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Kings squeeze out Cavaliers

Malmesbury - A late try by flank Devin Oosthuizen was the difference between the visiting Eastern Province Kings and a fiery Regent Boland Cavaliers outfit, with the visitors winning 27-23 (half time 8-13) in their exciting Vodacom Cup match at the Wesbank Stadium in Malmesbury on Saturday.

The EP Kings opened up the scoring through outside centre Scott van Breda after Boland were penalised at the ruck and the visitors led 3-0 after just 3 minutes.

Two penalties from fullback Jacquin Jansen gave the Boland a 6-3 lead before winger Senan van der Merwe scored an interception try after grabbing the ball on his own line and running the length of the field to score.

Jansen added the extras and Boland led 13-3.

Eighthman Paul Schoeman scored for the EP Kings 10 minutes before halftime and Van Breda missed the kick. The two teams went into the break with Boland still leading 13-8.

A missed penalty by Jansen proved costly for Boland as reserve lock Stefan Willemse drove over the line from a maul for the Kings to draw level and Kayle van Zyl kicked the conversion to put his team ahead 15-13.

A quick throw-in, taken by Van Zyl after Boland kicked away possession, found winger Brian Skosana on his inside. Skosana bamboozled his way through the Boland defence and gave a long pass out to Van Zyl who ran in untouched.

Van Zyl converted his own try and the EP Kings lead 22-13 with 24 minutes left in the game.

Jansen narrowed the gap to 22-16 with another penalty before missing a third kick at goal.

Captain Ashton Constant barged over the line with 10 minutes left to draw his team within two points and Jansen kicked the subsequent conversion.

Boland lead 23-22 with only six minutes left, but the Kings were not going down without a fight.

Oosthuizen went over to score the match winning try after some enterprising play by the Kings, who took the ball the length of the field.

Reserve flyhalf Wesley Dunlop was unable to convert the try but it was irrelevant as the visitors recorded a bonus point victory and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Vodacom Cup.

Scorers:

Boland Cavaliers: Tries: Senan van der Merwe, Ashton Constant. Conversions: Jacquin Jansen (2); Penalties: Jansen (3).

Eastern Province Kings: Tries: Paul Schoeman; Stefan Willemse, Kayle van Zyl, Devin Oosthuizen. Conversions: Kayle van Zyl (2); Penalties: Scott van Breda

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