Kings gaining momentum

After a slow start to the first leg of the ABSA Currie Cup 1st Division, the EP Kings have build up some good momentum as the competition is heading into its last two  rounds.

The Kings have been unbeaten in their last four games, with only the Pumas being able to beat them at the start of the second leg. A last minute try sealed a one point victory for the log leaders, but since that game in Nelspruit the Kings have scored 162 points and conceded only 61 in their last four games.

This past Friday the Kings recorded a well deserved 40 - 19 win against Boland in Wellington. The Kings picked up a bonus point for scored 6 tries, which included a penalty try. With this victory the Kings opened up a 5 point gap between them and third placed Leopards.

Currie Cup head coach, David Maidza said he was very proud of the team, who had set the pace of the game from the get go and had finished the first half with a 19 – 0 lead.

“I was very happy with the performance, especially with the players’ defence, which was the mainstay of the game,” he said.

Maidza said the players defence had completely shut out the Boland team.

“We also stepped up on the fundamentals, and saw dramatic improvements in our scrums and in the lineouts,” he said.

Maidza also commended the players on the breakdowns and their ability to gain turnover ball, but criticised the fact that the players had not been able to keep the momentum for the full 80 minutes of the game.

“It was a pleasing game to watch, but we need to work on maintaining momentum,” he said.

The four main contenders for play-offs are the unbeaten Pumas on 56 points with 12 wins. The Kings in second on 42 with 8 from 12, the Leopards on 37 with 7 wins and the Eagles on 36 with 6 from 12 wins.

Scorers:
Boland Cavaliers – 19: Tries: Jason Kriel (2), Ulrich Pretorius; Conversions: Eric Zana (2)
EP Kings – 40: Tries: Michael Killian, Brian Skosana, Penalty try, Stefan Willemse, Steven Sykes, Cornell du Preez; Conversions: Scott van Breda (2); George Whitehead (3).