Title-holders Western Province served early notice of their South African Currie Cup strength with a 43-19 first-round triumph at Griquas this weekend.

Other first round matches saw the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions win handsomely and the Pumas upset the Sharks in the 124-year inter-provincial championship, the oldest in world rugby.

Cape Town outfit Province won the try contest by six to two and were troubled only for part of the second half in northern Cape city Kimberley when a big lead was trimmed to 12 points.

But any thoughts Griquas, who won a six-team qualifying competition to earn a place in the eight-province competition, had of a shock victory disappeared in the closing stages.  

Flanker Sikhumbuzo Notshe went over in the corner for a try with eight minutes left and deadly accurate fly-half Demetri Catrakilis converted.

Another try, by centre and skipper Juan de Jongh in the opposite corner, completed a bonus-point success for Province, who won two of the last three Currie Cup finals and were runners-up in the other.

Official man-of-the-match and winger Seabelo Senatla scored two tries and confirmed his reputation as a rising South African rugby star.

Pumas took an 11th-minute lead over 2013 champions Sharks through a try by centre and skipper Stefan Watermeyer and stayed in front for a 33-24 victory in north-east city Nelspruit.  

Fly-half JC Roos played a pivotal role as the Pumas upset the Sharks at Mbombela Stadium for the second successive season.

His flawless goal-kicking reaped 18 points from three conversions and four penalties, and the playmaker often drove the Durban outfit back many metres with superb tactical kicks.

Trailing 27-7 at half-time, the Sharks started the second half perfectly with a try 35 seconds in from centre Heimar Williams and the visitors entered the closing stages just six points adrift.

However, a 79th-minute Roos penalty not only assured the Pumas of victory, but deprived the Sharks of a losing bonus point.

Fly-half Tian Schoeman slotted five conversions and four penalties for a 22-point contribution as fallen giants the Bulls recovered from conceding an early try to thrash the hapless Cheetahs 57-19 in Bloemfontein.

Two of the Bulls' six tries came from scrum-half Francois Hougaard, who can also operate on the wing and was a surprise omission from the Springboks' Rugby Championship squad

Flanker Kwagga Smith claimed three of the six tries scored by 2014 runners-up the Lions, who walloped the Kings 51-14 in Port Elizabeth.
Source: AFP