Witbank - Western Province took control early and stormed over the Pumas to pick up their fourth win of the Currie Cup season with a 24-13 victory on Friday night.
Province took the early lead and never looked back, with centre Johann Sadie going over for the visitors to score the first try of the match in the 11th minute, which was converted by flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.
Sadie again played an influential role in the 28th minute when he offloaded to wing JJ Englebrecht who dotted down for the visiting side's second try, and Catrakilis added two points with the conversion.
The Pumas, in search of their first win, struggled throughout the first half, and flyhalf Coenie Van Wyk eventually made up for an earlier miss to get them on the board with a successful penalty kick.
Van Wyk, however, missed again in the dying stages of the opening stanza after Province fullback Conrad Jantjes was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, and the hosts trailed 14-3 at the break.
The hosts showed some teeth and came back out fighting, with scrumhalf Hendrik van der Nest going over for their first try in the 52nd minute.
And while Van Wyk missed the conversion, they narrowed the gap to five points.
Catrakilis failed with two penalty attempts after the break, but Province scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage dotted down midway through the second half to ensure they maintained control of the game.
Catrakilis missed again with the conversion attempt, but the visitors enjoyed a 24-8 advantage, and the hosts were all but dead and buried with 16 minutes left.
Pumas replacement JP Mostert went over for the Pumas on the stroke of full time, scoring a consolation try, but Tiaan Marx missed the conversion.
The Pumas remain the only team in the competition without a win after seven rounds.
Scorers: Pumas: Tries: Hendrik van der Nest, JP Mostert. Penalties: Coenie van Wyk
Western Province: Tries: Johann Sadie, JJ Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage. Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (3). Penalties: Catrakilis.
Province took the early lead and never looked back, with centre Johann Sadie going over for the visitors to score the first try of the match in the 11th minute, which was converted by flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis.
Sadie again played an influential role in the 28th minute when he offloaded to wing JJ Englebrecht who dotted down for the visiting side's second try, and Catrakilis added two points with the conversion.
The Pumas, in search of their first win, struggled throughout the first half, and flyhalf Coenie Van Wyk eventually made up for an earlier miss to get them on the board with a successful penalty kick.
Van Wyk, however, missed again in the dying stages of the opening stanza after Province fullback Conrad Jantjes was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, and the hosts trailed 14-3 at the break.
The hosts showed some teeth and came back out fighting, with scrumhalf Hendrik van der Nest going over for their first try in the 52nd minute.
And while Van Wyk missed the conversion, they narrowed the gap to five points.
Catrakilis failed with two penalty attempts after the break, but Province scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage dotted down midway through the second half to ensure they maintained control of the game.
Catrakilis missed again with the conversion attempt, but the visitors enjoyed a 24-8 advantage, and the hosts were all but dead and buried with 16 minutes left.
Pumas replacement JP Mostert went over for the Pumas on the stroke of full time, scoring a consolation try, but Tiaan Marx missed the conversion.
The Pumas remain the only team in the competition without a win after seven rounds.
Scorers: Pumas: Tries: Hendrik van der Nest, JP Mostert. Penalties: Coenie van Wyk
Western Province: Tries: Johann Sadie, JJ Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage. Conversions: Demetri Catrakilis (3). Penalties: Catrakilis.