EP Kings hold their nerve in tense finish to reach final
THE EP Kings marched into Currie Cup First Division rugby final after they snatched a dramatic 32-29 win after extra-time over the Leopards at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night.
The never-say-die Leopards forced the game into extra-time when Adriaan Engelbrecht struck his fifth penalty in the 79th minute to leave the teams level at 22-22 after normal time.
In extra-time, no team managed to score in the first period which left everything to play for in the final 10 minutes.
The Kings’ hero was cool-headed fullback Scott van Breda, who stepped up in the second period of extra-time to slot his sixth penalty to give the Kings a 25-22 lead.
Then Kayle van Zyl steadied the nerves of the crowd when he crossed for the Kings’ second try of the evening in the 15th minute of extra-time.
There was a late try for the Leopards from Tiaan Dorfling, but it was not enough the brave visitors.
Thanks to last night's nail-biting victory the Kings will now travel to Nelspruit on Friday to face the Pumas, who beat the SWD Eagles 52-33 in the other semi-final in Nelspruit yesterday.
Two penalties by Van Breda in the second and third minutes of normal time gave the Kings a 6-0 lead as both teams wrestled for the early initiative.
The Leopards then put the Kings under tremendous pressure and were rewarded for their endeavours when Adriaan Engelbrecht reduced the deficit to 6-3 after 12 minutes.
With the visitors on the front foot and dominating possession, they went into a 9-6 lead after 29 minutes thanks to two more well-struck penalties from Engelbrecht. Scorers: EP Kings: Tries: Tim Agaba, Kayle van Zyl. Conversions: Scott van Breda (2). Penalties: Van Breda (6)
Leopards: Tries: Edmar Marais, Tiaan Dorfling. Conversions: Adriaan Engelbrecht (2). Penalties: Engelbrecht (5).
In the curtain-raiser, the Kings under-21 team beat Griquas 44-26 in a B Division semifinal clash. The EP Kings U19 beat Boland 45-30 in their B Division semifinal in Wellington.