EP Kings secure convincing win over SWD Eagles
The Eastern Province Kings beat the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday evening, with a convincing 78 (28) to 32 (25) victory.
The game got off to a somewhat rocky start for the Kings, with the SWD Eagles opening the scoreboard with a penalty conversion off the boot of Aldred James in the 6th minute.
The EP Kings retaliated with a try by Lizo Gqoboka just two minutes later, with a successful conversion by Gary van Aswegen to take the team to a 7 – 3 lead, but their momentum was broken a few minutes later as Lizo Gqoboka received a yellow card and the Kings were left fending off a determined SWD Eagles team.
SWD made use of the opportunity and Buran Parks added five points with a try of his own, successfully converted by James.
SWD’s Juandre Fourie then dotted down a try of his own, off a great break by fellow player Clint Wageman. The try was again successfully converted by James, taking the home team to 17 against the Kings 7.
The Kings suffered another blow with Gqoboka just returning to the field when Paul Schoeman was sent off with a yellow card. James converted the resulting penalty, extending the lead to 20 for the home team.
Charl du Plessis helped the Kings with a try in the far corner, converted by Van Aswegen, but the SWD Eagles capitalised on their superior numbers and Hentzwill Pedro broke away with a 50m run, dotting the ball in the corner, but James missed the conversion taking the home team to 25 against the Kings 15.
With Schoeman back on the field the Kings put the pressure on and kept SWD inside their own 22, and after repeat offenses referee Quintin Immelman had no option but to send off SWD’s Lyle Dilo with a yellow card and award the Kings a penalty try, neatly converted by van Aswegen to take the Kings to 22.
Siyanda Grey secured the Kings the lead as the half time whistle blew with a try of his own, and another conversion by Van Aswegen, taking the Kings to 28 against SWD 25 at half time.
A more composed Kings team took to the field in the second half, with Du Plessis adding the first points in the second half with his second try of the evening and van Aswegen converting. Schoeman made up for his yellow card earlier with a try of his own three minutes later.
Van Aswegen missed the conversion.
Shortly after Pedro got his second try of the evening, and James converted in what was to be the last points for the Eagles, taking them to 32.
The floodgates then opened up with Paul Perez dotting in two tries in quick succession for the visitors, with one converted by George Whitehead who came on for Van Aswegen.
Shaun McDonald then crossed the whitewash, neatly converted by Whitehead, taking the Kings to 59.
Whitehead then ran in a try of his own, neatly beneath the posts, with a drop kick conversion, taking the score to 66.
Paul Schoeman then scored two more tries, with Whitehead converting the first, taking the Kings to 78 as the final whistle blew.
POINT SCORERS:
SWD EAGLES:
Aldred James: (2 Penalties, 3 conversions); Buran Parks (try) Juandre Fourie (try) Hentzwill Pedro (2 tries)
EP KINGS
Gary van Aswegen (5 conversions); Lizo Gqoboka (try); Charl Du Plessis (2 tries) Siyanda Grey (try); Paul Schoeman (3 tries); Paul Perez (2 tries); Shaun McDonald (try); George Whitehead (try, 4 conversions); penalty try
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