EP KINGS U19 STAY UNBEATEN
LOG LEADERS EP Kings scored two tries in each half to keep intact their unbeaten record this season with a 29-10 win over Free State Cheetahs in the Absa U19 provincial rugby championship at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday (September 11).
The bonus-point win will keep the Kings at the top of the log with three rounds to play before the semifinalists are decided.
Thanks to two tries by powerful No 8 Junior Pokomela, the Kings took a 17-3 lead in the first half and the Cheetahs, after that first half penalty, had to wait until the 63rd minute before they managed to crack the home defence.
The Cheetahs had several opportunities with five-metre lineouts, but the Kings defence scrambled well to keep them out most of the time. However, quick recycling eventually saw replacement back Gerrie Labuschagne speed through a gap for their lone try.
The Kings, though, hit back immediately when replacement flyhalf Jordan Koekemoer picked up a loose ball and ran through virtually unchallenged for the home side’s bonus-point try.
Earlier in the second half, EP had stretched their halftime lead to 24-3 when Athi Mayinje darted over after some excellent backline passing, with fullback Michael Brink putting the wing into space with a superb inside pass.
The Kings opened the scoring in the first minute with a penalty by Brink but had to wait a further 25 minutes before a good line movement saw Pokomela take the final pass, shrugging off a few tackles to score his first try.
Eight minutes later he was at it again as the Kings piled on the pressure from a five-metre lineout and this time, too, the Cheetahs defence was not strong enough to stop the big No 8.
The point-scorers were:
EP Kings 29: tries by Junior Pokomela 2, Athi Mayinje, Jordan Koekemoer; three conversions and a penalty by Michael Brink.
Free State 10: a try by Gerrie Labuschagne; a conversion and a penalty by Stephen Janse van Rensburg.
Related Posts
« Coleman out; Du Preez to start for DHL WP CHEETAHS HIT BACK AGAINST EP U21s »
