Kings impress in loss to Lions
AT the end of their cut-and-thrust Currie Cup duel, rival coaches Carlos Spencer (EP Kings) and Johan Ackermann (Golden Lions) were in agreement that the 41-22 winning scoreline had been flattering to the Lions.
After the Kings took a narrow 22-21 lead after 45 minutes when George Whitehead slotted a drop goal, home fans had high hopes that EP would be able to record their first win of the season.
In the end, the Lions' calmness and experience took their toll and the visitors walked off with a bonus point win in front of 9034 supporters at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
"I don't want to take anything away from the Lions, but I don't believe we were 20 points worse than them," Spencer said.
"And that is the disappointing thing I can take from the game. It is frustrating and we will go back to the drawing board and work on the things we need to and look forward to our next game, against Western Province."
Ackermann said: "We used penalties to build momentum in the second half to stretch the lead and then we got a few tries at the end. But I think the score was not a fair reflection. It was a tight game right the way through."
Saturday's result has left the Kings rooted to the foot of the Premier Division log and they face another tough encounter at Newlands on Friday against log leaders Western Province.
"Once again we fell short and we did some really good stuff, especially in the first half," Spencer said.
"We spoke a couple of weeks ago about being in a situation of being seven or 14 points down and the guys losing confidence and self-belief. But they showed they had improved in that area.
"It was a massive fight-back in the first half when we came back and scored three brilliant tries. But we let ourselves down in the second half. I thought we lacked stop momentum, specially around the breakdown area. And once again our discipline cost us."
Spencer felt that the Kings' first- half showing, when they were awarded a penalty try and Shane Gates and Siviwe "Shakes" Soyizwapi crossed for scintillating tries, had been their best performance of the season. "In the first half the guys played some really good rugby and on occasions we defended really well."
Ackermann said he had been impressed by the Kings. "All credit to the Kings ... for the way they came out and fought. At 14-0 down we thought we were in the driving seat and then suddenly they came back and scored some great tries and it was game-on at half time.
"I am also proud of my guys for the way they stuck to it and showed calmness at 22-21 to win ... at the end of the day our first phases and launches and protection of the ball won it for us."
Scorers: Lions: Tries: Jaco Kriel, Ruan Dreyer, Schalk van der Merwe, Franco Mostert, Derick Minnie. Conversions: Ruan Combrinck (5). Penalties: Combrinck (2)
Kings: Tries: Shane Gates, Siviwe Soyizwapi, penalty try. Conversions: Scott van Breda (2). Drop goal: George Whitehead - George Byron
