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SWD 37 – EP Kings 14

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SWD Eagles scored four tries to kick off with a convincing 37-14 (halftime 14-7) win against a youthful Eastern Province Kings outfit in their new provincial tournament rugby fixture at NMB Stadium, in Port Elizabeth, on Saturday.

SWD used their superior experience to dominate the game with flyhalf Hansie Graaff prominent throughout while kicking 15 points at the same time.

The Kings have opted, not by choice, to field mostly their U19 and U21 stars from last season and it was almost a case of boys against men at stages.

But, the EP Kings were on the front foot from the onset and were on the board as early as the first minute when referee Craig Joubert awarded them a penalty try after left wing Athenkosi Mayinje was pulled back by SWD scrumhalf Mzo Dyanti with the tryline beckoning. Dyanti was given 10 minutes in the sin-bin for the transgression. Kings flyhalf Michael Brink slotted the conversion.

The lead was short-lived as SWD bounced straight back in the fourth minute when centre Daniel Roberts collected a loose ball near the tryline to go over untouched. Flyhalf Hansie Graaff added the two points.

SWD’s other centre Martin du Toit got a try of his own as the SWD backline took advantage of extra numbers on attack. Graaff made no mistake with the conversion.

He then put SWD further ahead with two penalties soon after the restart and when left wing Riaan Arends fielded a high ball from Graaff to score far out matters threatened to get out of hand for the Kings. Graaff slotted that conversion and also added another penalty to take it to 30-7 in favour of the visitors.

But after being on the back foot for most of the second half, the Kings came back with a fine try rounded off by captain Jeremy Ward and converted by Brink.

SWD had the last laugh though when fullback Leighton Eksteen out-sprinted the defence to score his team’s fourth try of the match which fullback Jacquin Jansen converted.

Scorers:

  • EP Kings: Tries: Penalty try, Jeremy Ward; Conversions: Michael Brink (2)
  • SWD Eagles: Tries: Daniel Roberts, Martin du Toit, Riaan Arends, Leighton Eksteen; Conversion: Hansie Graaff (3), Jacquin Jansen; Penalties: Hansie Graaff (3)
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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.