[Currie Cup First Division] THE 2011 FINAL: Boland Kavaliers - Eastern Province Kings

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Boland Stadium, Wellington (14-10-2011, 16:00)

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Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker and Cobus Wessels


The Regent Boland Cavaliers will go into Friday’s Absa Currie Cup First Division Final buoyed by the knowledge that they easily beat the EP Kings in their last encounter, three weeks ago also in Wellington.
However, that game belongs to history and both teams have said they are ready for this clash, at 16:00 at the Boland Stadium.

According to Kings coach Alan Solomons, what happened in Wellington on 23 September, when Boland won 49-15, will not be on the minds of his players this weekend.

“I don't think there will be any scarring (from that match),†Solomons said.

A yellow card to Kings loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht cost his team dearly on that day. When he was sent to the sin bin in the 66th minute, the Cavaliers were leading by 21-15.

When Engelbrecht returned 10 minutes later, his side had almost been knocked out, with Boland scoring three converted tries to lead 42-15. To add insult to injury, Cavaliers wing Danwell Demas scored his fourth try late in the game to put the final nail in the Kings’ coffin.

Solomons added: "The big points difference in that game only came in the last 12 or so minutes, when we played basically with 14 men. We see it in perspective and understand it. That game could have gone either way.â€

Because of injury to regular skipper Luke Watson as well as his replacement from last week Darron Nell, Solomons has named Falie Oelschig as captain for the final.

“The team worked very hard throughout the season to get here and it’s great to be rewarded with a final at our home ground,†said Eloff, who named an unchanged team from the one that won their semi-final last weekend.

“We’ve prepared very well for this game against the Kings and the players are positive â€" we’re all looking forward to Friday’s game.

“Yes, we know it’s going to be very tough and the team that wants the victory the most will probably end up winning it. The team that give their all on the day, will come out on top.â€

Both Boland and the Kings have won nine from their ten league fixtures, only losing their away fixtures against each other. They have dominated the Absa Currie Cup First Division and are worthy finalists after comfortable semi-final victories last weekend.


Last five games in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
• 31 July 2010: EP Kings won 33-22 in Wellington
• 10 September 2010: EP Kings won 23-16 in Port Elizabeth
• 8 October 2010: EP Kings won 26-25 in Port Elizabeth (semi-final)
• 12 August 2011: EP Kings won 23-18 in Port Elizabeth
• 23 September 2011: Boland won 49-15 in Wellington

Teams:

Regent Boland Cavaliers: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Danwell Demas, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 PJ Vermeulen, 11 Brendon April, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Bolla Conradie (captain), 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Junior Bester, 6 Milroy Isaacs, 5 Grant le Roux, 4 Ligtoring Landman, 3 Eugene Butterworth, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Janro van Niekerk. Replacements: 16 Ashton Constant, 17 Charl du Plessis, 18 Henjo van Niekerk, 19 Thor Halvorsen, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Jonathan Franke, 22 PJ van Zyl.

EP Kings: 15 SP Marais, 14 Andile Witbooi, 13 Joe Breytenbach, 12 Jaco Bekker, 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Falie Oelschig (captain), 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 Ross Kennedy, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels. Replacements: Ronnie Uys, Bobby Dyer, Barend Pieterse, Boetie Brits, Danie Faasen, George Whitehead, Tiger Mangweni.

 

[Seaton]

Should be a cracker of a game, it is a pity that it is not in Port Elizabeth, as a game of this standard would attract well over 20 000 punters.

Hoping the Kings win, and it will be much more enjoyable as Pukey isn't playing.

 

[Sker]

Woo my town/stadium on the forum! They were handing out 60 tickets at my school today.Go Boland!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

How great would it be if Boland is winning this and manages to promote to the Top Division??? That would be awesome!

 

[Seaton]

How great would it be if Boland is winning this and manages to promote to the Top Division??? That would be awesome!

Heh?

I am sure you know that this game has niks to do with the promotion/ relegation of the teams, or has my computer translated this incorrectly (if at all).
There is the alternative of course that you speak of something else, so many permutations!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I really don't get the obsession with getting the EP Kings up to the Top Division. There won't be a Super Rugby franchise in that area anyway in the next 10 years.

 

[Seaton]

Some might say it is a cliche, but the Eastern Cape really is the hotbead of black rugby in SA, and if there is anywhere in SA where a region is not represented at the pro level for what it truely should be, it is the Eastern Province. Such a large potential player base as well, their schools have produced more class players and Boks than KZN has, and up until the 1990's the region was by far the more important of the two regions rugby wise.

There are those that say that none of the Big 5 can be relegated from the premier division because of their financial importance to the union. EP has the potential to be at least the third largest rugby province behind Gauteng and Western Cape, both in terms of player numbers and fan base. So I say poo poo to the notion that none of the bigger unions can be relegated, there are enough big fish to fill the pond if one was reeled out.


Back to this game, Boland have given them a right humping in areas, others they have hard done by by Mr. van de Merwe.
28-7 to Boland at 67 mins. Fairly even first half, Kings got two yellows, first was harsh, second deserved.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Following the game and it's 43-12 to Boland!!! How amazing is this? 6 tries to the team from Wellington and only 2 for EP.

I am only following it though sarugby.co.za's Live Score feed. How crap is that? Nowhere I can watch the match haha.

 

[Sker]

Wellington!

woohoo!

Just watch, we're coming back to the Prem League!