EP put Bulldogs to bed in banana skin clash, says Coetzee

EP achieved their goal of putting the Border Bulldogs to bed in a potentially catastrophic banana skin match when they emerged emphatic 71-14 winners in an SA Cup rugby encounter, relieved Elephants coach Allister Coetzee said.

It was EP’s second win of the season after seven rounds and has given them a boost ahead of their remaining matches against the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers.

The Bulldogs, who have yet to register a point, remained rooted to the bottom of the log after a humiliating defeat at the Madibaz Stadium in Gqeberha against their arch-rivals.

“The thing about this Border game is that when you put up a big score, people say it is expected,” Coetzee said.

“If you lose it, then you are in big trouble, and it is a banana peel.

“This was about EP and our growth and not about the opposition.

“We knew this was the so-called Eastern Cape derby, and I said to the players it should not be this big derby thing.

“No, because you trained right and the plan is right, so you must go and execute and put them to bed, and they did just that.”

Coetzee said EP had to contend with major injury problems ahead of the clash.

A rampant EP Elephants side charged to an emphatic 71-14 win over the struggling Border Bulldogs in a lopsided SA Cup rugby encounter at the Madibaz Stadium on Friday. It was EP’s second win of the season after seven rounds and has given them a boost ahead of their remaining matches against the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers. The Bulldogs, who have yet to register a point, remained rooted to the bottom of the log after a humiliating defeat in Gqeberha against their arch-rivals. EP, who led 26-7 at halftime, overpowered the Bulldogs with a strong second-half display of running rugby which carved open Border’s defence. The Bulldogs reduced the Elephants’ lead to 26-14 after 49 minutes before the floodgates opened with a torrent of tries. EP outscored Border by 11 tries to two on another difficult afternoon for the embattled side from KuGompo City. Scorers: EP Elephants 71: Tries: Mpho Ntsane (3), Kamvelihle Fatyela (3), Troy Delport (2), Richman Gora, Jaydon Bantom, and Jac van der Walt. Conversions: Maxwell Klaasen (3), Garth April (4), Troy Delport. Border Bulldogs 14: Simthembile Zozi (2). Conversions: Isiphe Mbini (2). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“In total we had eight starting players out,” he said.

“We have depth in the squad, and the new players brought in an unbelievable energy and accuracy we have been striving to get all season.

“EP want to play with accuracy, determination and a high tempo so we can determine the momentum in the game.

“Against the Bulldogs our lineouts were outstanding as well as our mauling

“There is a good mix with forwards and backs, and the guys coming off the bench did a hell of a lot of damage as well. There is growth which I can see.

“We had a tough start to the season, and this is not an easy Border side to play against.

“I think this is the biggest score EP has put on Border by far, and we also had all the injuries to contend with.

The gloves will come off when struggling regional rugby rivals the EP Elephants and Border Bulldogs go toe-to-toe in a grudge SA Cup derby battle in Gqeberha on Friday. Duels between these warring next-door neighbours are not for the faint-hearted, and a frenzied struggle for precious log points will unfold at the Madibaz Stadium (kickoff 3pm). Because of financial constraints, both unions are operating on a semi-professional basis, and this has resulted in EP and Border struggling to hold their own against rival teams with better financial resources. Those financial struggles, however, will be forgotten for 80 minutes on Friday in a seventh-round clash which holds exciting possibilities for both teams. With regional bragging rights at stake, the Elephants will leave everything out on the field in what is expected to be a fiery bottom-of-the-log battle against their old foes. A wounded EP side are licking their wounds after a 52-9 drubbing at the hands of Griquas last week, while the Bulldogs arrived in Gqeberha on the back of a heavy 74-5 loss against the Boland Cavaliers. The battling Bulldogs have lost all six of their opening matches, while EP have fared marginally better with a single win to their name. The long losing sequence has left the Bulldogs anchored at the bottom of the log, while EP occupies eighth spot in the 10-team league. EP coach Allister Coetzee will demand better discipline from his players in a match where tempers could become frayed. Coetzee said three yellow cards — which resulted in his team playing with 13 men at one stage in the second half — had proved to be a crippling blow when EP crashed to defeat against Griquas. EP held a narrow 9-7 lead with time running out in the first half before referee Lulutho Matomela awarded a penalty try to Griquas and yellow-carded Elephants lock Athenkosi Khetani. This sequence of events turned the tide in the favour of the visitors, who took full advantage in the second half, scoring seven unanswered tries. “The big blow for us was the yellow cards, and it is impossible to play against the Currie Cup champions with 13 men,” Coetzee said. “While we were down to 13 men, Griquas took advantage, and they punished us with their experience and quick outside backs. “EP’s players put their bodies on the line, but it was discipline and lost opportunities that let us down badly.” Coetzee said captain and lock Mzwanele Zito (AC joint injury) and loose forward Damon Royle (groin) were in doubt for the Bulldogs clash. “Zito and Royle are big players for us, and we will assess both injuries during the week,” he said. “A positive for us is that loan players Dandre Delport [hooker] and Jac van der Walt [loose forward] will be eligible to play against Border. They are on loan to us from Griquas, and the deal was they did not want them to be included in our lineup last week.” SA Cup log (all teams have played six matches): Griquas 30, Pumas 27, Cheetahs 23, SWD Eagles 22, Boland Cavaliers 20, Falcons 14, Griffons 11, EP Elephants 7, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0. Weekend fixtures Friday: EP v Border Bulldogs, Leopards v Boland Cavaliers. Saturday: Falcons v Cheetahs, SWD Eagles v Griffons, Griquas v Pumas. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“It shows this EP team has learnt resilience in that when they are down, they get back on the horse and come back.

“That is a sign the guys are getting mature in certain aspects of the game.”

Disappointed Border Bulldogs coach Dumisani Mhani said: “We are hurting after this loss.

“We have to put our heads together and plan the way forward.

“The Bulldogs lost to a better-organised team.

“We have to pick ourselves up for the last two games and prepare for the Currie Cup First Division, which starts shortly.

“If we are not positive, we won’t achieve anything.”

EP, who led 26-7 at halftime, overpowered the Bulldogs with a strong second-half display of running rugby which carved open Border’s defence.

The Bulldogs reduced the Elephants’ lead to 26-14 after 49 minutes before the floodgates opened with a torrent of tries.

EP outscored Border by 11 tries to two on another difficult afternoon for the embattled side from KuGompo City.

Scorers:

EP Elephants 71: Tries: Mpho Ntsane (3), Kamvelihle Fatyela (3), Troy Delport (2), Richman Gora, Jaydon Bantom, Jac van der Walt. Conversions: Maxwell Klaaasen (3), Garth April (4), Troy Delport.

Border Bulldogs 14: Tries: Simthembile Zozi (2). Conversions: Isiphe Mbini (2).

Other scores: Griquas 44 Pumas 34, SWD Eagles 45 Griffons 24, Falcons 43 Cheetahs 36, Leopards 12 Boland Cavaliers 33.

Log (all teams have played seven matches): Griquas 35, Pumas 28, SWD Eagles 27, Boland Cavaliers 25, Cheetahs 25, Falcons 19, EP Elephants 12, Griffons 11, Leopards 7, Border Bulldogs 0.

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