Convincing win to end disappointing campaign

The Eastern Province Kings ended their Vodacom Cup campaign on a high when they beat the Sharks XV at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday night.

In retrospect the convincing 23 – 8 victory came somewhat a day too late and a few log points short as they ended fifth on the South Section log, three log points behind the forth played SWD Eagles.

Dispite the score being 8 all at the break, the Kings added a further two tries and a penalty in the second half to score 15 unanswered points.

The Kings were first to put points on the board through a Hansie Graaff penalty, after they set up camp in the Sharks’ 22 during the opening minutes.

The Sharks drew level a few minutes later after Garth April added a penalty to bring the score to 3 all after fifteen minutes.

Kings’ Luther Obi scored the first try after Sharks’ Paul Jordaan was send to the sin bin for deliberately slowing the ball down in the red zone. Graaff missed the touch line conversion as the Kings took an 8 – 3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Minutes later Sharks’ Hanco Venter crossed the line to draw level, April missed the touch line conversion. Scores remained 8 all until half-time.

The second half started pretty much the same as the first half when Kings’ eighthman Paul Schoeman scored his team’s second try after 6 minutes. Graaff missed his second kick of the night as the Kings took a 13 – 8 lead.

Replacement flyhalf, Scott van Breda was on target with his first attempt at a penalty kick as he stretched the Kings’ lead to 16 – 8 with ten minutes to go.

Replacement scrumhalf Enrico Acker scored the Kings’ third try after a high kick ended up in no man’s land. The loose ball was kicked through which resulted in a five-pointer for the home team, van Breda added the extras as the Kings took a 23 – 8 lead with five minutes remaining.

No further points were added to the score board as the Kings recorded their third win of their Vodacom Cup campaign.

The Kings scored 181 points and conceded 162 in their seven matches which included three wins. They scored the second most tries, 26, two less then the Free State Cheetahs who are on 28, and conceded 18 tries.

Scorers:

EP Kings: (8) 23 – Tries: Luther Obi, Paul Schoeman, Enrico Acker. Conversion: Scott van Breda. Penalty: Hansie Graaff.

Sharks XV: (8) 8 – Try: Henco Venter. Penalty: Garth April.

Junior Springboks off to a winning start

The Junior Springboks recorded a 25 - 22 win in the first of two matches against the Los Pumitas in Santa Fe Argentina on Tuesday evening.

The Junior Boks scored a converted try and a penalty in the first half as they trailed by five points at the break, 10 - 15.

Eastern Province's Micheal Jear scored the Junior Boks' first half try, followed by two second half tries by Grant Hermanus and Dan du Preez. Ernst Stapelberg converted two of the tries and added a penalty in each half.

“We had a long journey coming here, had only one full training session and a bus trip of more than two hours to the stadium today," said a relieved Junior Springbok coach, Dawie Theron.

"I told the players this match would be a huge test of character for them and Argentina did exactly what we expected, making it extremely difficult for us to play our normal game. They were strong upfront and tackled as if their lives depended on it,” explained Theron.

Theron admitted his harsh words during halftime had the desired effect on his players in the second half.

“We were much more composed and calm and that allowed us to eventually fight our way back successfully. I’m pleased with the effort and the character of the guys, but we now also know the areas where we must work on for the next match,” added Theron.

The next match will be in Rosaria on Saturday.

Scorers:

Argentina Under-20: (15) 22 - Tries: Christian Bartolini, Jose Deheza, Emiliano Bofelli. Conversions: Bofelli (2). Penalty: Bofelli.

Junior Springboks: (10) 25 - Tries: Michael Jaer, Grant Hermanus, Dan du Preez. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg (2). Penalties: Stapelberg (2).

Watson ruled out for Sharks match

There have been some late changes to the Eastern Province Kings side to face the Sharks XV in their final Vodacom Cup match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday evening.

Luke Watson who was set to make his return to the starting XV has been ruled out with flu. Tim Whitehead will take over the captaincy from Watson against his former team.

Other late changes sees Paul Schoeman replace Tim Agaba at eighthman, who also suffers from flu. Tazz Fuzani comes in at lock to replace Stefan Willemse who moves to the openside flank. Thembelani Bholi moves from the openside flank to blindside to cover for Watson. 

The only other change is in the front row where CJ van der Linde comes in for Simon Kerrod, who failed a fitness test.

Kick-off is at 7pm.  

EP Kings:

15 Siviwe Soqizwapi 14 Siyanda Grey 13 Ronnie Cooke 12 Tim Whitehead (c) 11 Luther Obi 10 Hansie Graaff 9 Jaco Grobler 8 Paul Schoeman 7 Stefan Willemse 6 Thembelani Bholi 5 Cornell Hess 4 Tazz Fuzani 3 CJ van der Linde 2 Edgar Marutlulle (vc) 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Replacements:

16 Mike van Vuuren 17 Enoch Mnyaka 18 David Bulbring 19 Eital Bredenkamp 20 Eniro Acker 21 Sphu Msutwana 22 Scott van Breda  

Watson to lead Kings against Sharks

The Eastern Province Kings have made slight changes to their side which thrashed Boland 44 - 10, as they are set to face the Sharks XV in their last Vodacom Cup match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday night.

The Kings who are fifth on the South Section log scored 25 unanswered points against the Cavaliers in the second half after they led 19 - 10 at the break. The Sharks who are sixth on the log, might just go into this game as the "underdogs" as they went down 24 - 27 to Griquas in their penultimate match of this year's competition.

In the backline, Siyanda Grey moves from outside centre to right wing as he replaces Sphu Msutwana who moves to the bench. Former Sharks centre, Tim Whitehead replaces Ronnie Cooke at inside centre, as Cooke shiftes to outside to replace Grey.

Amongst the loose forwards, Tim Agaba replaces Aidon Davis at eighthman and Luke Watson who returns as captain replaces Eital Bredenkamp on the flank.

Kick-off is at 7pm.  

EP Kings:

15 Siviwe Soqizwapi 14 Siyanda Grey 13 Ronnie Cooke 12 Tim Whitehead 11 Luther Obi 10 Hansie Graaff 9 Jaco Grobler 8 Tim Agaba 7 Thembelani Bholi 6 Luke Watson (capt) 5 Cornell Hess 4 Stefan Willemse 3 Simon Kerrod/Enoch Mnyaka 2 Edgar Marutlulle 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Replacements:

16 Mike van Vuuren 17 Albe de Swardt 18 CJ van der Linde 19 David Bulbring 20 Paul Schoeman 21 Eniro Acker 22 Sphu Msutwana 23 Scott van Breda

CJ has his hopes set on World Cup

Madibaz vice-captain CJ Velleman will be winging his way to Argentina this week for the Junior Springboks’ warm-up tour ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy in June.

 

Velleman will be hoping to make an impression during the two-match series in Rosario from May 8 to 16 in an effort to earn his spot in the final squad for world champs.

 

The open-side flanker had a stellar start to the season with consistent performances in the FNB Varsity Cup tournament, which earned him the runner-up spot in the overall Player that Rocks competition.

 

Velleman was then invited to the national trials in Stellenbosch in March, after which he was one of 37 players asked to return for a second training camp in April.

 

The quantity-surveying student was also part of the squad that beat the Varsity Cup Dream Team 31-24 in a friendly encounter last month.

 

“I was really excited but at the same time pretty nervous because it's an unbelievable opportunity and you only get one chance to not mess it up,” said Velleman.

 

“It was one of my proudest moments being able to pull the Bok jersey over my head.

 

“I hope to remain a permanent fixture in the squad, but for now I am just aiming to make it to the final 28 for the World Cup,” said Velleman.

 

After the South American tour, the young forward will join the Eastern Province under-21 side for the Currie Cup season.

 

“If it's anything like last year's under-19 division then it's going to be a really exciting time.”

 

The 20-year-old said he had had a rugby ball in his hands since he could remember and hadplayed the sport throughout his school year.

 

“Every rugby player’s dream is to run out for the Boks one day but for now I just want to focus on doing my best to secure my spot in the baby Bok touring squad.

 

“I would also like to advance as far as I can within the Kings system with the hopes of getting a senior cap before leaving the academy.”

Kings restore some pride against Boland

Pride was the only thing left to play for when the Eastern Province Kings travelled to Citrusdal to face the Boland Cavaliers at the Central Sports Grounds on Saturday.

Both teams are out of the running to qualify for a top spot in this year's Vodacom Cup Competition as the Kings are fifth on the South Section log, seven points behind fourth placed SWD with a single round remaining. Boland will remain seventh as it is unlickely that they will lose to bottom of the log Border when they face each other in their remaining fixture. 

The Kings scored three first half tries, two by eighthman Aidon Davis and a third by fullback Siviwe Soyizwapi. Hansie Graaff converted two of the tries.

Boland's Granville Adams missed two earlier attempts at goal, but the fullback eventually crossed the line in the twentieth minute as he scored his team's first points. Adams converted the try and with a successful penalty late in the first half they trailed by nine points, 10 - 19, at the halftime break.

The Kings dominated the second half as they scored twenty five unanswered points, which included four tries, one conversion and a penalty.

Graaff extended the Kings' score to 22 - 10 after he kicked a successful penalty early in the second half. A few minutes later blindside flank, Eital Bredenkamp, scored his team's bonus point try, Graaff missed the conversion as the Kings took a 27 - 10 lead.

Five minutes later Graaff scored and converted a try of his own as he stretched the Kings' lead to 34 - 10 as the game reached the final quarter.

Davies scored his hat-trick three minutes later, Graaff missed the conversion as the Kings took a 39 - 10 lead. Replacement scrumhalf, Dylon Frylinck scored his team's seventh and final try. Graaff was unsuccessfull with the conversion as the game ended 44 - 10.

The Kings will face the Sharks XV at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in their final match on Friday.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers (10) 10 - Try: Granville Adams. Conversion: Granville Adams. Penalty: Granville Adams. 

EP Kings (19) 44 - Tries: Aidon Davis (3), Siviwe Soyizwapi, Hansie Graaff, Eital Bredenkamp, Dylon Frylinck. Conversions: Hansie Graaff (3). Penalty: Hansie Graaff