The tough, SA derby GUINNESSPRO14 Championship rugby fixture between the Southern Kings and the Toyota Cheetahs over the weekend may have cost the local franchise the services of their exciting flyhalf Oliver Zono for a while. That was the concern expressed by Kings team doctor Clement Plaatjies this morning. "Oliver has damaged his knee but we'll only be able to confirm the severity of the injury after further examination and scans have been completed. I suspect there's ligament and … [Read more...] about Zono Could be Out
Sport
Scallywag’s Gough Washed Overboard
Scallywag continues to race towards home in Hong Kong, leading the fleet west in well-established trade wind conditions. At 0700 UTC on Sunday morning, skipper David Witt's team was leading by about 20 miles over team AkzoNobel and Dongfeng Race Team in terms of distance to finish. But on the water, the Scallywags are about 70 miles further west, and 100 miles to the south of the their closest opposition. Although their advantage remains solid, the past 24 hours haven't been without … [Read more...] about Scallywag’s Gough Washed Overboard
Guiness Pro14 Rugby Game – Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs
After 10 minutes into the Guiness Pro14 Rugby game between the Southern Kings and the Toyota Cheetahs the score was level at 7-7. The hope in fans hearts continued... But the Toyota Cheetahs prevailed making the difference 20-7 in the 20th minute, 31-7 with 34 minutes to go, until the 53rd minute when the Southern Kings caught some breath and moved into double digit territory. Some excitement for the 6 711 strong crowd (the most to attend a PRO14 game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium … [Read more...] about Guiness Pro14 Rugby Game – Southern Kings and Toyota Cheetahs
From Last to First for Witty and Gang
Following one of the longest and most painful doldrums crossings in memory, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is now in the northeast trade winds and speeding towards the finish line in Hong Kong, some 2,700 nautical miles to the northwest. The fleet finds itself in three distinct groupings, with Dongfeng Race Team leading team AkzoNobel and Vestas 11th Hour Racing in the northernmost triumvirate. And it’s in the north where the stronger winds should be as the northeasterly trades winds get … [Read more...] about From Last to First for Witty and Gang
Cheetahs team to face Southern Kings
Coach Rory Duncan has announced his team to take on the Kings in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 13 January 2018. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1. It is the first time the two local teams meet in Guinness PRO14. The last time the two teams faced each other was in July when they made their final Vodacom SuperRugby appearances. The Toyota Cheetahs have won all four previous fixtures between the two. "Dealing with pressure, we’ve been taking this … [Read more...] about Cheetahs team to face Southern Kings
It’d be catastrophic if we come home last
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet was buoyed by the arrival of new breeze on Thursday, potentially spelling an end to several days of torment at the hands of the Doldrums. The seven teams hit the Doldrums – a fickle band of low pressure notorious for its calm wind – on Monday, and since then have been inching north at painfully slow speeds in sweltering tropical heat. But on the ninth day of racing, with almost exactly 3,000 nautical miles remaining of the 6,000-mile stage from Melbourne to Hong … [Read more...] about It’d be catastrophic if we come home last
First Local PRO14 Derby at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this Saturday
Southern Kings Head Coach Deon Davids today named his team to take on the Toyota Cheetahs at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday, 13 January in what will be the first-ever SA derby fixture in the GUINNESSPRO14 Championship. Amongst the forwards the only changes made to the starting 15 that did duty against Edinburgh last weekend come at lock where the regular starting pair of Bobby De Wee and Stephan Greeff are restored after being afforded an extra week of rest and recovery by the … [Read more...] about First Local PRO14 Derby at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this Saturday
The Power of Sport to Transform
From playing ball to studying to become a doctor: A Nelson Mandela Bay girl’s life has been transformed through the power of sport. Bronwyn White, 18, one of the United Through Sport’s Senior School of Excellence beneficiaries, achieved her 2017 National Senior Certificate with a Bachelor’s Pass and attained a fantastic four distinctions through Pearson High School. She has been accepted to study Medicine at the University of Cape Town this year. “United Through Sport gave me such … [Read more...] about The Power of Sport to Transform
Popular Ocean Racing Series returns
Africa’s largest family beach event, the aQuellé Ocean Racing Series, returns to Hobie Beach on Sunday for round 6 and the first race of 2018. Now in it's 13th season, the Series which takes place on mostly alternate Sunday mornings throughout the whole of Summer and is unique to Nelson Mandela Bay, offers something for the whole family with 3 beach events and 4 swim events taking place each race morning starting at 9am and featuring a kids 12 years and under prize giving at 10am and an … [Read more...] about Popular Ocean Racing Series returns
Lightning Strikes Volvo Ocean Race Yacht
The new week started with a reshuffle of the Leg 4 leaderboard as the seven-strong Volvo Ocean Race fleet eased into the Doldrums for the second time so far this race. After six days at sea, racing is so tight between the top five teams that the smallest of gains or losses can propel them up the rankings or send them plummeting down the positions. This was certainly the case on Monday as Vestas 11th Hour Racing became the new Leg 4 leaders while Dongfeng Race Team, the table-toppers for … [Read more...] about Lightning Strikes Volvo Ocean Race Yacht
What is a Pilling?
At the Algoa Bay Yacht Club I always tell prospective sailors that sailing is a sport in which you will learn something new every day - and then feel smug in the supposed knowledge that I am pretty good when it comes to my knowledge. BUT, today I am stumped - see the image caption below which refers to 'Sophie Ciszek giving instructions from the bow during a pilling.' The only pilling I know is when one has to give an animal a pill and, frankly, am stumped as to what this 'pilling' manoeuvre … [Read more...] about What is a Pilling?
Kings miss out on maiden PRO14 Win
Despite a dominant and committed first 15 minutes that saw them awarded as many as five early penalties in the opposition twenty-two, the Southern Kings were unfortunately unable to turn possession and field-position into points and were then punished for this once hosts Edinburgh were able to settle into their rhythm. The Kings were returning to GUINNESSPRO14 action a full month after their last competitive fixture and were also confronted with icy northern hemisphere conditions quite at … [Read more...] about Kings miss out on maiden PRO14 Win
“I got that one completely wrong,” admits David
Four days into Leg 4 the Volvo Ocean Race fleet was starting to compress again – with overall race leaders MAPFRE rapidly rising through the rankings and closing guage with the leaders. Skipper Xabi Fernandez spoke on Thursday about plenty of opportunities to improve on MAPFRE’s fifth position, nearly 40 nautical miles adrift of the leading duo of Dongfeng Race Team and team AkzoNobel – and by Friday the Spanish crew had rocketed into third. Having opted to hug the Australian coastline for … [Read more...] about “I got that one completely wrong,” admits David
Southern Kings Team to face Edinburgh
The Southern Kings team to face Edinburgh at Myreside tomorrow night (19:35 UK/21:35 SA) has been named by Head Coach Deon Davids. As the Kings return from their winter break, a number of familiar faces are included in the starting XV. The team will be captained by Schalk Ferreira and will be chasing its first ever win in the Guinness PRO14. Yaw Penxe, Kurt Coleman, Berton Klaasen and Dries van Schalkwyk are some of the team’s key performers who will line out in the Scottish capital for a … [Read more...] about Southern Kings Team to face Edinburgh
Scottish Star to Debut Against Southern Kings
Scotland international centre Mark Bennett will make his eagerly anticipated debut against Southern Kings at Myreside tomorrow night (Friday 5 January, kick-off 7.35pm). Head coach Richard Cockerill has made five changes to the side that faced Glasgow Warriors in last weekend’s 1872 Cup fixture at Scotstoun. Dougie Fife is the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged back-three. The winger – who touched down against Southern Kings in last month’s fixture in Port Elizabeth – joins Duhan … [Read more...] about Scottish Star to Debut Against Southern Kings
