Based on possession and territory the Eastern Province Craven Week team ran out deserved winners against KZN in their final curtain raiser match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth today.
Based on handling errors and mistakes EP were lucky to win against KZN during a rain deluge making play cold, wet and difficult for both teams for most of the game.
KZN, playing North to South won the kickoff and opened the scoring a minute later with a successful penalty kick off of the boot of R. Anderson.
The next 7 minutes of play saw the two teams kicking more in an attempt to force errors in the pouring rain.
A penalty to Eastern Province in the 8th minute, successfully kicked by Ernest Stapelberg saw the scores level at 3-3, which KZN were quick to counter as R. Anderson moved them 3 pints ahead to 6-3 two minutes later.
There followed 10 minutes of Eastern Province camping in the KZN 22 whilst poor handling and mistakes thwarted EP’s numerous attempts to cross the KZN line. Eventually in the 18th minute a forced KZN mistake saw Stapelberg kick from 48 metres out to even the score at 6-6.
Did I mention the rain?
At the restart KZN wnet back on attack, forced an EP mistake and an easy 21 metre penalty kick for Anderson put KZN back in the lead at 9-6.
Did I mention the rain?
Stapelberg missed another two penalty kicks and both teams began to struggle in the wet conditions until 2 minutes to the end of the first half when Anderson from KZN put his team 6 points ahead with an easy penalty kick.
Did I mention the rain?
Halftime score: KZN – 12, Eastern Province – 6
In the second half it took at least 12 minutes for the teams to settle down and KZN’s Anderson slotted another penalty to push KZN ahead to 15-6. Things were not looking good for EP at all.
A disappointing missed kick from Anderson was nullified a minute later when J. Moon from KZN crashed over EP’s tryline to take the score to 17-6.
Undeterred the locals were determined to capitalise on territory and possession as they opened their try scoring with B. Le Roux the succesful player. Stapelberg added the 2 points from a conversion and the lead was narrowed to 17-13 in favour of KZN.
Did I mention the rain?
Just to show that the try was not a fluke it took EP less than a minute to crash over for one more try, courtesy of a great break and run by T. Williams. One more great Steplberg conversion and EP moved into the lead 20-17.
The score fest was not to stop here though as KZN scored from the restart – one more from KZN’s J. Moon put KZN back in the lead at 24-20.
With 6 minutes to go, EP replacement, Seargal Petersen ran from the halfway line, dummied and sold two payers, chipped ahead, timed the gather to perfection and scored directly under KZN’s poles to seal the match and victory for Eastern Province.
Full Time score: 27-24
The Man of the Match was Seargal Petersen.
Did I mention the rain?
Scoring:
- Eastern Province: Tries – B. le Roux, S. Petersen, T. Williams, Conversions – T. Stapelberg (3), Penalties – T. Stapelberg (2)
- KZN: Tries – J. Moon (2), Conversions – R. Anderson, Penalties – R. Anderson (4)
Photo by Michael Sheehan / Gallo Images
Photo by Michael Sheehan / Gallo Images
Alan Straton
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Peterson wasnt replacement, He changed from wing to fullback late in second half 🙂
Stapelberg initial is E not T.
A bit confusing to claim In first paragraph EP “deserved winners” and in second paragraph “lucky to win” conditions were poor and handling poor by both sides 🙂
Thanks for the clarification – much appreciated.