The EP Kings beat the Boland Cavaliers 27-16, while there were also wins for WP, the Sharks XV, Griquas and Bulls in round six of the Provincial Rugby Challenge.
The Kings claimed a surprise 11-point victory against the Boland Cavaliers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It was only the hosts' second win of the campaign. The Kings trailed by two at half-time, but fought back brilliantly to down the spirited Cavaliers. EP flyhalf Simon Bolze scored a try, three conversions and two penalties.
In other south section match, Western Province chalked up another bonus-point victory, this time defeating the SWD Eagles 45-11. WP ran in seven tries, including a brace each from Craig Barry and Chad Solomon. The Eagles were reduced to 14 men in the 66th minute when flank Lodewyk Uys was red-carded for striking an opponent in the face with his elbow.
Results from the north section, the Pumas erased a 17-point half-time deficit to snatch a thrilling 41-41 draw with the Valke and the Blue Bulls pipped the Golden Lions 37-35. The previously undefeated Lions had a chance to win the game at the death, but flyhalf Shaun Reynolds' long-range penalty attempt went agonisingly wide.
The Free State XV picked up their first win of the season when they edged the Sharks XV 21-19 in Ballito. Fullback Marco Mason kicked converted a match-winning penalty in the dying seconds of the clash to snap Free State's thee-game losing streak.
Elsewhere in the central section, Griquas crushed the Griffons 66-22 in Welkom.
EP Kings (27) – Tries: Mguca Lupumlo, Simon Bolze, Sonwabo Majola. Conversions: Bolze (3). Penalties: Bolze (2).
Boland (19) – Tries: Clemen Lewis. Conversion: Divan Nel. Penalties: Divan Nel (3).
Western Province (45) – Tries: Craig Barry (2), Grant Hermanus, Chad Solomon (2), Justin Philips, penalty try. Conversions: Hermanus (4).
SWD Eagles (11) – Tries: Charles Radebe. Conversion: Johnny Welthagen. Penalties: Leigthon Eksteen (2).
Valke (41) – Tries: Shane Kirkwood (2), Andries Schutte, Marnus Erasmus, Friedle Olivier. Conversions: Warren Potgieter (3), Christian Rust (2). Penalties: Potgieter (2).
Pumas (41) – Tries: Carel Greeff (2), Frank Herne, Ruwellyn Isbell, De-Jay Terblanche, JP Lewis, Devon Williams. Conversions: Sias Ebersohn (3).
Golden Lions (35) – Tries: Jarryd Sage, Ashlon Davids, Jano Venter, Selom Gavor, Shaun Reynolds. Conversions: Reynolds (2). Penalties: Reynolds (2).
Blue Bulls (37) – Tries: Boom Prinsloo, Corniel Els, Tinus de Beer, penalty try, Arno Botha. Conversions: De Beer (2). Penalties: De Beer (2).
Sharks XV (19) – Tries: Hyron Andrews (2). Penalties: Courtney Winnaar (3).
Free State XV (21) – Tries: Marco Mason, Tienie Burger. Conversion: Mason. Penalties: Mason (3).
Griffons (22) – Tries: Thato Mavundla, Joubert Engelbrecht, Daniel van der Merwe. Conversions: Duan Pretorius (2). Penalties: Pretorius.
Griquas (66) – Tries: Tertius Kruger (2), AJ Le Roux, Koch Marx, Eric Zana, Christiaan Meyer, Shaun McDonald, Kyle Steyn, Andre Swartz, AJ Coertzen. Conversions: George Whitehead (5), Zana (3).
Photo: Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
