Ken Borland

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Fullback JC Roos kept his cool under immense pressure as he kicked a touchline conversion to salvage a 30-30 draw for the Ford Pumas in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match against the EP Kings at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.

The Kings had dominated the first 50 minutes of the match in impressive fashion, making a compelling argument that they are a team on the rise, as they built a formidable 27-9 lead.

But they then suffered a dramatic fade-out in the last half-hour that certainly leaves more questions than answers about their ability to perform on bigger stages than the Currie Cup B Section.

The Pumas, playing in front of their home crowd – which looked sparse in the massive Mbombela Stadium – produced a rousing, passionate comeback and it was the boot of Roos that ensured they came away with a share of the spoils.

Roos kicked with authority throughout, succeeding with all six of his shots at goal, including the conversion from the touchline after the final hooter that secured the draw.

The crucial try came after the Pumas had put the Kings defence through a thorough examination, but the visitors managed to turn over the ball. They then decided to take it up from their own tryline, but were adjudged to have been sealing off at the ruck, giving the home side a penalty, which they kicked to touch.

The Pumas set up the rolling maul, but the Kings defended that well, so the ball was spread left and then back right, where outside centre Tiaan Marx found the space to dash over in the corner for the try.

The Kings had dominated the opening exchanges and grabbed the opening try when lock and captain Darron Nell soared high at the back of the lineout, flank Thabo Mamojele bounced out of tackles in midfield to give the visitors front-foot ball, and flyhalf George Whitehead then timed the inside-pass perfectly for wing Marcello Sampson to use his pace and capitalise on the space created for him.

Whitehead’s conversion made it 7-0, but he then hacked a penalty wide, before the Pumas had their first points on the board in the 16th minute via a Roos penalty, that came after the home side were finally able to hang on to the ball through several phases.

But it was a case of just a temporary relief of pressure on the Mpumalanga side as the Kings showed super ball-retention, prop Jaco Engels and centre Tiger Mangweni making good ground, to earn a penalty for Whitehead (10-3).

The strong ball-carrying of the Pumas forwards earned Roos another penalty five minutes later (6-10), but the superb interplay of the Kings forwards and backs brought another try Eastern Province’s way five minutes before the break as lock David Bulbring surged on to an inside ball and scored their second try.

Whitehead converted and, even though Roos closed the gap to 9-17 with a penalty, it was obvious which team had the momentum going into the second half.

The Pumas were punished by another try soon after the break as they did not look after their ball going into a ruck and the Kings struck from the turnover, hooker Hannes Franklin rounding off an 11-phase counter-attack that once again featured forwards and backs.

Whitehead converted and then added a penalty five minutes later after the Eastern Province forwards hit the ball up well and forced a ruck infringement.

The Pumas were 9-27 down, but it’s often out of desperation that teams eventually find their mojo and the home side hit back in spectacular fashion.

Mpumalanga’s comeback started with a try to flank Renaldo Bothma from the rolling maul that has been so kind to the Pumas.

But where the Pumas were so impressive was in their ability to vary their game.

The next time they kicked a penalty to touch and lock Rudi Matthee won the ball, they shaped to set up the rolling maul but instead spread the ball wide. They went left first and then came back right, where captain and wing JW Jonker squeezed over in the corner, Roos’s excellent conversion putting the Pumas in touching distance at 23-27 down.

The Pumas were suddenly all over the Kings and where the visitors managed to avoid defeat was in a scrum close to their line when Engels produced a massive shove that won them a penalty against the feed. From the resulting lineout, Eastern Province took the ball through 14 phases and it was Whitehead who kicked the penalty to give them some breathing space at 30-23 up.

But it was the Pumas who had the final say through Marx and Roos.

The Pumas’ strength was in their tight five and their never-say-die spirit, and their calmness under pressure was impressive, possibly because they are used to life in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division. Roos was also superb and, in the final movement that brought the try, he also gathered an awful pass that was flung at his feet.

The EP Kings will need to look into the reasons for their late fade, but they played some magnificent rugby to enliven the match. Their loose trio of Mamojele, Cornell du Preez and Wimpie van der Walt played superbly to provide a steady supply of good ball to their backs, who at times threatened to run riot.

Mangweni’s experience at inside centre also went a long way to getting the Kings backline running smoothly.

SCORERS

Ford Pumas – Tries: Renaldo Bothma, JW Jonker, Tiaan Marx. Conversions: JC Roos (3). Penalties: Roos (3).

EP Kings – Tries: Marcello Sampson, David Bulbring, Hannes Franklin. Conversions: George Whitehead (3). Penalties: Whitehead (3).

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/120803/Roos_salvages_draw_for_Pumas

The match was gone for the Valke by half-time as the EP Kings converted a 24-8 lead at the break into a 37-20 victory in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday.

The Kings led 31-8 after 55 minutes, but the Valke did get some salve for their wounded pride as they scored two late tries to add some respectability to the scoreline.

On an icy day with a strong wind, the Kings adapted well to the conditions with their pack enjoying dominance and flyhalf George Whitehead kicking well.

Whitehead kicked an early penalty for the Kings and the Valke then paid a heavy price for an injury to tighthead prop Nico Engelbrecht.

He was replaced by Hannes Ludik, who earned himself a yellow card just five minutes after his arrival, the Kings taking advantage of the extra man as wing Michael Killian powered over for the opening try.

The visitors continued to reap the rewards of laying a solid platform up front as experienced tighthead prop Clint Newland scored their second try and, four minutes before half-time, wing Jongi Nokwe was able to use his pace and an overlap to score the third try.

Whitehead converted all three of the tries to leave the EP Kings in firm control at the break, even though Valke eighthman Reg Muller rumbled over in a maul in injury time for the home side’s first try.

Newland went off early in the second half and his replacement, Lizo Gqoboka, had been in action for just over a minute when he crossed the tryline to put Eastern Province 31-8 in front after Whitehead’s conversion.

The Valke, with nothing to lose, then began to up the pace and play more expansively and, after a wonderful exchange of passes in the backline, wing John-Wessel Bell crossed for their second try.

The yellow-carding of Kings hooker Hannes Franklin in the 62nd minute helped the Valke even more and the strength of replacement eighthman Uzair Cassiem carried him over the line soon afterwards.

The conversion of the try by flyhalf Karlo Aspeling closed the gap to 20-31, but the composure of the Kings shone through and they were never in any obvious danger of losing the match.

With the benefit of territorial advantage, replacement flyhalf Wesley Dunlop was able to kick two penalties in the closing stages to seal the win and continue the unbeaten run of the EP Kings.

SCORERS

VALKE – Tries: Reg Muller, John-Wessel Bell, Uzair Cassiem. Conversion: Karlo Aspeling. Penalty: Aspeling.

EP KINGS – Tries: Michael Killian, Clint Newland, Jongikhaya Nokwe, Lizo Gqoboka. Conversions: George Whitehead (4). Penalties: Whitehead, Wesley Dunlop (2).

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/120714/Kings_ease_past_Valke

The Eastern Province Kings survived a close call in Wellington on Friday as they beat the Regent Boland Cavaliers 25-20 (half-time 15-7) in their Absa Currie Cup First Division opener on Friday.

It needed the late intervention of fullback SP Marais and the accurate boot of replacement flyhalf Wesley Dunlop, called off the bench in the final quarter, to win the match for the EP Kings, as the Boland Cavaliers dominated the second half.

The Kings’ tactic of keeping Boland pinned in their own territory worked in the first half as they did not have the kicking game to relieve the pressure.

The Cavaliers were nowhere in the first quarter and Kings flyhalf George Whitehead was initially the star of the show as he scored the first 10 points.

His opposite number, Elgar Watts, struggled to kick the ball out and the Cavaliers lineout also seldom went as intended, giving the visitors great attacking platforms. Whitehead kicked a fifth-minute penalty and then, running off first phase, threw an outrageous dummy and strolled through for a try in the 13th minute, which he converted.

Boland finally made their way into Eastern Province territory in the 19th minute and were able to win a lineout, leading to a period of concerted pressure on the Kings’ line. That led to a penalty, which scrumhalf Bolla Conradie took quickly and passed to fullback Jacquin Jansen, who went through a defender on his way to scoring.

Watts converted to close the gap to 7-10, but the home side were unable to produce any other points despite their second-quarter dominance.

The Kings weathered the storm until the 33rd minute when their backs were able to produce a slick breakout, leading to an infringement at the ruck by Boland. The penalty was kicked to touch and loose forward Cornell du Preez then scored from an impressive rolling maul.

Eastern Province deserved their 15-7 half-time lead but they were given an almighty wake-up call in the second half as they produced some lacklustre rugby, with an inventive Cavaliers side only too happy to capitalise.

In the antithesis of modern rugby thinking, Boland ran the second-half kickoff from their own 22 and, with the Kings suddenly shying away from physical confrontation at the collisions, the home side were able to carry the ball through 11 phases before Jansen blazed through the close-in defence for his second try.

The try was the product of wonderful handling and support play by the Cavaliers, and their ball-in-hand approach meant they were smouldering on attack during the second half.

It was never-say-die rugby at its best and loosehead prop Ashton Constant, normally a hooker but shifted to the side of the scrum in an emergency, was a prominent feature in the tight-loose as well as scrumming manfully against experienced New Zealand giant Clint Newland.

Constant did however loose his bind to present Whitehead with a 53rd-minute penalty, but the star of the first quarter became the villain of the piece as he missed that kick and another penalty two minutes later that was practically in front of the poles.

Watts, who had succeeded with both conversions, then put Boland into the lead (17-15) for the first time in the 65th minute with a penalty kick that bounced over off the crossbar.

But with 10 minutes to go, Marais finally stepped up into the game. Boland couldn’t handle his booming kick downfield, turning over possession. Marais then made a break that set up a ruck close to the tryline, and the talented fullback then dived over the ruck to score the match-winning try.

Dunlop calmly slotted the conversion to put the visitors out of penalty reach (22-17), but there were nervous times ahead for the Kings as Boland came roaring back and once again looked dangerous on attack.

But replacement back Tiger Mangweni was on hand to support strong defence and steal the ball, allowing Eastern Province to go tearing back into Boland territory.

The Cavaliers would then go offsides, allowing Dunlop to kick a penalty to stretch the lead to 25-17.

The hooter had already gone when the Kings engaged early at a scrum and Boland were able to run the free-kick into the EP 22, winning a penalty which replacement flyhalf Ricardo Croy kicked to ensure they did not go away empty-handed, gaining a losing bonus point.

SCORERS

Regent Boland Cavaliers – Tries: Jacquin Jansen (2). Conversion: Elgar Watts (2). Penalties: Watts, Ricardo Croy.

Eastern Province Kings – Tries: George Whitehead, Cornell du Preez, SP Marais. Conversions: Whitehead, Wesley Dunlop. Penalties: Whitehead, Dunlop.

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/120629/EP_Kings_survive_close_call

The Ford Pumas were too strong at home for a disappointing EP Kings team as they won their Vodacom Cup quarterfinal 30-19 (half-time 17-9) at the impressive Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.

The Pumas were full value for their win, with the Kings behind throughout the match and simply outmuscled and out-skilled by the home side, raising the spectre of serious problems in SuperRugby next year.

The Pumas team were physical, gutsy in defence and took their chances, their reward being just their second appearance in the Vodacom Cup semi-finals.

The Mpumalanga side made a great start as they pressured the EP Kings from the kickoff, leading to a poor clearance. They then rumbled a rolling maul to within sight of the tryline, earning a penalty, which they tapped, prop Ashley Buys then crashing over for the opening try from close range.

Fullback JC Roos, whose powerful boot played an important role in the victory, converted.

EP Kings flyhalf Justin van Staden kicked a good penalty in the seventh minute (3-7), but the Pumas played their way back into opposition territory. They showed their liking for phase play with four rucks set up going left and then another three going right, before wing Deon Scholtz went dashing down the touchline like a greyhound before passing inside for hooker Torsten van Jaarsveld to charge over the line.

Eight minutes later, flank Jaco Bouwer, one of the Pumas’ champions, went streaking through a gap in the Kings’ defences to score their third try and, with a 17-3 lead, the home side were well on their way to keeping their title hopes alive.

The Pumas defence was at times a little over-enthusiastic and Van Staden was able to kick penalties in the 23rd and 38th minutes to reduce the gap to 17-9 and keep the Kings in the game.

And, the Kings ended the half and began the second playing against 14 men after Pumas flank Renaldo Bothma high-tackled fullback SP Marais and was yellow-carded.

The one-man advantage gave the visitors the opportunity to score their only try, six minutes into the second half, when strong runs by eighthman Jacques Engelbrecht and lock Johan Snyman, and slick work by replacement scrumhalf Boela Abrahams, who gave the Kings some spark, provided Marais with the space to dot down.

Van Staden’s conversion made the score 16-20 and the Pumas had been given a little scare. They immediately upped their game and the pressure told on the Kings.

The ball was knocked-on inside the EP 22 by Marais after a risky pass from centre Scott van Breda and, from the scrum in the shadow of the posts, prop Corne Fourie, with the support of Bothma on his back, burst straight through the defences to score the match-winning try.

Roos added the Pumas’ remaining points with the conversion and a 70th-minute penalty, while Van Staden could only kick one of the three penalty attempts he was given in the second half.

SCORERS

Ford Pumas – Tries: Ashley Buys, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jaco Bouwer, Corne Fourie. Conversions: JC Roos (2). Penalties: Roos (2).

EP Kings – Try: SP Marais. Conversion: Justin van Staden. Penalties: Justin van Staden (4).

http://www.supersport.com/rugby/vodacom-cup/news/120504/Pumas_too_strong_for_Kings