the conversion to give Province the lead for the first time in the (16-15).

The ding-dong battle on the scoreboard continued four minutes later when Steyn gave the Bulls the lead once more when he landed his sixth penalty of the match (18-16).

Still Province refused to lie down and with substitute loosie Schalk Burger stealing the limelight with a few monster hits, the match was far from over.

Pietersen nailed a 68th minute penalty to restore the lead for Province (19-18) and their game continued to thrive, much to the delight of the home fans who raised the roof with their traditional Province chant.

With about eight minutes playing time left, the Bulls seemed to be losing their edge as the Province pressure seemed to be taking its toll and the Bulls unable to break out of their half.

Time seemed to be running out for the Bulls as a succession of line-outs and scrums in their own half saw the clock running down.

Three minutes from the end, the Bulls did manage to transfer play into the Province half where the home side committed one error too many and Steyn hammered over a penalty some six metres into the opposition half to steal victory for his side (21-19).

The victorious Bulls will now go on to play the Cheetahs in the final in Pretoria in two weeks' time.

Scorers:

WP: Try: Gio Aplon. Conversion: Joe Pietersen. Penalties: Joe Pietersen (4)

Blue Bulls: Penalties: Morne Steyn (7).

Teams:

WP: Joe Pietersen, Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Paul Bosch, Frikkie Welsh, Peter Grant, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Luke Watson (captain), Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw, Andries Bekker, Anton van Zyl, Brok Harris, Tiaan Liebenberg and Wicus Blaauw.

Replacements: Deon Fourie, JC Kritzinger, De Kock Steenkamp, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Matt To'omua and Sirel Naqelevuki.

Blue Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Francois Hougaard, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (c), Bakkies Botha, Werner Kruger, Derick Kuün, Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Danie Rossouw, Pedrie Wannenburg, Heini Adams, Burton Francis, Gerhard van den Heever.