Kings gets first Currie Cup victory

The Eastern Province Kings kicked off their first game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the 2010 Currie Cup First Division to the perfect start following their last-minute 26-25 victory over the Griffons on Friday night.

It was the second win of the season for the Port Elizabeth side who recorded a 42-25 victory over the Border Bulldogs at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London last Friday.

The Griffons held the early advantage after boasting an 18-11 half time lead. The visitors scored two tries before the break after scrumhalf Hendrik van der Nest added the Welkom side’s first try in the opening minute of the game.

Flanker Rudi Mathee and winger Jaco Mayer scored the Griffons’ other five-pointers of the match. Flyhalf Johann Myburgh kicked two conversions and two penalties during this fixture.

The EP Kings’ first half points were scored by winger Justin Peach who kicked two penalties before winger Norman Nelson added a charge-down try in the 38th minute of the play.

After the break, it was EP’s reserve prop Sangoni Mxoli who added the Kings’ second try which was converted by Donald Stevens.

Peach added a third penalty in the second half before Jaco Fourie crashed over the try line to score the winning try in the final minute of the match.

Meanwhile the Boland Kavaliers comprehensively defeated the Valke in their First Division match played at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

The Wellington side played an entertaining and attacking brand of rugby and easily saw off the challenge posed by their hosts.

Willie Le Roux scored a hat-trick of tries; Jacquin Jansen added a brace while Dewey Swartbooi, Jeremy Plaatjies, Hottie Louw and Bolla Conradie all further added tries for the Kavaliers.

Chris Micklewood kicked two conversions while Jansen also converted two tries.

The hosts managed to score one try which was added by Coert Cronje. Valke prop Jacques George converted the five-pointer while Chrysander Botha kicked one penalty. In the other First Division game of the weekend, the SWD Eagles recorded a well-worked 33-12 victory over the Border Bulldogs at the Outeniqua Park Stadium.