Cape Town The SWD Eagles secured their first win of the season when they thrashed the Tusker Simba XV 51-7 (25-0 halftime) in a one-sided Vodacom Cup clash in Cape Town.
The men from George outscored the host team by nine tries to one and secured the bonus point in the first half after some excellent interplay between their backs and forwards.
Playing with the wind behind their backs in the first half, the Eagles, who are known for their running rugby, showed their intent and used their speedy backs to keep the Kenyan-side pinned in their half of the field.
SWD-winger Hentzwill Pedro almost scored his team's first try after a good run down the sideline but was tackled short of the try line by some desperate defence. Seconds later outside centre Daniel Roberts jogged over the try line for his team's first try.
After a while the Tusker Simba-side started to find their feet in the match and launched wave after wave of attack on the SWD try line but to no avail.
They kept the pressure on the visitors and won a penalty right in front of the posts but scrumhalf Layle Asiligwa could not convert for three points.
Even with 14 players on the field after SWD flyhalf Karlo Aspeling was sent off for continuously being offside, the visitors managed to defend their try line to keep the physical Kenyans at bay. The Eagles also managed to score points when they were a man down.
In the second half the Eagles carried on where they left off in the first half and continued to dominate the match.
Playing into the wind, the visitors kept the ball in hand and ran the Kenyans off their feet.
They scored a further four tries to lead the Kenyans 51-0. With seconds to play the hosts managed to score a converted consolation try through lock Wilson Kapondo.
Scorers:
Tusker Simba XV: Try: Wilson Kopondo. Conversion: Kenny Andula.
SWD Eagles: Tries: Daniel Roberts (2), Hentzwill Pedro (2), Shaun Raubenheimer, Duwayne Smart, Janneman Stander, Christo du Plessis, Martin du Toit. Conversions: Karlo Aspeling (3).