Bulldogs win just what doctor ordered
But coach Tiger Mangweni rues missed kicking chances
It was a good weekend for the Border Bulldogs as they claimed a solid 39-26 win over fierce local rivals, the Eastern Province Elephants at the BCM Stadium on Friday night to keep in touch of the top four in the Currie Cup First Division competition.
It was the Bulldogs second victory in a row, after losing their opening two matches. The bonus point win meant they stayed level on 11 points with the Boland Cavaliers who occupy the fourth and final playoff spot, while they also cut the deficit to the Valke above them to one point, although they still have a game in hand.
“I am happy that we got a good win,” said Bulldogs coach Tiger Mangweni.
“We are starting to hit our stride at the right time and the belief is starting to show in the team.”
The Bulldogs built up a good lead in the second half and were ahead 34-12 at one stage, before a valiant fight back from EP saw them score two converted tries which made it 34-28 with four minutes to play.
But the Bulldogs snuffed out the danger straight away with an unconverted try from the kick off to seal the win.
“We just have to manage the game better because in the second half we were forcing matters, trying to play in our own half too much and then as soon as we went back to the tactics we sealed the game,” Mangweni said.
In the first half EP settled quickest and stunned the home side by scoring the first points, an unconverted try in the left hand corner to eighthman Zingisa April to give them a 5-0 lead after 12 minutes.
The Bulldogs then hit back with a four minute blitz through scrumhalf Sinovuyo Nyoka and fullback Sonwabiso Mqalo, with one conversion from Lwandile Mapuko, to take a 12-5 lead by the 25th minute.
Right winger Siphosenkosi Nofemele then went over on the stroke of half time in the right hand corner for another unconverted score to give the home side some breathing space at the break.
The Bulldogs then got off to a flyer in the second half, Mqalo and Nofemele scoring their second tries to put them 27-5 up after 48 minutes.
The teams then traded tries over the rest of the half, with both teams grateful to the impact of their respective benches.
First replacement back Riaan Arends scored for EP, converted by flyhalf Henrique Olivier, then Bulldogs replacement scrumhalf Bangi Kobese scored and converted, followed by EP replacements Jean-Pierre Jamieson and Ivan-John du Preez scoring, with Ruben de Vos converting.
The Bulldogs then had the final say as replacement back Lutho Adonis scored in the corner after EP did not gather the kick off, sealing the win for the hosts.
While the Bulldogs won, Mangweni bemoaned their poor kicking game.
We are starting to hit our stride at the right time