Hard work pays off for U21s

The Eastern Province Kings, winners of Group B, played the bottom of Group A finishers, Border, in a promotion match for a spot in next year's Group A of the ABSA Under 21 Competition on Friday at the BCM Stadium in East London. 

After a slow first half the floodgates opened for the Kings in the second half as they scored 38 points, to add to their 26 from the first half. 

Border took an early lead after Devandre Sissing kicked a penalty 7 minutes into the game, Border leading 3 - 0. Sissing had an oppertunity to add a further 6 points, but failed with two penalties.  

The Kings only managed to score their first points on the 20th minute through an Aidon Davis try, Selvyn Davids converted to give his team a 7 - 3 lead. 

Davids converted his own try 5 minutes later as the Kings stretched their lead to 14 - 3. 

Sissing added another 3 points for Border, but it was quickly erased as CJ Velleman scored his teams third try. Davids added the extras as the Kings took a 21 - 6 lead with 5 minutes to half time. 

Border took every point on offer as Sissing added another three points, but Kings acted quickly as they crossed the line for another five pointer just before half time, this time through Malcolm Jaer. Davids was unsuccessful with the conversion, as the Kings went into the break with a comfortable 26 - 9 lead. 

The Kings scored three unanswered tries within the first ten minutes of the second half. Velleman scored his second of the evening, followed by two from Sergeal Petersen. Davids converted two out of the three as the Kings took a 45 - 9 lead. 

Stephan Zaayman scored 10 minutes later, and with another successful conversion by Davids, the Kings led 52 - 9 with 20 minutes to go. 

The Kings finished the game with a further two tries, the first through replacement wing, Warren Swarts, followed by replacement centre Jaco Bernardo. Davids converted his seventh try of the evening with Petersen taking a shot at the last conversion, but failed to add a further two points as the game ended, 64 - 9, in favour of the Kings. 

The win means that all three teams, the U19, U21 and EP Kings will all compete in the top divisions of their respective competitions in 2015. 

Scorers: 

Border U21 (9) - Penalties: Devandre Sissing (3) 

EP U21 (64) - Tries: Aidon Davis, CJ Velleman (2), Jaco Bernardo, Malcolm Jaer, Selvyn Davids, Sergeal Petersen (2), Stephan Zaayman, Warren Swarts. Conversions: Davids (7)