Kings run rampant against neighbours
THERE was a feast of running rugby when a rampant EP Kings team ran in nine tries on their way to a 60-6 win over the Border Bulldogs in a Vodacom Cup rugby match in Grahamstown on Saturday.
After their defeat against the Kenyan Tusker Simba XV seven days ago, the Kings were dominant from the outset and ran their Border opponents into the ground with some attractive rugby.
They crossed the tryline nine times, while Border could only reply with two first-half penalties from centre Jeffrey Taljard.
One of the Taljard penalties put Border into an early 3-0 lead but the Kings struck back almost immediately with a try from right wing Eben Barnard.
Flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa kicked the conversion.
After Taljard slotted his second penalty, teammate and left wing Lolo Waka was sin-binned in the 23rd minute and that was when the Kings stepped up a gear and ran with purpose. Dukisa landed a penalty to make it 10-6 and then fullback Coyi Banda took advantage of some wide passing to stretch his legs and score his team's second try, which Dukisa converted.
Another three tries from centre Brian Skosana, Banda and scrumhalf Dwayne Kelly saw the Kings to a 36-6 lead at halftime.
Skosana managed his second score soon after the restart and Dukisa kicked the conversion as the Kings led 41-6. Border then fought back but they failed to convert the pressure into points and it was left to Kings No 8 Ivan-John du Preez to score.
He broke past several defenders to score a fine try and extend the home side's lead.
Replacements Selvyn Davids and Sonwabo Majola added the final two tries to complete an impressive routing.
The EP Kings travel to Cape Town to face Western Province in their next match while the Border Bulldogs will look for a massive improvement when they host the Tusker Simba XV in Buffalo City.
Scorers:
EP KINGS: Tries: Eben Barnard, Coyi Banda (2), Brian Skosana (2), Dwayne Kelly, Ivan-John du Preez, Selvyn Davids, Sonwabo Majola; Conversions: Ntabeni Dukisa (5), Kelly (1); Penalties: Dukisa (1).
BORDER BULLDOGS: Penalties: Jeffrey Taljard (2)
