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Spencer rues Kings errors

Cape Town - Following a 49-14 defeat to Western Province at Newlands on Friday night, Eastern Province Kings coach Carlos Spencer says his side were severely punished for their errors.

"We took a hammering tonight because of our error rate. We just made too many mistakes and that's not good enough at this level," Spencer said after the game.

"We let Province in for two soft tries when our defence was under pressure." Spencer said his side lost the battle at breakdown play and as a result the team were forced into a largely defensive role.

"We allowed our ball to be turned over far too easily and that led to our defence taking a lot of pressure.

"As Province piled on the pressure we had to make too many tackles. But I must say Province are nowadays are playing a good style of rugby."

Allister Coetzee, the WP coach said he was pleased with the way his side ground out a workmanlike performance.

"I was a bit nervous before the game because the match could be a perilous banana-peel type of occasion," said Coetzee.

"They are bottom of the log but they are playing good rugby and they have run sides close in previous games. It was therefore pleasing to come away with a win, and also a bonus point. Our intensity was right up there."

The four changes which WP made worked well said Coetzee.

"I was pleased with the performances of players who were brought into the side for rotation purposes. We are approaching a point where all the players will be match sharp," said Coetzee.

"We don't want [to put] on a player when there are injuries only to find out that the replacements are not at the same level as the regulars." After the match there were injury concerns after Cheslin Kolbe and Nic Groom suffered knocks during the match.

"There was a downside tonight because Cheslin injured his knee and Nic took a knock to the shoulder late in the match," said Coetzee.

"It's too early to say if the injuries are serious."

Coetzee announced hooker Scarra Ntubeni would be back for next week's Lions clash in Johannesburg.

"Scarra will be back for the Lions and he brings a physical presence to our game.

"He may start off on the bench but we've done well by easing returning players back into the game rather than starting off with them."

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