Herne hat-trick gives Steval Pumas victory over Kings
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Loading...A remarkable hat-trick from hooker Frankie Herne secured the Steval Pumas a 38-30 win over the EP Kings in a scintillating clash in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening, as the Nelspruiters ended their Currie Cup Premier Division campaign with a much-needed victory under the belt.
EP Kings fly half Peter-Steyn de Wet took the home side to a 6-0 lead early on. Steval Pumas flank Brian Shabangu went over for the first try of the match shortly thereafter, with the missed conversion attempt from Heinrich Steyl leaving the score at 6-5.
The Kings hit back with a converted try through fullback Johan Tromp, but Steval Pumas hooker Frankie Herne continued his excellent try-scoring record this season by crossing the whitewash a few minutes later, with Steyl adding the two. The Kings extended the one-point lead through a converted Brandon Brown try, but the visitors surged back again through Herne, who crashed over for his second, with Steyl’s successful kick bringing the halftime score to 20-19.
Kings scrumhalf and captain Ricky Schroeder darted over for a converted try shortly into the second half, but the ding-dong battle continued when Steval Pumas scrumhalf Kevin Luiters replied with a try of his own. Steyl’s missed conversion saw the visitors trailing 27-24, with a tense 20 minutes remaining.
The accurate De Wet slotted his third penalty to secure a six-point lead, but man of the match Herne wasn’t done yet as he went over for a remarkable hat-trick from the front row, and Devon Williams made the conversion to give the visitors a nail-biting 30-31 lead. JP Lewis wrapped things up for the Steval Pumas with a converted try in the dying minutes, with the game ending 30-38.
“We made a few too many errors again to give away easy points, but I think the guys managed to keep their composure and keep fighting back. We had the advantage in the forwards so we used the mauls to our advantage, and as usual Frankie took the lead in that aspect. It was a nail-biting match but we’re extremely relieved to get the win we’ve worked so hard for all season,” said Mentz.
The bonus point win sees the Steval Pumas move to seventh on the log, ahead of the Boland Cavaliers and the EP Kings.
SCORERS:
EP Kings: Tries: Johan Tromp, Brandon Brown, Ricky Schroeder
Conversions: Pieter-Steyn de Wet (3)
Penalties: De Wet (3)
Pumas: Tries: Brian Shabangu (unconverted), Frankie Herne (3), Kevin Luiters, JP Lewis
Conversions: Heinrich Steyl (2), Devon Williams (2)
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