After running in nine dazzling tries during a comprehensive 59-31 win over the SWD Eagles on Saturday, EP Elephants head coach Chumani Booi has called on his players to keep their foot on the pedal.
After losing their opening SuperSport Challenge match to Boland, the Elephants got their campaign back on track with a convincing display at Kwazakhele’s Wolfson Stadium.
A mixture of Southern Kings PRO14 players, Madibaz Varsity Cup and club players, the Elephants charged into a 26-0 lead after only 31 minutes.
The Elephants forced the Eagles to play catch-up rugby in what turned into a 14-try feast for the crowd.
“We are all very happy to come away with this first win of the campaign,” Booi said.
“EP come from a past where there has not been much wining rugby and this team want to reverse that.
“We can build confidence from this win.
“I was very pleased with the way we played and executed our game plan.
“The guys showed good physicality and intensity.”
After the team led 33-7 at the break, Booi said he was concerned that his team faded towards the end.
“I would have loved for us to have played for the full 80 minutes, and I must say we faded a bit towards the end.
“But we played well and won the game and we will all take confidence from that.”
After taking heavy punishment in the first half, the Eagles were first to score in the second period when scrumhalf Dillon Snel scored a brilliant solo try.
In a preseason friendly in April, the Elephants also won, beating the Eagles 40-21 in Plettenberg Bay.
After soaking up early pressure the Elephants scored the first points of the match when wing Mike Makase tore his way down the touchline to set up Michael Botha for a scintillating try.
With flyhalf Oliver Zono adding the extras, EP found themselves with a 7-0 lead after eight minutes.
After 26 minutes there was a second try for the Elephants when burly prop Luvuyo Pupuma dotted down after a powerful lineout drive.
EP were always threatening with ball in hand, and scrumhalf Richmond Gora scored a third try for the home side after 25 minutes.
Zono was on target with the conversion which put EP into a commanding 19-0 lead.
Six minutes later the diminutive Gora jinked his way through the Eagles defence to score his second try.
Just before the break Eagles fullback Ganfried May scored his team’s first points to offer his team a glimmer of hope.
But the Elephants had the final say when loose forward Rynardt van Wyk crashed over for his team’s fifth try.