EP Kings to face Blue Bulls in Vodacom Cup QF

The EP Kings will advance to the quarter finals of this years Vodacom Cup after beating Boland this past weekend. The Kings were trailing 8 - 13 at halftime, but 3 second half tries were enough to see the Kings to a 27 - 23 victory and a quarter final playoff against the Bulls in Pretoria this weekend.

Vodacom Cup Head Coach, David Maidza said the team were lucky to have come home with five points, following a fairly lacklustre performance at the Wesbank Stadium in Malmsbury on the weekend.

“I am very glad we were able to secure the five points, to secure a quarter final, but I was not happy with the overall performance of the team, it was not their best performance,” he said.

Maidza said the team had done well on defence, which had played a critical role in them coming back from behind in the second half.

“Our play will ball in hand, however, was erratic at times, and we weren’t nearly as dangerous on attack as we could have been,” he said.

Maidza said the team knew they would have their work cut out for them against the Blue Bulls in the quarter finals.

“When you go up against the Blue bulls you know you are going to be playing a competent team, it is always going to be a challenge as they are a very strong outfit,” he said.

“We know how they play and we will prepare accordingly over the week and will need to tidy up in a number of areas ahead of the game,” he said.

After drawing their opener against the Pampas XV, 20 all, they managed their first win against Border 30 - 22. In their 3rd game they lost horribly to Western Province, 43 - 18, but turned their campaign around with 4 straight wins. The fist one was a 17 - 13 against Free State XV in Bloem followed by a 52 - 10 win against SWD in PE, a 27 - 23 win against the Sharks VX in PE and a 27 - 23 bonus point win against Boland in Malmesbury.

The other teams qualifying for the quarter finals are the Sharks and Lions, Pumas and Pampas, Western Province and Griquas.

Scorers:

Regent Boland Cavaliers – Tries: Senan van der Merwe, Ashton Constant ; Conversions: Jacquin Jasen (2); Penalties: Jacquin Jasen (3)
Eastern Province Kings – Tries: Paul Schoeman; Stefan Willemse, Kyle van Zyl, Devon Oosthuizen Conversions: Kyle van Zyl (2); Penalties: Scott van Breda (1)