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Southern Kings vs Sharks – another cracker

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A balmy Friday evening greeted Southern Kings supporters at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the Southern Kings vs Sharks clash.

The Sharks struck first after 90 seconds with a well placed penalty off of the boot of flyhalf, Frederik Zeilinga. Undettered the Kings replied with a rolling maul that allowed Luke Watson to drop to the grass for 5 points – the conversion attempt by Gary van Aswegen hit the poles.

Some fine running rugby from the Kings, who refused to kick for territory from their own 22, followed which served up some excitement for the crowd but not much territory for the Kings who conceded a try to Sharks winger, Jongi Nokwe, converted by Frederik Zeilinga.

Once again the Kings decided that kicking for 3 points was not to be part of today’s game – rather kicking for touch and mauling for the 7 points at each chance. Heart in the mouth stuff if you are behind on points but a mark of character nonetheless.

With the words fresh out of my mouth Shane Gates crashed over in the North East corner for the Southern Kings to put them level with the Sharks. A good kick from Gary van Aswegen and the Kings went 2 points ahead.

Some entertaining rugby ensued as the Kings made play after play for the Sharks tryline and kept them in their own 22 for 10 minutes. Stand out play from Shane Gates hungry to cross the chalk line had the crowd on their feet baying for points.

Sustained pressure from the Kings eventually led to Shane McDonald crashing over for a vital 5 points 4 minutes to go to the end of the first half. Easy conversion by Gary van Aswegen and the kings extended their lead to 19-10.

With seconds left on the clock, Southern Kings flanker, Thembalani Boli made off with the ball from the Sharks 10 metre line and bolted for the tryline, 5 metres to go and he was pummeled by two marauding Sharks only to shrug the cruising beasts off and stretch to score under the poles – pandemonium from the crowd and Carlos Spencer was probably now contemplating a new winger for the team.

Gary van Aswegen converted his third of the evening to take the Southern Kings to a healthy half time lead of 26 – 10 over the Sharks.

At the restart the Kings won the ball and proceeded to pile pressure until Shaun ‘bruiser’ McDonald crashed over for his second of the evening. The conversion found the upright and the Southern Kings extended their lead to 31-10.

A quick throw in on the halfway line from a Sharks kick and quick movement down the line after 3 phases and Shane Gates crossed for his second try in the South East corner and van Aswegen added two.

Some quick work from Sharks no. 11, Sizo Maseko and the Sharks pulled back another 7 points after Maseko evaded Kings defenders to score under the poles.

All fired up the Sharks quickly returned to Kings territory and centre, Quentin Crocker shrugged off the attentions of two Kings players as he gathered up the ball from a kick ahead to score next to the poles. The conversion by Jean Luc du Plessis was good and narrowed the gap to 14 points in the Southern Kings favour.

One could sense the crowd holding it’s breath whenever the Kings gained control of the ball from a set piece and began their attack – a strong push from the forwards saw Tom Botha put five points on his personal scoreboard – from one such move, with 22 minutes to go in the second half, putting the Southern Kings in the lead 43-24.

What appears to becoming a characteristic of Coach Carlos Spencer’s game plan is a ‘no kicking rule’ as time after time we saw the Kings running with the ball from seemingly impossible positions of play only to create gaps and some very entertaining play for a crowd not afraid to scream in pleasure.

All it took was a dummy, a feint, a pass backwards against the run of play to Siyanda Grey who slipped past defender after defender to score with 6 minutes to go. A Scott van Breda conversion and the Kings extended their lead to 50-24.

And there it stayed for the final minutes of a most entertaining game of rugby.

The Southern Kings travel down to George for a game against the South Western Districts on Friday evening.

Scorers:

  • Kings 50 (26): Try – Luke Watson, Shane Gates (2), Shaun McDonald (2), Thembalani Bholi, Tom Botha, Siyanda Grey; Conversion – Gary van Aswegen (4), Scott van Breda
  • Sharks 24 (10): Try – Jongi Nokwe, Sizo Maseko, Quentin Crocker Penalty – Frederik Zeilinga Conversion – Frederik Zeilinga (2), Jean Luc du Plessis

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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.