Rugby news from the Home of the Kings:
Police snatch Gold Cup place – THE HERALD:
EAST London Police will represent the Eastern Cape in the Saru Gold Cup after beating hosts Gardens 26-17 in their regional playoff rugby match in Uitenhage on Saturday. The Border Super League champions were the first to get on the scoreboard through left-wing Lonwabo Ntlama, who crossed the try line in the opening 10 minutes.
Flyhalf Odwa Rasmeni added the extra two points to convert the score to 7-0.
Gardens’ fullback Renaldo Lewis put his side on the scoreboard with a penalty two minutes later to cut the deficit to 7-3.
However, Ntlama cancelled out that effort as he crossed the line as the visitors stretched their lead to 12-5.
The contest was tough but Police broke through again as Rasmeni scored for the visiting team.
Scrumhalf Skangela Mateza converted to give Police a 19-3 lead going into the break.
The home side made changes after the break, bringing on fresh legs in the form of Ryan Baymen and Jansen Haywen.
The start of the second half was rather scrappy with both teams conceding penalties.
Gardens were kept out by centre Eric Coates who made a try-saving tackle on Johannes Maart in the 52nd minute.
But three minutes later, eighth man Diego Williams scored for Gardens.
Baymen converted the extra two points as Gardens cut the score to 19-10.
However, Police were not finished and Bonga Mntunjani broke from a scrum to score for the visitors as they went 26-10 up.
Gardens scored a late try through Danino Ketchim in the final two minutes, but it was too little too late as the East London Bobbies progressed to the national club tournament.
EP Kings lose skipper for rest of season:
The Eastern Province Kings skipper Schalk Ferreira will most likely not be available for the rest of the season following a groin strain sustained during the Boland Cavaliers match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium two weeks ago.
EP Kings Head Coach, Barend Pieterse, said Ferreira would most likely not be available for selection for the rest of the Currie Cup.
Pieterse said Cornell Hess, who injured his ankle in the captains run ahead of the Boland game, was also out of contention for the rest of the season, after x-rays revealed he had sustained a fracture to his foot.
Following the game against the Blue Bulls this past Saturday Pieterse said a number of players were a bit stiff, which was understandable from the physicality of the game.
Pieterse said Christiaan de Bruin, who had been stretchered off the field in the dying minutes of the match, had been cleared by medical.
“He is a bit stiff and sore, but has passed his concussion test. He will be managed on a day to day basis under the supervision of the medical staff,” he said.
Pieterse said loose forward Sebastian Ferreira had a possible fractured finger and was going for x-rays later today. He said they were also waiting for further feedback on David Antonites, who had also sustained a hand injury during the game against the Blue Bulls.
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