A chilly Port Elizabeth welcomed the Welsh team to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 10 June 2014 at 19h00 for their clash against the EP Kings.
Wales won the kick off and playing from South to North immediately stamped their authority on the game chalking up 14 points in the first 20 minutes before The Kings found their legs.
Wales’ first try came from number 7, Josh Turnbull off of a rolling maul – converted by James Hook. Four minutes later Cory Allen (13) crossed the line – an easy conversion saw James Hook add 2 more to take the Wales to a 14-0 lead.
A rejuvenated EP Kings then took the game to Wales penetrating the Wales half and mounting attack after attack. A game EP Kings chose rather to kick for territory off of penalties as they put pressure on Wales. EP Kings scrumhalf Kevin Luiters dazzled the visitors with blistering attacks and set up many a rush for the Welsh tryline.
Welsh prop Rhodri Jones spent some time in the Sin Bin as he saw the Yellow Card.
A forward pass to Scott van Breda saw his crossing the line being denied as an excited crowd groaned in despair.
With 4 minutes to go in the first half Wales returned to the Kings half and the injuries started taking their toll on the Kings. Kings Prop Charl du Plessis was carried off on a stretcher with Simon Kerrod coming on as replacement.
With 30 seconds to go in the first half Welsh Flyhalf, James Hook slotted an easy penalty in front of the posts to put the visitors comfortably ahead by 17 points.
First half: Wales 17 – EP Kings 0
Kings kickoff and advance to Welsh territory but it takes four minutes for James Hook the Welsh number 10 to score under the poles and convert to take Wales to 24 points ahead.
Two minutes later Welsh winger, Alex Cuthbert crashed over in the South West corner. The conversion was not good for Hook as he watched his ball hit the far upright leaving the Welsh team ahead by 29 points.
An easy kicking penalty against Wales for not releasing saw the EP kings choosing to rather kick for touch and Wales clearing, only for the Kings to come charging back to raise the spectator noise levels somewhat. Another penalty five metres from the Welsh tryline saw the Kings once again deciding to charge for at least five points by kicking out to touch.
Kings scrumhalf Kevin Luiters was substituted by Jaco Grobler and the Kings failed at the lineout to be pushed back.
One more kickable penalty to the Kings and again they went for gold by kicking to touch. A couple of mauls later and the Kings found a gap with the ball scurrying down the line into the hands of winger Siviwe Soyizwapi who crashed over the North East corner to put the Kings on the scoreboard.
Much to the displeasure of the crowd Gareth Davies (21) crashes over for a disallowed try from a forward pass.
20 minutes to go and the EP Kings are still retaining possession whenever they can and running from their 22, electing not to kick for territory – a gambit giving the crowd much pleasure.
But playing for an international team one capitalises on mistakes as Gareth Davies (21) gathers the ball and streaks for the South West corner to score. The conversion attempt is a fail and Wales go to 34-5.
Eight minutes to go and Wales pile the pressure on, camping in the Kings 22. Solid defence from the Kings as they move the Welsh backwards to their 22 and EP Kings still not kicking out for territory.
A last gasp tilt at the opposition sees the Kings penetrate Wales half and retain possession phase after phase inching to the tryline. Penalty and the Kings kick for touch.
Two minutes to go and the Kings continue their onslaught to finally chalk up a try under the poles from a rolling maul – Simon Kerrod and the conversion by George Whitehead is good.
The final whistle and Wales beat the EP Kings 34 -12.
Scorers:
Wales 34 (17) – Try: Josh Turnbull, Cory Allen, Alex Cuthbert, James Hook, Gareth Davies; Penalty: James Hook; Conversion: James Hook (3)
EP Kings 12 (0) – Try: Siviwe Soyizwapi, Simon Kerrod; Conversion: George Whitehead
Carlos Spencer and Darron Nel answer questions from the media:
Historic Kickoff – Wales vs EP Kings:
Alan Straton
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The official attendance figures were 14 997