EP lose out as Welwitschias cruise to first victory

JOHAN Tromp scored two of his side’s six tries as the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias cruised to their first Currie Cup First Division victory of the season, beating Eastern Province 51-25 (half time 23-8) at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday.

Right wing Tromp scored his team’s second and final try on a proud day for the men from the Namibian capital, inflicting a second consecutive defeat on the men from Port Elizabeth.

The visitors, though, were out of the blocks first, thanks to an early penalty from scrumhalf Sonwabo Majola after tighthead prop Adel de Klerk had been sent to the sin bin in the 10th minute.

But the Welwitschias hit back within minutes with the first try of the game from No 8 Christo van der Merwe, which was converted by flyhalf Theuns Kotze, who had an excellent day with the boot.

EP then produced an excellent move which saw right wing Riaan Arends diving over in the corner to help his side regain the lead, despite Majola missing the conversion from a tight angle.

When De Klerk returned to the field midway through the first half, the home side took control and scored their second try of the afternoon, with Tromp finishing well on the right hand side of the field.

Kotze was spot on with the conversion and then added three penalties to help his side to a comfortable 15-point advantage at the break.

The Welwitschias needed just three minutes after the restart to extend their lead when flank Rohan Kitshoff forced his way over, handing Kotze a simple conversion close to the poles.

The lead was extended further to 29 points when Thomasau Forbes barged his way over.

But EP hit back immediately when flank Zingisa April beat several defenders with some great footwork after the kickoff to score, giving his team some momentum.

Majola converted the try to reduce the deficit to 22 points.

EP were not done yet and hit back with another try, this time thanks to determined work from left wing Ivan-John du Preez, breaking inside to avoid the cover defence and score in the left corner.

The tight conversion from Majola was unsuccessful, which left the Eastern Cape side trailing by 17 points with 20 minutes to go.

But Tromp’s second try and a scintillating try from outside centre Lesley Klim, both converted by Kotze, left Eastern Province with the wind knocked out of their sails.

EP though managed to sneak in

their fourth try, giving them a solitary bonus point to take home, when lock Anele Lungisa crossed the whitewash from a lineout, but Majola failed to convert again from a tight angle. Scorers:

Windhoek Draught Welwitschias – Tries: Johan Tromp (2), Christo van der Merwe, Rohan Kitshoff, Thomasau Forbes, Lesley Klim; Conversions: Theuns Kotze (6); Penalties: Kotze (3).

Eastern Province – Tries: Riaan Arends, Zingisa April, Ivan-John du Preez, Anele Lungisa; Conversion: Sonwabo Majola; Penalty: Majola.