- Free State’s De Wet Bezuidenhout makes a turnover winning penalty to end a first EP attack in which EP’s no.8 Junior Pokomela features prominently.
- Free State flank Victor Maruping shows good speed for a flank as he is key to a ball in hand attack that gets FS to the EP tryline where EP effect a turnover and clear.
- EP flank Johann van Niekerk shows up with a few specialist like turnovers at rucks.
- EP flyhalf Curwin Bosch misses a long penalty left. Still 0-0 after 10 min.
- EP centre Jeremy Ward comes up with a meaningful run to generate front-foot ball for EP. They spread it and Bosch dinks with perfect weighting over the top for his fullback Keanu Vers to run onto and score. Bosch converts. 0-7.
- Bosch produces another near perfect kick into the box. The EP chase is good but a cool Maruping relieves the pressure with a good run once again showing off his pace.
- No daylight shown in an EP tackle provides FS with a penalty shot at goal, which fullback Lourens Steenkamp misses.
- FS do themselves no favours by kicking a ball out directly for a third time during the game. EP attacks and its Pokomela who draws three FS players then produces the brilliant offload in the tackle to free up Vers who beats a man and then offloads to Athi Mayinje for the try. Bosch converts. 0-14.
- EP continue to be unforgiving at the tackled breakdown.
- Bosch misses a long kick at goal.
- Jeremy Ward comes up with another useful run and the urgency of the EP support players arriving at the ruck is clear. The ball goes wide but is intercepted by FS centre Julian Jordaan, who can’t keep his footing and loses the ball forward. EP regathers and go through the hands. Centre Heino Bezuidenhout makes a backhand flick to wing Darren Lottering who touches down in the right corner. 19-0.
- Halftime. EP leads 19-0.
- EP turnover at another ruck. Players like van Niekerk and hooker Alandre van Rooyen standing out for EP at the contact zones.
- EP come close with good handling after an unforced error at halftime by FS. Ball through the hands sees Bosch kick ahead and Mayinje chances to deep inside the FS 22m where the defending team makes a handling error. From here EP miss a golden opportunity to score anothre try when a hard pass to put a runner in space is not held onto.
- EP continues to dominate the breakdown battle and also have the better attacking flair with ball.
- A series of turnovers in very quick succession eventually results in EP prop Roché van Zyl having a 20m towards the tryline. He gets blindsided on the line and FS escape danger with a penalty at the ruck.
- The never-tiring flank Victor Maruping saves a situation deep inside his redzone for the umpteenth time. His covering is outstanding. The danger was started by a turnover when FS were on attack and then EP centre Heino Bezuidenhout making an outstanding linebreak down the middle before kicking ahead to increase the pressure.
- The EP level of urgency is off the charts. They place FS under immense pressure from a scrum in the FS redzone. The end result is a 5m scrum to EP. Little errors however have crept into the game, therefore the score is still 19-0.
- Free State strikes back at long last. A poor clearance kick is caught near halfway and FS show purpose with ball in hand. They work the spaces well with good passes to free up Jordaan to run in for the try. 19-5 with 5min to go.
- An exciting passage. First Bosch sees the door closing on his outside so grubbers through and recollects ball and passes but opportunity to go wide missed, which sees the ball turned over by FS who fly-hack ahead and chase to within the EP 22m only for EP centre Bezuidenhout to consolidate and carry the ball back to the halfway.
- Free State are not done. They run the ball and its centre Michael Andrade who is brought to ground inches from the tryline.
- Final score: EP wins 19-5.
@Agent007: @Mike:
Agent007, GHS forwards are not a non-event as you suggest. Grey PE should not win on paper given rankings etc, however historically many a game between these two schools has been lost by GHS between the ears before kick-off. As Mike correctly points out though, a shift may have happened yesterday, albeit psychologically, but belief can make a world of difference in a schoolboy rugby game. The GCB boys, on the other hand, may have had a few seeds of doubt planted…. who knows, but I can see the makings of an upset on the cards if GCB think it is going to be easy.The GHS team is that unpredictable.
@Agent007: Grey PE will always be an underdog, which is a fantastic position for them to be in this year. No one is suggesting after the EP v Freestate game that momentum has shifted, all I’m saying is that it is a good thing for some grey PE boys to taste victory against some Bloem players who have been nothing short of invincible this year so far. Which ever way the game goes, it’s going to be a great game.
@Dave41: Grey PE will not have the forwards to match Grey bloem.Their backs will not be affective without the ball.Back Grey Bloem for a victory.
Bosch best 10 and possibly 15 of the week. Some really good 15’s around so maybe play him at 10 for SA and let Kayter, Joubert etc fight it out for the 15 jersey.
Great win for EP….The backline was awesome, but they could not do it without some excellent work up front. Your whole pack did their jobs well!..Well done klein Ieppie!…
Well done EP. The Greys game in August is going to be a cracker!
Eish, my chin is still sore. Congrats EP. Very well played and actually deserved to win by a bigger margin.
@Ploegskaar: No man don’t ruin my fun with a humble apology now
Accepted tho. Your comment was not taken in the wrong light tho.
@Predator: Geluk met jou span se goeie wen van gister! Sterkte vir die finaal – behoort baie opwindend te wees.
Ek glo die afrigter sal ‘n plan maak – soos jy genoem het, beplan hy deeglik
Congrats Mike and all the EP supporters ! Good luck to your team on Saturday
Baie geluk EP julle verdien die wen julle het die FS van hulle foete af gespeel en hulle het geen antwoord gehad nie. n BAIE goeie agterlyn spel deur OP daar is baie durf en talent, voorspoed vir Saterdag
@Grasshopper: Bloem is no exception. Away games have challenges- International, S15, —. Dont fool yourself in thinking that playing in Durban holds no advantages for you.
@Mike: Congratulations Mike. Can’t wait to watch the game once I get home! The unofficial cup will remain in the Cape.
Aan al die Vrystaat ondersteuners en die Grey Manne, julle kan nie sê ek het julle nie gewaarsku teen die losskakel van OP nie, ek sou ‘n flank gekies het wat net hierdie seun die hele game gepester het. Hy was omtrent betrokke in al die drieë wat OP gedruk het. Ek glo dat SWD se coach ‘n plan vir hom het,….ek hoop so anders gaan ons ook aftjop. Ek dink die game gaan baie tight wees.
@Grasshopper: GCB must still play Glenwood and Grey PE away and Maritzburgh College and Paul Roos at home.
Will be a tough ask, but the boys will be ready.
Very proud of Eastern Province!
@BOG: You can add Charl Pretorius as well.But no excuses whatsoever. EP deserved the win. Also no dissent on the selection of the team. Some you win and some you lose.
@Bere73: Verloor bly verloor en nooit lekker nie. Dit bly sleg! Die verloor teen OP word nou in perspektief gesien. Glo steeds die Bulle kan beter en het dit vandsg gelyk of hulle wag vir iets om te gebeur
@beet: My remark was uncalled for and inaccurate, so I apologize. If you were honest though, it was exactly the type of response you were trying to illicit. I owe you a couple of cold ones, hopefully at a festival somewhere next year.
@grasshopper they play in PE, but start with a 20 point anywhere.
@Mike: Are you playing Grey in Bloem, if so it’s going to be extremely tough to beat them there no matter how good your side is….they start with a 20 point advantage there…
@phat55: well he’s still u17 and in grade 11 so he has time to decide. Hopefully he chooses wisely and gets sound advice.
@Mike:
that’s an impressive record!!
somewhat of a dream team for you guys
some definite SA Schools contenders……wonder which union going to lure Bosch or has he been snapped up already?
@BOG: I totally agree the quality of the Bloem side will be better , but psychologically it gives the PE guys more confidence than they would have usually had going in to the game later on this year.
Congratulations to EP, deserved winners.@Mike: There will be a big difference in the backline in PE, with Immelman, Stannard and Wessels back in the team-hopefully. Should make a big difference
@Woltrui: yes please I will whatsapp you my address details. Use an expensive courier service as well aka Fedex or DHL
It’s just a pity I have to drink with manne who watch rugby instead of rugbymanne as per someone from the WP
Well done EP. Must give the Grey PE boys something to think about when playing Grey College later on in the year. I’ll be surprised if there aren’t at least two SA schools players out of this EP team. @phat55: If you look at provincial results in this age group you’ll notice that EP haven’t lost at any stage during u13,u16 and so far in u18. So they have a good track record so far.
The man who wrote this report deserves a “Bells”! Felt if I was watching the game. Whow!!! One surprise after the other at the 2014 CW. I thought FS were going to murder the EP…
Great win EP! It should be a cracker of a final between SWD and EP. Both teams lots of speed in the backs and both teams very aggressive at the breakdowns with very good fetchers. Looking forward to a great game.
Wow well done EP!!!! All the big unions sent packing, nobody would’ve guessed that at the start of the tournament
Nou lyk die bulle se verloor nie soooo sleg nie!!!
Caaamaaan EP!!! Certainly the better team today. Doing more with less possession
EP vs SWD in the final on Saturday!
Haaaaak Vrystaaaat!!!!
Mmmm, interessant. Die Bulle se verloor teen die OP was dalk nie so vloekskoot gewees nie. Nietemin, hulle moes maklik gewen het.
EP 10, 13 and 15 brilliant.