Triumphant Kings junior sides keep flag flying for EP
THE richly talented Kings under-19 and u-21 teams kept the flag flying high for Eastern Province rugby when they won their respective Currie Cup B Division finals at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.
Both Kings teams will now travel to East London on Saturday to contest promotion games against Border in both age groups.
If the Kings win these matches, they will gain promotion to the Currie Cup A Division.
In their respective finals, the Kings u-21 team thrashed Boland 59-19 and the u-19 side had a hard-fought 56-40 win over the Falcons. The wins brought some joy to the Kings camp after their senior team slumped to a 53-30 defeat in the Currie Cup First Division final at the same venue.
Border are having to defend their right to play in both divisions because they ended bottom of both the u-19 and u-21 logs.
"The fine wins by both of our junior teams bode well for the future of rugby in this region," Kings chief executive Charl Crous said.
"These players are the future and their victories show there is movement in the structures of the province."
Friday's results proved that EP are bringing the talent through."
Crous said his union had targeted promotion to the A Division for both age groups after the Kings made a slow start to their senior Currie Cup First Division campaign because their top players were still involved in Super Rugby.
The unbeaten Kings u-21 team ran in eight tries in their convincing win over Boland. The try- scorers were Brenden Olivier, Dane van der Westhuyzen, Ivan Ludick, Siphesihle Punguzwa, Siphumelele Msutwana, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Siphumelele Msutwana and Sonkosi Kuhle.
Ruan Allerston succeeded with three penalties and three conversions. Gavin Hauptfleisch and Marlou van Niekerk scored one conversion apiece.
In the U19 final the Kings also crossed for eight tries – by Khaya Malotana (three), skipper Matthew Moore, Selvyn Davids (three) and Sergeal Petersen. Davids also succeeded with two penalties and five conversions.
