Kings keep watch on injured flyhalf

Van Aswegen being monitored after taking knock against Border

THE EP Kings medical staff are carefully monitoring the condition of flyhalf Gary van Aswegen, who came off the field after taking a knock against the Border Bulldogs in East London on Friday night.

No decision has been taken on how long Van Aswegen might be out for and his symptoms will be monitored week by week while he is being rested.

Van Aswegen, who is doing well, was replaced in the 56th minute by George Whitehead in a scrappy Vodacom Cup match which the Kings won 27-17.

Kings coach Mzwandile Stick said his players did not stick to their game plan, despite winning.

“We warned the players to stick to our own game plan, but they didn’t listen,” Stick said after his team’s first win in the Vodacom Cup after an opening-day defeat against Griquas.

“At times it was a shocking performance by us; not up to our standards. Some players got carried away and tried to follow their own plans. That is not our way of playing. It is theirs [Bulldogs]. Their strength is that they have individuals who play like that.”

The Kings now have a twoweek break before their next match against the table-topping Western Province at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on April 11.

“Maybe some leadership is lacking from No 9 to 12. They must control play.

“We started well and got into their half and got the points. Then suddenly we got reckless and we had to defend most of the time towards the end. We tried to run from everywhere; not our game.

“Our backline was lacking in self confidence but the forwards did well,” Stick said.

Border head coach Elliot Fana said: “Coming from a 53-0 defeat against the Sharks to this we are grateful for the performance, though we gave away too many penalties because there was too much eagerness from the boys.

“We were in it the whole match and had a chance to win. They have a heavy pack which puts us under a lot of pressure. The little ball we had we used effectively, though we kicked a bit too much.”

With three-try hero Paul Schoeman making his presence felt, the Kings were able to subdue a gritty Border outfit who made the visitors fight all the way for their four-try bonus-points win. Schoeman and Welwitschias wing Justin Nel both recorded hat-tricks of tries in the fourth round of the Vodacom Cup.

A further four players – Enver Brandt (Free State XV), Anrich Richter (Falcons), Stephan de Wit and Kobus de Kock (both Golden Lions) – each scored a brace of tries, three of them in one match.

In the South Section, Western Province top the standings followed by defending champions, Griquas, with both having recorded good wins at the weekend against the Sharks in Cape Town (32-12) and SWD Eagles in George (19-12) respectively.

The Sharks were flying high after a comprehensive 53-0 victory over Border last week while WP had also earned a bonus point in a bruising 25-10 win against the neighbouring Boland Cavaliers.

WP outscored the Sharks by four tries to two, with one of those going to 2013 U18 Craven Week player of the tournament Grant Hermanus.

-George Byron