RUGBY NEWS - Eastern Province Kings remained in contention for the quarterfinals as they narrowly beat SWD Eagles 24-21 (halftime 10-7) in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge fixture at Sisa Dukashe stadium, East London, on Sunday.
This was essentially a basement battle between the two bottom teams in the South Section. Coming into the game, SWD had not won in their four matches while the Kings had two victories but needed another to keep themselves in the hunt for a quarterfinal berth. Both sides lost to DHL Western Province in their previous matches but the Kings put up a better fight than their provincial neighbours in those clashes over the past fortnight.
And it was Eastern Province Kings who were out of the blocks quickly with a fifth-minute try from a driving maul by hooker Tango Balekile after a good take in the lineout by lock Giant Mtyanda.
SWD were on the board 15 minutes later as flyhalf Johnny Welthagen stepped his way over the tryline after a period of sustained pressure. Leighton Eksteen slotted the conversion to give the Eagles a narrow advantage.
But, in the 27th minute flank Davon Raubenheimer was yellow carded and the Eagles were down to 14 men and up against it. Then discipline let them down again minutes later and before Raubenheimer returned to the field, the Eagles lost centre Marlou van Niekerk, this time for an illegal tackle.
The Kings eventually made the most of their numerical advantage when fullback Keanu Vers scored his team’s second try in the corner on the stroke of halftime.
