Bulldogs shedding ‘little brother’ image

BORDER Bulldogs coach Elliot Fana says it is time his union shed the notion they are the EP Kings’ little brother.

The Bulldogs did much to destroy that image when they powered their way to a 26-14 win over the Kings in a Currie Cup qualifier at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The Bulldogs are unbeaten after three matches and on track for a place to qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division later this year.

The Bulldogs arrived in Port Elizabeth after wins over the Golden Lions in Johannesburg in the opening round and against a Sharks XV in their following fixture in East London.

Border dictated the weekend game in the second half with their backs running at every opportunity and they were rewarded with four tries.

The dominance was reflected in the tries scored by Michael Makase, Hendri Storm, Siyamthanda Ngande and Ludwe Booi.

The match was played as a curtain-raiser to the Southern Kings versus Lions clash.

“There is a syndrome that people are always looking at us as the EP Kings’ little brothers,” Fana said.

“That is a notion that we would not agree with.

“They are a union with the same rights as us, so the talk before the game in the changeroom was that the boys needed to get out of that small syndrome phenomenon and start to see themselves on the same footing as the EP guys.”

But Fana says it is still too early to start contemplating a return to the Currie Cup Premier Division.

“We do not want to get ahead of ourselves.

“This is work in progress and we are pleased with where we are,” Fana said.

“But this is not where the bus stops – it is where it starts.

“We just need to build momentum and keep it going.”

Fana said his philosophy was to focus strictly on playing the type of rugby that was bringing the team success.

“Obviously if there are areas of concern, we try to iron them out.

“Teams have our footage and they analyse us, but we need to be doing what we do so well that the other teams cannot stop us,” Fana said.

The Kings have now lost their opening three games and much hard work lies ahead.

Kings Coach Robbi Kempson felt his team had dominated the first half of the derby after they led 7-0.

“The team can be proud of their defence,” Kempson said.

“They defended for a good 35 minutes in the second half and the first 20.

“To defend for 55 minutes is very admirable and shows they have guts and are playing for something and that is a positive going forward.

“If they are going to put that sort of effort in as team on defence it shows they have a bit of ticker,” Kempson said.

“You can’t ask more from the players. It is now about stopping defending and starting attacking a bit more. The time for learning is coming to an end and it is time to start executing what we want them to do on the field.

“You have to give it to Border – they came out in that second half and capitalised on a few of the mistakes we made.

“If you do not have possession, you are not going to win games,” Kempson said.

This weekend the Bulldogs host the Pumas in East London and the Kings travel to Windhoek to play the Welwitschias.

Scorers: EP Kings: Tries: Simon Bolze, Courtney Winnaar; Conversions: Simon Bolze, Courtney Winnaar Border Bulldogs: Tries: Michael Makase, Hendri Storm, Siyamthanda Ngande, Ludwe Booi; Conversions: Oliver Zongo (3).