Damian Markus and Imad Khan each dotted down twice as DHL Western Province claimed a bonus-point win over Griffons in Cape Town on Saturday.
A brace of tries from centre Markus and scrumhalf Khan, to go with a first-half touchdown from flank Paul de Villiers, took WP to a 39-17 victory, their second bonus-point win over the Griffons this season.
The win, Province’s second of the campaign, drew them level on the standings with the fourth-placed Lions, who were set to face Griquas on Sunday afternoon.
It was Griffons, looking for a response after suffering a 64-15 loss in Welkom to WP in round three, who started the quickest as flyhalf Andrew Kota scored a self-converted try and kicked a penalty to give the visitors a 10-3 lead.
However, Province responded with Khan scoring his first try, before De Villiers went over from a maul and Markus dotted down for a quickfire double as the hosts took a 29-17 lead into the break, already wrapping up the four-try bonus point by half time.
Khan’s second try gave WP a soaring start to the second half and Blommetjies nailed the conversion and another penalty to take his haul to 14 points.
Those would be the only points of the half as Province bounced back in style from their defeat to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria.
WP will next host defending champions Cheetahs in Cape Town, while the Griffons will take on unbeaten Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
