Griquas extended their lead shortly after the start of the second half to 32 – 21, before the Kings struck back with two tries in seven minutes. Flanker, Paul Schoeman scored his double ten minutes into the second half before Tim Whitehead crossed the line to put his team within a single point with the conversion to come. Fullback, van Breda added the extras as the Kings took the lead for only the second time in the match, 33 – 32.

Griquas regained the lead through an unconverted try with ten minutes to go, 37 – 33, but Kings’ Whitehead scored their fifth try after the final hooter to record a hard fought 40 – 37 win to avoid another possible bottom of the log finish, putting a four point buffer between them and bottom of the log Griquas.

In the Kings’ remaining two matches, they travel to Pretoria to face the second placed Blue Bulls and then Cape Town to finish their campaign against Western Province.

With only two defeats this season, against the Lions and Province, the Bulls had a 17 – 13 win against the Sharks last weekend to keep their campaign on track after back-to-back defeats.

The Bulls escaped a narrow 30 – 25 win in last year’s encounter, after the Kings scored a try and a penalty at the start of the second half to take an 18 – 11 lead. The Bulls, however, scored three second half tries to avoid an embarrassing defeat to the Kings at their beloved fortress, Loftus.

Kings head coach, Brent Janse van Rensburg opted for three changes to his starting lineup. Flyhalf Elgar Watts has been rewarded with his first start after two impressive appearances off the bench.

“We feel that Elgar has picked up enough rhythm and confidence to start against the Bulls, and we will be looking to him to get things going,” said Janse van Rensburg.

In two changes to the forwards, flank Thembelani Bholi and prop Lizo Gqoboka are back in the starting line-up, replacing Paul Schoeman and Schalk Ferreira respectively.

Schoeman has had some outstanding performances in recent weeks, but Bholi has also shone this season and Janse van Rensburg said they were giving the combination of Bholi, Stefan Willemse and Jacques Engelbrecht the chance to play together.

He confirmed, as well, that Gqoboka was on the mend after a leg injury.

“Lizo is back after a “dead” leg,” Janse van Rensburg said, “and he came through today’s session without any problems. He has been well looked after by the medical staff and will be ready to play on Friday.”

With only one point separating them and the Pumas, the Kings will surely look to pick up a few more points in their remaining matches.

EP Kings:

15 Scott van Breda 14 Sylvian Mahuza 13 JP du Plessis 12 Tim Whitehead 11 Luther Obi 10 Elgar Watts 9 Enrico Acker 8 Jacques Engelbrecht 7 Stefan Willemse 6 Thembelani Bholi 5 Cornel Hess 4 Steven Skykes 3 Tom Botha 2 Martin Ferreira 1 Lizo Gqoboka

Replacements:

16 Edgar Marutlulle 17 Schalk Ferreira 18 Simon Kerrod 19 Paul Schoeman 20 Tim Agaba 21 Dwayne Kelly 22 Karlo Aspeling

The Blue Bulls:

15 Warrick Gelant 14 Travis Ismaiel 13 Dries Swanepoel 12 Burger Odendaal 11 Jamba Ulengo 10 Tian Schoeman 9 Francois Hougaard 8 Arno Botha 7 Lappies Labuschagne (c) 6 Deon Stegmann 5 RG Snyman 4 Jacques du Plessis 3 Marcel van der Merwe 2 Bandise Maku 1 Pierre Schoeman

Replacements:

16 Corniel Els 17 Werner Kruger 19 Marvin Orie 20 Ruan Steenkamp 21 Ivan van Zyl 22 Louis Fouché 23 William Small Smith