A hat-trick from DHL Western Province inside centre Jonathan Roche helped them power to a monster 64-15 win over the NovaVit Griffons in their Carling Currie Cup clash at the North West Stadium in Welkom on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors initially got off to a slow start, before kicking into gear as they outscored the hosts nine tries to two to seal their first win of the competition, leaving Griffons bottom of the log, along with the Sharks, as the only sides without a win.
It was an even opening before the home side kicked off the scoring as left-wing Andrew Kota slotted a simple penalty to put them ahead in the 11th minute.
Two minutes later, Kota almost got in at the corner but was tackled short, with the recycled ball finding prop Moango Ngundue to smash his way over for a converted score and 10-0 lead.
However, the rest of the half belonged to the visitors as they ran in five tries in the second quarter to power into a big lead at halftime.
Angelo Davids went over for his side's first try with a player on his back, while a mistake from the Griffons allowed Province flank Paul de Villiers to break away and offload to outside centre Luke Burger to score, with flyhalf Jurie Mathee converting both to put them into a 14-10 lead after 23 minutes.
Province were now in their groove and another quickfire double saw fullback Clayton Blommetjies score on the overlap, while they struck again from the kick-off with Roche running in untouched for his first score, both converted by Mathee to move 28-10 up after 30 minutes.
The visitors then finished the half with a flourish, counter-attacking from a Griffons lost lineout on the halfway line, with Davids streaking away to score, putting them 33-10 up at the break.
ROCHE HAT-TRICK
Province picked up where they left off in the second half as they attacked from a lineout on the halfway, with Roche making the initial break, before he followed up superbly to get the ball back and go over for an unconverted score in the 46th minute.
Having shipped six tries without answer, the Griffons finally responded in the 48th minute as they attacked from their own half, going through the phases while producing some great offloads, with right-wing Christiaan Nel receiving the final one to go over in the corner to make it 38-15.
Province was soon back in the ascendancy, this time with their rolling maul getting going, as they rumbled over two maul tries in the 53rd and 62nd minutes. Replacement loose forward CJ Velleman dotted down both, with one converted by Mathee as they cruised into a 50-15 lead.
The Griffons were then punished for trying to attack from a scrum in their own 22m, dropping the ball for Roche to pick up and go over for a gift of a hat-trick in the 66th minute.
A frantic finish to the match ended with the Griffons conceding a penalty in their 22m and going to sleep as lock Hendre Stassen quick-tapped and dived over for the converted score and huge win.
SCORERS
Griffons: Tries - Moango Ngundue, Christiaan Nel; Conversion - Andrew Kota; Penalty - Kota
Western Province: Tries - Angelo Davids (2), Luke Burger, Clayton Blommetjies, Jonathan Roche (3), CJ Velleman (2), Hendre Stassen; Conversions - Jurie Mathee (7)