EP U19 AND U21 PREVIEW
THE EP Kings U19 team will have to do without captain and centre Jeremy Ward when they clash with the Blue Bulls in the Absa U19 interprovincial competition, kicking off at the Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth at 15.00 on Friday (July 31).
Ward, who has led the side to three victories and a spot at the top of the log this season, suffered a head injury against Western Province last weekend and has not been considered for the Bulls match.
The game, therefore, will be a test of the Kings’ depth as they are coming up against the only other unbeaten team in the competition this season and it promises to be a showdown of note against the Pretoria-based outfit.
The Bulls are second on the log, but have played a match less than their PE rivals, so everything points to a tough encounter at the Wolfson Stadium.
The Kings, who just missed out on a spot in the playoffs last year, have underlined their potential this year by starting with two away wins against Free State and the Leopards, following that up with a narrow 13-10 result against WP last weekend.
That match was played in pouring rain and was a true test of the character of both sides as the players battled in the wet conditions.
Ward was responsible for EP’s only try and flyhalf Michael Brink showed his skill with the boot by slotting a conversion and two crucial penalties.
The conditions are sure to be better on Friday after a week of sunshine in the region, but EP will not be able to let their guard slip against a dangerous Bulls outfit.
In the later game, at 17.00, the EP Kings U21 side will be striving to pick themselves up after three straight defeats when they take on their Bulls counterparts.
The visitors have not set the season alight either, with a win and a loss in their two matches, which sees the two sides propping up the bottom of the log.
The Kings will be looking for an allround improvement after being well beaten by Western Province last weekend and a good performance against the Bulls could be the spark they need to kick-start their season.
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