The Stats Show Boland Far Ahead of EP Kings

For months now I have been squirming with secret, guilty pleasure each time the latest results in the Currie Cup First Division have been made known.

Those long years when the only cup in the EP cupboard was a broken tea cup have always been a source of great personal shame to me. Our cricket team broke a long drought and then rugby started on the road to ascendancy – what could be better than two major teams showing the rest of the country that Eastern Province were now straightening up after bending for the proverbial enema?

But a sense of disquiet has been meandering into my brain of late which started with the lack of bonus points from our EP Kings. And now, Boland have, after one game, swooped ahead of the Kings to finish top of the log and four points ahead after teaching SWD a lesson in rugby this Friday night past.

Let us pause a while and wait for the beating heart to subside whilst we reach for the man sized tissues to wipe those bitter tears of frustration away.

The Regent Boland Cavaliers secured their place at the top of the Absa Currie Cup First Division standings with an emphatic 53-24 victory over the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday and will host the fourth placed Tasol Solar Griffons in the semi-finals.

The second placed EP Kings and the third placed Valke will contest the other semi-final after the East Randers snuck into third position after an exciting last round of matches, thanks to a 34-31 victory over the Border Bulldogs at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London, also on Friday.

While the result in the match between the Eagles and Cavaliers was according to the form book – Boland and EP were in a class of their own this season and completely dominated the First Division, each losing only one match the entire season – the Valke had to erase a 21-point deficit to go through to the playoffs.

At halftime, the Bulldogs were leading by 21-10, which they stretched to 31-10 midway through the second half. But four tries in the final half hour – two of them in the final seven minutes – saw the Valke sneak past to take the win and a place in the semi-finals.

The match-winner was scored by replacement wing Kyle Hendricks after the team from Kempton Park won a turnover, quickly swung the ball left as Hendricks beat the cover defence to score the Valke’s most important try of 2011.10.02

In George, Elgar Watts contributed 23 points as Boland crushed the Eagles, with Willie le Roux adding two tries to the visitors’ impressive tally.

The Regent Boland Cavaliers will play the Tasol Solar Griffons in Wellington on 7 October, and the EP Kings will host the Valke at the NMB Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 8 October.

Weekend scorers:
SWD Eagles 24 (17) Regent Boland Cavaliers 53 (22)

• SWD Eagles – Tries: Wilhelm Koch, Braam Immelman, Mzo Dyantyi. Conversions: Elric van Vuuren (2), Deroy Rhoode. Penalty: Rhoode.
• Regent Boland Cavaliers – Tries: Willie le Roux (2), Ashton Constant, Zandré Jordaan, Elgar Watts, Danwel Demas, Bolla Conradie. Conversions: Watts (6). Penalties: Watts (2).

Border Bulldogs 31 (21) Valke 34 (10)

• Border Bulldogs – Tries: Ntabeni Dukisa, Vuyo Mboto, Shane Spring. Conversions: Dukisa, Dale Sabbagh. Penalties: Dukisa (2), Sabbagh (2).
• Valke – Tries: Jaco Snyman (2), Kyle Hendricks, Chris Ehlers, Clinton Kayser. Conversions: Juan Kotze (3). Penalty: Kotze.

Absa Currie Cup First Division Log:

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

1. Regent Boland Cavaliers – 10 – 9 – 0 – 1 – 473 – 187 – 286 – 62 – 24 – 10 – 46
2. Eastern Province Kings – 10 – 9 – 0 – 1 – 403 – 236 – 167 – 56 – 28 – 6 – 42
3. Valke – 10 – 4 – 0 – 6 – 286 – 398 – -112 – 40 – 52 – 5 – 21
4. Tasol Solar Griffons – 10 – 2 – 0 – 8 – 280 – 366 – -86 – 34 – 49 – 10 – 18
5. SWD Eagles – 10 – 3 – 0 – 7 – 298 – 396 – -98 – 37 – 49 – 4 – 16
6. Border Bulldogs – 10 – 3 – 0 – 7 – 256 – 413 – -157 – 29 – 56 – 4 – 16

If I was a betting man I am shattered to say that, based on the above results, I would put my money on Boland.

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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.

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