EP Kings come up short again
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A valiant effort from the EP Kings was not enough to hold off a hungry and upcoming Toyota Free State Cheetahs side at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday night, with the Cheetahs claiming a 26-20 victory.
The Cheetahs sent a very young and inexperienced side to PE for their compulsory Currie Cup warm-up match with all their stars being rested ahead of the Currie Cup while the EP Kings fielded an almost full strength squad with Luke Watson leading the way.
At half-time the Kings were leading 12-6 and looking good. They continued with this form early into the second half when they took a 20-9 lead with only 15minutes left. But the Cheetahs had other plans. With nothing to lose they started running from everywhere and in the process scored two tries and a penalty at the death to secure a moral boosting victory for the Cheetah youngsters.
It must be worrying for EP Kings coach Alan Solomons and the rest of the coaching staff that the Kings could not close out a victory against a very young Cheetahs team. Especially as they are eyeing a spot in the 2013 SuperRugby season.
FS Cheetahs:
1. Marcel van der Merwe; 2. Michael van Vuuren; 3. Trevor Nyakane; 4. Francois Uys; 5. Izak van der Westhuizen; 6. Pieter Myburg; 7. Pieter Labuschagne; 8. Boom Prinsloo; 9. Tewis de Bruyn; 10. Riaan Smith; 11. Cameron Jacobs; 12. Johan Goosen; 13. Phillip Snyman; 14. Nico Scheepers; 15. Philip Burger
Replacements: 16. Schalk van der Merwe; 17. Hercu Liebenberg; 18. JC Astle; 19. Willie Britz; 20. Piet van Zyl; 21. Robbie van Schalkwyk; 22. Ryno Benjamin
EP Kings:
15. Mzwandile Stick; 14. Norman Nelson; 13. Siyanda Grey; 12. Wayne Stevens; 11. Joe Breytenbach; 10. Louis Strydom; 9. Falie Oelschig; 8. Luke Watson; 7. Devin Oosthuizen; 6. Jacques Potgieter; 5. Ross Kennedy; 4. Barend Pieterse; 3. Clint Newland; 2. Hannes Franklin; 1. Jaco Engels
Replacements: 16. Frank Hearne, 17. Riaan Vermeulen, 18. Wayne van Heerden, 19. Jacques Engelbrecht, 20. Danie Faasen, 21. Shane Gates, 22. Jaco Bekker
In other compulsory friendlies that took place on Friday night, the Vodacom Blue Bulls beat the Griffons 50-19 in Welkom while the Sharks had to fight back after trailing at half-time to beat the SWD Eagles 35-22 in George. The Griquas also beat the Border Bulldogs in East London but the score could not be confirmed at the time of posting this article. Unconfirmed score was 51-10 for Griquas.
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