Fly-half Demetri Catrakilis kicked nine unanswered final-quarter points as Western Province shocked the Sharks 25-18 on Saturday to win South African rugby’s Currie Cup final.
After surrendering a nine-point lead, the Sharks edged ahead 18-16 midway through the second half at a slippery Kings Park when fly-half Patrick Lambie slotted his sixth penalty from as many attempts from varying angles and distances.
But Catrakilis nudged Province back in front after 64 minutes with his third penalty before dropping two goals, one with his weaker left foot, to avenge a 30-10 hiding by the Sharks at the same stadium two seasons ago.
Province last lifted a trophy that symbolises South African provincial rugby union supremacy 11 years ago and they overcame the Sharks despite losing star left winger Bryan Habana to an early injury that reduced him to a hobbling figure.
The Sharks’ pack was expected to lay the victory foundations, but it came badly unstuck at lineout time, losing five in a row at one stage with young Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth a constant thorn for the home team.
The Sharks also lost the turnover battle – another area they were expected to dominate with an all-Springbok loose trio of skipper Keegan Daniel, Willem Alberts and Marcell Coetzee.
Province struggled in the scrums, where they were up against national team props Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis, but the advantage enjoyed by the Durban team in this area waned as the cup final progressed.
“I am very proud of my team who have shown tremendous character all season and always fight to the bitter end,” said winning skipper and flanker Deon Fourie, a hooker forced to change positions this season because of an injury glut.
Daniel offered no excuses as the Sharks fell at the final hurdle for the second consecutive year, having suffered a 42-16 drubbing from Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg last year.
“Congratulations to Province on a great performance this evening. Naturally, we are very disappointed at losing successive finals, but I promise our many supporters that we will be back next year chasing trophies.”
It was a year of final failures for the Sharks with a heavy travel schedule costing them dearly in the Super Rugby final as they came unstuck against the Chiefs in New Zealand on a second trip to Australasia within three weeks.