Elephants snatch victory away from Eagles

The Multisure EP Elephants overturned a 10-15 halftime deficit to claim a 27-21 victory in a Currie Cup First Division match against the SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday.

This win was the visiting side's third for the season following loses against log leaders Jaguares XV, Leopards, and Down Touch Griffons.

It could have been a bigger winning margin in the end had Oliver Zono slotted two penalty conversion attempts, one on either side of the halftime break.

It was a match that went down to the wire not only on the scoreboard but was fiercely contested in the set pieces. All of the home side's points came via the boot of Divan Nel.

The former UJ flyhalf succeeded with seven penalties while Duan de Plessis, Luphumlo Mguco and Kevin Luiters all crossed the whitewash for the EP Elephants.

Zono converted all three, taking his personal tally to 17 points in his side's remarkable come-from-behind win, which included two penalties.

De Plessis opened the scoring in what would seem to be a high scoring affair, Zono converted handing the visitors a 7-0 lead in the opening ten minutes.

The 15 minutes was dominated by the home side, with the majority of the play taking place in the half of the visitors.

Nel succeeded with three consecutive penalty attempts, 7-9.

Zono replied almost immediately with his first penalty conversion of the afternoon, 10-9.

It was, however, the SWD Eagles who got the final word in before the break.

Nel slotting two more penalties handing the home side a five-point lead heading into the halftime.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was dominated by the EP Elephants, Zono adding another penalty and Mguco crashing over in the 54th minute and with the conversion regained the lead for the visitors, 20-15.

Nel added two more penalties making it a one-point game as the match headed into the last ten minutes, 20-21.

Replacement scrumhalf Luiters dotted down and with Zono's conversion, handing the EP Elephants the win.

SCORERS:

SWD Eagles

Pens: Divan Nel (7)

Multisure EP Elephants

Tries: Duan de Plessis, Luphumlo Mguco, Kevin Luiters

Cons: Oliver Zono (3)

Pens: Zono (2)