MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

It Could be a Battle of the Bonus Points

By

SP Marais

Defending champions, EP Kings and the Regent Boland Cavaliers are now firmly in control in the Absa Currie Cup First Division after convincing victories on Friday. Just 2 points separate them, with the Kings on double the points of third placed SWD.

The Kings crushed neighbours SWD Eagles in George by 60-24, with SP Marais contributing 24 points through four tries and two conversions. The former Paarl Boys High fullback tops the try scoring stakes in the First Division with nine and was EP’s most dangerous weapon at Outeniqua Park.

The team from Port Elizabeth crossed the Eagles’ tryline nine times as they scored 60 points in a match for a third time this season.

The EP Kings meet bottom of the log, Border on Friday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and will be looking for bonus points to extend their lead on Boland. At present The Kings have 4 bonus points as opposed to the 6 gathered by Boland.

Down the N2 in East London, the Border Bulldogs gave their all, but did not have enough fire power for the Regent Boland Cavaliers as the team from Wellington remained in second position on the Absa Currie Cup First Division log thanks to a 36-15 victory at the Buffalo City Stadium on Friday night.

The visitors started the game like a house on fire, taking a 12-0 lead after only five minutes thanks to tries by fullback Willie le Roux and left wing Brendon April. Thereafter, the Bulldogs had to play catch up rugby, but never had enough in the tank to really trouble the Cavaliers on the score board.

On Saturday in Welkom, the Tasol Solar Griffons moved away from the last position on the Absa Currie Cup First Division log when their flyhalf, Tiaan van Wyk, kicked 21 points in their 46-21 victory over the Valke at the North West Stadium.

SWD Eagles 24 (10) EP Kings 60 (22)

  • SWD Eagles – Tries: Elric van Vuuren (2), Connie Botha. Conversions: Van Vuuren (3). Penalty: Van Vuuren.
  • EP Kings – Tries: SP Marais (4), Mathew Tayler-Smith, Norman Nelson (2), Frank Herne, Luke Watson. Conversions: Louis Strydom (4), Marais (2). Penalty: Strydom.

Border Bulldogs 15 (5) Regent Boland Cavaliers 36 (22)

  • Border Bulldogs – Tries: Ian Fihlani, Ntabeni Dukisa. Conversion: Dukisa. Penalty: Dukisa.
  • Regent Boland Cavaliers – Tries: Willie le Roux, Brendon April (2), Ashton Constant, Danwel Delmas, PJ Vermeulen. Conversions: Elgar Watts (3).

Tasol Solar Griffons 46 (26) Valke 21 (7)

  • Tasol Solar Griffons – Tries: Tertius Maarman (2), Ricardo Pietersen, Phillip vd Walt, Jaco Meyer. Conversions: Tiaan van Wyk (3). Penalties: Van Wyk (4). Dropped goal: Van Wyk.
  • Valke – Tries: Sino Ganto, Kyle Hendricks, Coert Cronje. Conversions: Hendricks (2), Martin Thomsen.

Absa Currie Cup First Division Log

Pos. Team – P – W – D – L – PF – PA – PD – TF – TA – BPts – Pts

  1. EP Kings – 6 – 6 – 0 – 0 – 276 – 122 – 154 – 39 – 15 – 4 – 28
  2. Regent Boland Cavaliers – 6 – 5 – 0 – 1 – 269 – 91 – 178 – 37 – 11 – 6 – 26
  3. SWD Eagles – 6 – 3 – 0 – 3 – 186 – 232 – -46 – 23 – 30 – 2 – 14
  4. Valke – 6 – 2 – 0 – 4 – 161 – 227 – -66 – 24 – 29 – 2 – 10
  5. Tasol Solar Griffons – 6 – 1 – 0 – 5 – 172 – 246 – -74 – 22 – 36 – 6 – 10
  6. Border Bulldogs – 6 – 1 – 0 – 5 – 145 – 291 – -146 – 17 – 41 – 2 – 6
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.