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Pretoria - The EP Kings overturned an 18-point deficit on their way to a superb 34-31 win over the Blue Bulls in their Vodacom Cup quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Blue Bulls marched into a 31-13 lead after 64 minutes but the Kings scored three tries in the last seven minutes of the match to secure a semi-final place against the Golden Lions.
The Kings began their comeback in the 73rd minute, when replacement scrumhalf Mpho Mbiyozo sniped over for a converted try.
Replacement loose forward Dalton Davis went over three minutes later, and two minutes into extra time the Kings sealed a superb victory when loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka crashed over from close range.
The Kings had made the early running and they led 6-0 after 19 minutes, courtesy of two penalties from fullback Scott van Breda.
However, the Bulls struck back through a 19th minute penalty from flyhalf Handre Pollard before the hosts took control of the contest with two converted tries in the space of three minutes.
Left wing Sampie Mastriet rounded off a fine team try in the 34th minute before outside centre Dries Swanepoel burst through a gap in the Kings defence.
The Bulls went to the break leading 17-6 but the Kings struck back six minutes after the restart when lock Stefan Willemse rumbled over for a converted try to narrow the gap to four points.
However, the hosts grabbed their third try 13 minutes later when flank Wiaan Liebenberg crashed over after a powerful rolling maul.
The Blue Bulls' powerful pack of forwards were starting to assert their dominance and the home team nabbed their fourth try when replacement prop Basil Short dotted down, after yet another rolling maul, before the Kings struck back.
Tries: Sampie Mastriet, Dries Swanepoel, Wiaan Liebenberg, Basil Short
Conversions: Handre Pollard (4)
Penalty: Pollard
EP Kings:
Tries: Stefan Willemse, Mpho Mbiyozo, Dalton Davis, Lizo Gqoboka
Conversions: Scott van Breda, Wesley Dunlop (3)
Penalties: Van Breda (2)
The Blue Bulls marched into a 31-13 lead after 64 minutes but the Kings scored three tries in the last seven minutes of the match to secure a semi-final place against the Golden Lions.
The Kings began their comeback in the 73rd minute, when replacement scrumhalf Mpho Mbiyozo sniped over for a converted try.
Replacement loose forward Dalton Davis went over three minutes later, and two minutes into extra time the Kings sealed a superb victory when loosehead prop Lizo Gqoboka crashed over from close range.
The Kings had made the early running and they led 6-0 after 19 minutes, courtesy of two penalties from fullback Scott van Breda.
However, the Bulls struck back through a 19th minute penalty from flyhalf Handre Pollard before the hosts took control of the contest with two converted tries in the space of three minutes.
Left wing Sampie Mastriet rounded off a fine team try in the 34th minute before outside centre Dries Swanepoel burst through a gap in the Kings defence.
The Bulls went to the break leading 17-6 but the Kings struck back six minutes after the restart when lock Stefan Willemse rumbled over for a converted try to narrow the gap to four points.
However, the hosts grabbed their third try 13 minutes later when flank Wiaan Liebenberg crashed over after a powerful rolling maul.
The Blue Bulls' powerful pack of forwards were starting to assert their dominance and the home team nabbed their fourth try when replacement prop Basil Short dotted down, after yet another rolling maul, before the Kings struck back.
Scorers:
Blue Bulls:Tries: Sampie Mastriet, Dries Swanepoel, Wiaan Liebenberg, Basil Short
Conversions: Handre Pollard (4)
Penalty: Pollard
EP Kings:
Tries: Stefan Willemse, Mpho Mbiyozo, Dalton Davis, Lizo Gqoboka
Conversions: Scott van Breda, Wesley Dunlop (3)
Penalties: Van Breda (2)
