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George - The EP Kings unbeaten run continued as they eased to a 29-7 (half-time 12-0) win over the SWD Eagles in their Absa Currie Cup First Division match at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday.
The Kings have now won eight and drawn one of their nine matches this season as they opened up a healthy eight-point lead at the top of the table ahead of the Pumas in second place.
Flyhalf Wesley Dunlop shone for the visitors as he scored 14 points courtesy of a try, three conversions and a penalty as the Eagles missed the chance the strengthen their hold on third position on the log. They lead the Leopards by just one point with the Leopards having a game in hand.
The first half was a reasonably even affair although the Eagles, despite putting together a number of multiple phases on attack, were unable to breach an impressive Kings’ defence.
SWD right wing Clint Wagman was yellow-carded in the 10th minute for a spear tackle and the Kings took advantage seven minutes later when left wing Norman Nelson slid over in the corner after taking a pass from scrumhalf Noel Oelschig following a EP scrum five metres from the Eagles’ tryline.
The rest of the half was mainly contested between the two 22-metre areas but five minutes before the break the Kings finally scored again after a scything run from Paul Perez who galloped all of 45 metres before the Samoan was hauled down just short of the tryline.
But Dunlop was on hand to scoop up the ball before going over for a try with the flyhalf converting his own score as the Kings ended the half holding a 12-0 lead.
Dunlop opened the scoring in the second half with a 43rd minute penalty and six minutes later the pivot played a crucial role in his team’s third try when his superb off-load set up outside centre Wayne Stevens.
The Kings wrapped up the bonus-point try in the 57th minute when eighthman Luke Watson pilfered an errant SWD lineout throw from hooker Sidney Tobias 10 metres from the host’s tryline. Watson surged towards the line before being halted but tighthead prop Clint Newland was on hand to gather the ball and drive his way over for a converted try.
The Eagles finally opened their account, in the 63rd minute, when replacement forward Lyndon Hartnick broke free from 30 metres out before swerving past the last defender on his way to a converted try. However, it was little more than a consolation score for the hosts who battled to contain the Kings in the second half.
Scorers:
SWD Eagles:
Try: Lyndon Hartnick
Conversion: Elric van Vuuren
EP Kings:
Tries: Norman Nelson, Wesley Dunlop, Wayne Stevens, Clint Newland
Conversions: Dunlop (3)
Penalty: Dunlop
