Fedsure Western Province had to delve deep to see off a determined challenge from a gutsy Pumas side in their Bankfin Currie Cup game in Cape Town on Saturday. The Currie Cup champions led 13-7 at halftime and eventually prevailed 33-28.

But Province had to pull out all stops to win this one. The Pumas came to Fedsure Park Newlands with the goal of defending their unbeaten record in the competition and right from the start they climbed in with heaps of gusto.

They were helped by the fact that Province tried to run the ball at every opportunity, sometimes throwing caution to the wind - something that could cost them dearly against the Natals and Lions of the competition.

They played the more attractive rugby and when they got it right, they looked awesome. It was, however, the visitors who scored four tries to earn them a bonus point. They also got a bonus point for finishing within seven. They are still on top of the log in Section Y with 21 points after five games, followed by WP with 18 after four.

The Pumas got off to a flying start when wing Marius Schoeman intercepted flyhalf Chris Rossouw's long pass to brother Pieter in the second minute and ran through from close to his own 22 to score under the posts.

WP hit back with a brilliantly executed try in the 7th minute. Scrumhalf Neil de Kock fielded a poor kick from Marius Goosen, lock Thys Stoltz forced the ruck before a beautiful flat pass from Chris Rossouw sent Bob Skinstad at full pace through a gap.

The No 8's delicately weighted drift pass found a flying Breyton Paulse, who showed opposite number Schoeman a clean pair of heels. Centre Braam van Straaten converted beautifully to draw the teams level at 7-7, but failed with two penalty attempts a few minutes later.

The goalkicking ace slotted two further penalties to give the hosts a 13-7 halftime lead.

In the 49th minute Province displayed their exquisite attacking skills when Paulse sent the ball to Van Straaten from a ruck. Flank Hendrik Gerber and fullback Percy Montgomery handled before Skinstad brilliantly passed the ball inside from the touchline to Montgomery, who sent the pacey Gus Theron away for a try under the posts. Van Straaten added the two points and a minute later slotted a penalty goal to make the score 23-7.

In the 55th minute Jacques Olivier showed he has lost none of his ability to sniff a gap when he bamboozled the defence before big lock Derick Grobbelaar sent wing Jacques Juries over for a try. Goosen converted to give his team renewed hope.

After another great run by Olivier, Province got a scrum close to their tryline. The Pumas battled all day long in the set scrums, but they found the strength from somewhere to disrupt the WP scrum and win a heel against the head.

There was no stopping Uys who forced his way over after a strong angled run. Goosen converted and suddenly we had a game on our hands at 23-21 and 20 minutes left on the clock.

The Pumas applied the pressure relentlessly and WP hooker Charl Marais was penalised for not releasing the ball in a ruck, but Goosen missed the easy attempt at goal. Van Straaten wasn't in the mood to make the same mistake when he had a chance at goal in the 65th minute (26-21).

A brilliant try from a counter attack by Chris Rossouw buried the Pumas. Brother Pieter fielded a Goosen kick, De Kock got it to Paulse who sent the ball to Rossouw via Theron. Rossouw first dummied the defence and then turned on the gas for a great try.

Van Straaten converted to make the score a comfortable 33-21 before substitute hooker Henry Kemp scored a try that was converted by Goosen.

Scorers:

Fedsure Western Province - Tries: Breyton Paulse, Gus Theron, Chris Rossouw; Conversions: Braam van Straaten (3); Penalties: Van Straaten (3).

Pumas - Tries: Marius Schoeman, Jaques Juries, Pierre Uys, Henry Kemp; Conversions: Nel Fourie, Marius Goosen (2).

Scoring Sequence:

First Half: 7-0 Schoeman try, Fourie conversion (3rd); 7-7 Paulse try, Van Straaten conversion (8th); 7-10 Van Straaten penalty (30th); 7-13 Van Straaten penalty (39th).

Second Half: 7-20 Theron try, Van Straaten conversion (9th); 7-23 Van Straaten penalty (13th); 14-23 Juries try, Goosen conversion (16th); 21-23 Uys try, Goosen conversion (19th); 21-26 Van Straaten penalty (25th); 21-33 Chris Rossouw try, Van Straaten conversion (36th); 28-33 Kemp try, Goosen conversion (38th).

Teams:

Fedsure WP: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Gus Theron, Braam van Straaten, Pieter Rossouw, Chris Rossouw, Neil de Kock, Bob Skinstad, Corne Krige (capt), Hendrik Gerber, Thys Stoltz, Quinton Davids, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes: Peter Dixon, Robbie Kempson, Hottie Louw, Adri Badenhorst, Johannes Conradie, Werner Greef, Egon Seconds.

Pumas (from): Marius Goosen, Jacques Juries, Marius Schoeman, Riaan Potgieter, Kat de Jager, Jacques Olivier, Franco Smith, Nel Fourie, Hakkies Husselman, Danzel Manuel, Frans Allers, Torros Pretorius, Pierre Uys, Ryan Jacobs, Hendry Rheeders, Gerhard Laufs, Derick Grobbelaar (capt), Hakkies Swart, Christo Bezuidenhout, Jaco Venter, Henry Kemp, Paul Hoffman.