The Southern Kings played their last tour game against the Melbourne Rebels from Australia. The confidence were high in the Kings camp after a 4 try 28 all draw the previous week against the over all table topping Brumbies.
The Rebels could have been a game the Kings targeted to win on their first over seas tour, and it probably looked more like a reality after what they have managed a week prior. The views about the Kings went from not winning a single game to most South Africans backing the team from the Eastern Cape to beat the Rebels. And there was some excitement around the game after the way the Kings have been improving week after week.
Ronnie Cooke opened the scoring for the Kings after just 8 minutes of play. The second try was a brilliant break by Shaun Venter from the half way line and the Kings were up 14 - 0 after just 14 minutes. The players must have felt that a bonus point win will be on the cards, but the Rebels scored two tries of their own and the 1st half ended 17 all.
The second half started with level scores and everything to play for, a win after a long tour would be the best reward and would make the long journey back home so much more enjoyable. The Kings some how lost a bit of concentration at the start of the second half and before they realised the Rebels had a comfortable 27 - 17 lead.
Wimpie van der Walt scored the teams third and equalising try in the 77th minute. After receiving the ball from kick off the Kings took it up a few meters, then Demetri Catrakilis did the unthinkable of kicking away the possession, it actually ended up the best thing he could have done to get his team back in Rebels territory. The Kings pilled on the pressure and got the ball back, Catrakilis found himself in a great position to steal 3 points through a drop goal which led to his teams first victory away from home, 30 - 27.
Matt Sexton, head coach, said after the game, “Of course we’re exceptionally happy with the four log points, and the overall result, but we battled in the middle of the game,”
Sexton said he felt the team had not played to their full potential, and continued to give away too many penalties.
“The problem is that we perhaps had too much of a good start and the guys took their foot off the gas and relaxed a little, which allowed the momentum to sway in the Rebels favour,” he said.
“We have got to learn to keep the pressure on, but this is also a learning curve for us and this was another lesson learnt,” he said.
Director or Rugby, Alan Solomons, echoed Sexton’s assessment of the game, saying the players had a much better second half.
“We lost momentum and eased off after the first ten minutes or so, and our exiting our own half was poor, we gave away too many penalties which meant we made work for ourselves,” he said.
Solomons said that while the team had not played particularly well, the win once again showed the determination and character of the squad.
“A win when you’re not playing well, that says a lot about the team,” he said.
Solomons said he was very happy with the drop goal at the end.
“We knew Demetri could do it, he’s done it before at Currie cup and Vodacom Cup level, and he has a wonderful temperament under pressure,” he said.
“Before this it was already a good tour, but the win has turned this into a fantastic tour,” he said.
Scorers:
Rebels – Tries: Ged Robinson, Angus Roberts, Mitch Inman. Conversions: James O`Connor (3). Penalties: O`Connor (2)
Southern Kings– Penalty: Ronnie Cooke, Shaun Venter, Wimpie van der Walt. Conversion: Demetri Catrakilis (3). Drop goal: Catrakilis Penalties: Catrakilis (2)
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