Fedsure Western Province on Saturday deservedly retained the Bankfin Currie Cup crown by beating the Natal Sharks 29-24 in an exciting final at Newlands in Cape Town.

Unlike in the previous game two weeks ago, the WP forwards were up to the physical challenge of the Sharks. That laid the foundation for a solid performance. The WP defence was as solid as a rock and they seldom allowed the Sharks ball carriers to cross the gain line.

New Springbok centre Trevor Halstead was never a factor and he was well looked after by De Wet Barry and Braam van Straaten. On his outside Andre Snyman was quiet. The Sharks missed inspirational leader Mark Andrews, who was injured and despite a brave effort could not assert themselves on the day.

The WP forwards performed excellently as a unit, but locks Hottie Louw and Quinton Davids and flank Hendrik Gerber were immense. So too Corne Krige and Bob Skinstad. Behind the pack flyhalf Chris Rossouw showed he is ready to answer the call at flyhalf for the national side. He has great hands, vision and was able to create space for his backs with his clever passing.

His opposite number Gaffie du Toit had his moments, but could not set the park alight like he did two weeks ago in Durban.

It was the perfect farewell to Province stalwarts Braam van Straaten and Charl Marais who will be leaving for England shortly.

The Natal Sharks deserved to enjoy a halftime lead of 17-9 after clinically capitalising on mistakes from Western Province to score their two tries. The first half was played at a sprinters' pace with both teams prepared to put everything into attack.

The Sharks scored the first try of the game in the fifth minute after a breathtaking passage of play involving both teams. WP launched an attack from deep inside their own territory and Corne Krige found a massive hole in the defence on a 40m run before Robbie Kempson, Davids and the rest of his teammates got involved.

However, the movement came a-cropper through a bad pass and the Sharks were clinical in capitalising on the first bit of turnover possession. The ball went down the line and Deon Kayser made the telling break before off-loading to captain John Smit who sent the ball to AJ Venter.

The flank found Smith again and despite a desperate tackle from Pieter Rossouw the bulldozing hooker managed to get his arm over the line for the first five-pointer. Flyhalf Du Toit converted beautifully to hand his side a 7-0 lead.

In the 13th minute the Sharks were penalised for illegally playing the ball on the ground and Van Straaten slotted the penalty to make the score 7-3. Four minutes later Van Straaten raised the flags again with a penalty goal after Natal Sharks lock Albert van den Berg was caught offside.

In the 19th minute Kempson was penalised for obstruction in a lineout five metres from the Province try-line and Du Toit made no mistake with the penalty kick at goal to stretch his side's lead to 10-6. Van Straaten failed with - for him - a routine penalty kick in the 22nd minute after a Sharks player was penalised for joining a ruck from the side.

Province for long periods asked questions from the Natal defence, but another stray pass almost led to another Natal try in the 33rd minute. Scrumhalf Craig Davidson claimed the ball before setting free wing Stefan Terblanche. He kicked ahead but fortunately for Province Pieter Rossouw was at the back to save the day.

The Sharks, however, got their try a minute later when Deon Kayser made the initial breakthrough by unceremoniously running over Breyton Paulse. Davidson fed Du Toit who turned on the pace to go over underneath the poles. Du Toit converted teh try himself and suddenly the Sharks enjoyed a healthy 17-6 lead with four minutes to go.

Van Straaten hit back for Province with a penalty just before halftime to make the score at the break 17-9. When the Sharks came back for the second half it was without John Smit. The dynamic Lukas van Biljon took over at hooker.

Western Province started the second half like a house on fire. Pieter Rossouw cleverly kicked ahead and Paulse caught a retreating Kayser in possession. Province secured quick ruck ball and Chris Rossouw chipped ahead. The wicked bounce of the ball fooled Terblanche and Rossouw pounced to score under the poles. Van Straaten converted to narrow the gap to one point at 17-16.

In the 49th minute Neil de Kock ripped through the Natal defence before offloading to a rampaging Skinstad. Krige took the ball to 15 metres from the Natal try-line before Paulse and Chris Rossouw worked the ball to De Wet Barry who was stopped just short of the corner flag. WP threatened again immediately afterwards and Louw barged over the line, but referee Andre Watson spotted a knock-on.

In the 54th minute Province took the lead for the first time in the game via a Van Straaten try. WP won a set scrum inside the Natal 22, De Kock fed Percy Montgomery in the flyhalf position and his long pass found Van Straaten. The stocky midfielder used brute force to launch his body over the try-line despite the attentions of Snyman. Van Straaten converted beautifully from the corner and suddenly Province supporters had reason to cheer again with the score at 23-17.

But with 17 minutes left the game was far from over. Natal introduced Charl van Rensburg in place of Van den Berg in the 50th minute, with AJ Venter switching to lock. Toks van der Linde replaced Cobus Visagie in the 55th minute at prop for Province.

WP squandered a golden opportunity in the 59th minute after an interception by Chris Rossouw. Krige featured prominently before the ball went down the backline. Van Straaten decided on a grubber kick for Montgomery to run onto, but his kick was too heavily weighted and went over the dead ball line.

The Sharks came with wave after wave of attack, but the Province defence refused to buckle under the pressure and in the 68th minute it was Province who got points on the board through another Van Straaten penalty. Sharks fullback Justin Swart tried to run himself out of trouble from close to his try-line, but Paulse dumped him and WP forced the penalty in the ruck. With time running out the game slowly but surely seemed to slip out of reach for the visitors, who brought on substitute halfbacks Dave von Hoesslin and Herkie Kruger. Du Toit went to fullback in place of Swart.

Province, to the great delight of the crowd, sent Johannes Conradie on as scrumhalf in place of De Kock with 10 minutes to go. WP had a close shave when Du Toit's penalty hit the upright pole and Montgomery knocked it on. The Sharks, however, knocked the ball on themselves at the subsequent ruck and WP supporters could breath easy again.

Van Straaten hit the final nail in the Sharks coffin with a penalty goal in the 75th minute - the cue for the start of a big bash in Cape Town. The Sharks refused to accept their fate and in the 78th minute Van Rensburg dived over for a try in the corner after good build-up work by his teammates. Kruger converted from the touchline to make it a game again at 29-24. The final whistle, however, came before they could threaten the Province try-line again.

Scorers:

Fedsure Western Province - Tries: Chris Rossouw, Braam van Straaten; Conversions: Braam van Straaten (2); Penalties: Van Straaten (5).

Natal Sharks - Tries: John Smit, Gaffie du Toit, Charl van Rensburg; Conversions: Du Toit (2), Herkie Kruger (1); Penalty: Du Toit (1)