The EP Kings beat the Border Bulldogs 43-38, while there were also wins for the Griffons, Pumas, Golden Lions and Boland Cavaliers in round 10 of the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
Behind the all-conquering Western Province, Border have been the next best side in the south section. The team from East London came into this clash five log points clear of their provincial rivals, the Kings.
But in round 10, the Kings outlasted Border in an 11-try thriller to keep their slender playoff hopes alive. The teams were deadlocked at half-time, thanks to four converted tries either way. The second half was also closely contested, but the Kings managed to seal the victory by outscoring their hosts two tries to one after the interval.
Border have now played all their round-robin matches and will be hoping for a couple of favourable results to help them finish in second position.
In the other south section game, Boland smashed the SWD Eagles 51-10 in Malmesbury, with Elgar Watts scoring a brace of tries.
Meanwhile, the Golden Lions whipped the Valke 96-27 in Kempton Park to extend their advantage at the top of the north section table. Wing Anthony Volmink starred for the Lions with a hat-trick of tries.
In the other game in this section, the Pumas were too good for the Welwitschias, winning 42-8.
In the central section, flyhalf Garth April contributed 13 points as the Sharks XV came from behind to salvage a 28-28 draw with Griquas, and the Griffons registered a comfortable 33-17 victory over the Leopards.
Border Bulldogs (38) – Tries: Lelethu Gcilithsane (2), Sonwabiso Mqalo, Michael Makase, Oliver Zono. Conversions: Zono (5). Penalty: Zono.
EP Kings (43) – Tries: Stefan Ungerer, Neil Maritz, Tango Balekile, Sonwabo Majola, Stefan Willemse, Brandon Brown. Conversions: Pieter-Steyn de Wet (4), Michael Brink. Penalty: De Wet.
Boland Cavaliers (51) – Tries: Elgar Watts (2), Sergio Torrens, Clinton Theron, Ludio Williams, Charles Mayeza, Edwin Sass, Zandre Jordaan. Conversions: Divan Nel (3), Adriaan Carelse. Penalties: Nel.
SWD Eagles (10) – Try: Dillin Snel. Conversion: Leighton Eksteen. Penalty: Eksteen.
Valke (27) – Tries: Reg Muller, Maphutha Dolo (2), Marco Klopper. Conversions: Christian Rust (3). Penalty: Rust.
Golden Lions XV (96) – Tries: Fabian Booysen, Armand van der Merwe (2), Dillion Smit, Jano Venter (2), Jacques Nel, Marvin Orie, Anthony Volmink (3), Michael Tambwe, Hacjivah Dayimani, Jan-Louis la Grange. Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (13).
Welwitschias (8) – Try: Dirk von Weidts. Penalty: Winmar Rust.
Pumas (42) – Tries: Emile Temperman, Jean-Paul Lewis, Carel Greeff (2), Francois Kleinhans, Jannie Stander. Conversions: Kobus Marais (3), Sias Ebersohn (3).
Griquas (28) – Tries: Renier Botha (2), AJ le Roux, Jason Fraser. Conversions: Andre Swarts (3), George Whitehead.
Sharks XV (28) – Tries: Hyron Andrews, S'bura Sithole, Ilunga Mukedi, Garth April. Conversions: April. Penalties: April (2).
Leopards (17) – Tries: Jimmy Mpailane, HP Swart, Tapiwe Mafura. Conversion: Gerhard Nortier.
Griffons (33) – Tries: Barend Potgieter, Thato Mavundla, Jasper Wiese, CJ Coetzee, Duan Pretorius. Conversions: Pretorius (4).
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
