The EP Elephants produced a strong second-half display to clinch a thrilling 29-26 win over the SWD Eagles in their opening match of the SA U21 Shield rugby competition in Gqeberha on Friday.
After trailing 19-15 at the break, a determined EP side upped the tempo in the second half to pocket maximum points in an entertaining showdown at Otto du Plessis High School.
EP, who outscored the visitors by five tries to four, travel to Worcester to play the Boland Kavaliers at Boland Park in their second outing of the competition on Saturday.
Champions, the Border Bulldogs, were beaten 47-34 in a Shield match played at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane near KuGompo City on Saturday.
“EP started slowly, and some sloppy play enabled the Eagles to get off to a fast start, and we trailed 19-15 at half-time,” EP coach Shaun “Trok” Oliver said.
“We responded well in the second half, and we were the first to put points on the board.
“Unfortunately, some ill-discipline stopped our momentum.
“EP finished strongly to ensure we finished with a bonus-point win.
“Our focus now is to look back at our mistakes and rectify them before an away game against Boland in Worcester on Saturday.
“EP will field a balanced team who will focus on ourselves in the Shield.
“Our set piece is a department where we will strive to get it right from the start and to execute our game plan from there.
“We will set high standards for ourselves and home games are not negotiable.
“This EP team believe we can go all the way to the knockout stage in the Shield competition.”
Nine provincial teams have been divided into two sections in the Shield.
The south comprises Boland (2024 champions), Border, Eastern Province and SWD; and the north, featuring the Pumas (2023 champions), Harmony Griffons, Griquas, Valke and Limpopo.
Teams in the south section play three home and three away matches (six in total) and in the north a single round (four in total).
At the conclusion of the league phase, the two teams with the highest number of log points will contest the semi-finals within their sections.
The two winners will play in the grand final between the south and north groups.
Scorers:
EP Elephants 29: Tries: Cole Hilpert, Angelo Adams, Xander Wiltshire, Sean van Zijl, Luwando Gotyana. Conversions: Lyle Meintjies, Caleb Friskin.
SWD Eagles 26: Tries: Tyrese Michaels (3), Steven Terblance. Conversions: Juvanno Johnathan (3).
Other results: Griquas 19 Griffons 46, Limpopo 83 Valke 24, Border Bulldogs 34 Boland 47.
Saturday’s fixtures:
South Section: Boland Kavaliers v EP Elephants, SWD Eagles v Border Bulldogs.
North Section: Valke v Pumas, Griffons v Limpopo.
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