EP Kings lead log after win

THE Eastern Province Kings broke away from the chasing pack, while defending champions Boland avoided a fifth straight defeat in a series of high-scoring round five rugby matches in the Absa Currie Cup First Division at the weekend.

The Kings moved five points clear of the Griffons at the top of the table on Saturday after coming away from Welkom with a resounding 34-10 victory.

Both teams went into the game unbeaten after four wins from their four respective matches but the Kings were the dominant force in the contest, rushing into a 24-0 halftime lead to knock the stuffing out of the Griffons.

Flyhalf George Whitehead, the competition’s top pointsscorer, was the star of the show for the Kings as he contributed 19 points courtesy of a try, four conversions and two penalties.

Both teams had been locked on 19 log points before the match but the Kings walked away with a full haul of five points, after scoring a bonus- point try, while the Griffons were left empty-handed.

The Kings ran in four tries as they raced to a 34-0 lead in the second half with the Griffons only managing to grab two consolation tries to add some late gloss to the final scoreline.

ýIn George, Boland centre Elgar Watts kicked a penalty in the final minute to secure a 21-21 draw with the SWD Eagles to end the defending champions’ run of defeats.

The 26-year-old Watts, a key figure in the Kavaliers’ title triumph last year, enjoyed a top-class game all round, scoring a try and missing just a single kick at goal.

And he finished off his good night in style by showing steely nerves to slot a last-minute penalty to earn the draw.

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The Leopards, after a slow start to their campaign, picked up their fourth win on Saturday, 51-22 over the Falcons, to move to second on the log.

Friday’s other match saw the Pumas comfortably beat the Border Bulldogs 51-18 in East London.