Boland power past Kings in scrappy affair
It was an error-ridden game, but the visitors did manage to score four tries to bag a crucial bonus point. The game was also the Kings' first of the tournament.
EP Kings flyhalf Kobus Marais had a chance to put his team in the lead with a penalty in the eighth minute, but his kick went well wide from a tricky angle.
The home side was then dealt a big blow when lock Tazz Fuzani was yellow carded for a dangerous should charge in the 18th minute.
Boland took full advantage of the extra man advantage when wing Sergio Torrens stretched over for the first try of the game after a good attacking move in the Kings' 22. Nico Scheepers converted for a 7-0 lead.
The Kings finally got their first points in the 36th minute when Marais finally converted a penalty to reduce the deficit to four points.
Boland were firmly in control in the opening few minutes of the second half and they were rewarded when No.8 Zandré Jordaan fooled the Kings' defence from the base of a ruck to canter in for his team's second try.
Things got worse for the Kings when wing Alcino Isaacs picked up his team's second yellow card for dangerous play in the 58th minute.
A few minutes later Boland scored their third try when centre Christopher Bosch scored after a brilliant break by Jordaan. Scheepers converted and Boland were leading 21-3 going into the final quarter.
Boland eventually got their bonus-point try in the 69th minute when flank Kenan Cronje scored after some swift interplay amongst Boland's forwards and backs in the Kings' 22.
The Kings finally got their first try of the tournament in the 75th minute when centre Johan Tromp evaded a few defenders to go over for the score
Man of the match: It was a scrappy game with a lot of errors, but if any player deserves this award it is Boland No.8 Zandré Jordaan.
The scorers:
For EP Kings:
Try: Tromp
Con: Goza
Pen: Marais
For Boland:
Tries: Torrens, Jordaan, Bosch, Cronje
Cons: Scheepers 4
Yellow cards: Tazz Fuzani (EP Kings, 18 – dangerous play, shoulder charge), Alcino Isaacs (EP Kings, 58 – dangerous play)
Teams:
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 14 Alcino Isaacs, 13 Johan Tromp, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Ricky Schroeder, 8 Christiaan de Bruin, 7 Sebastian Ferreira, 6 Vince Jhobo, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Schalk Ferreira (captain).
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 David Antonites, 19 Brandon Brown, 20 Jacques Fick, 21 Burton Klaasen, 22 Lungelo Goza.
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Ryan Nell (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandré Jordaan, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Kenan Cronje, 5 Hanno Kitshoff, 4 Shaun McDondald, 3 Basil Short, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Stephanus Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Francois Esterhuizen, 17 Francois Hanekom, 18 Joubert Horn, 19 Chaney Willemse, 20 Jovelian de Koker, 21 William van Wyk, 22 Craig Pheiffer.
Referee: Rodney Boneparte
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, JP Clements
TMO: Christie du Preez
