The SWD Eagles have used their home advantage to beat the Toyota Free State XV 33-17 in the sides Vodacom Cup encounter at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday evening.
Free State started well in the game and put the first points on the board after some good pressure. An early missed penalty by Eagles full back Elric van Vuuren put the visitors in possession and flanker Peet Coetzee went over in the eighth minute. Free State fly half Coenie van Wyk converted, giving his side an early lead of 7-0.
Van Vuuren succeeded with his second penalty attempt in the 16th minute to reduce the lead, but Van Wyk added a three pointer of his own five minutes later to regain the advantage. It was to be the visitors last points of the first half.
The Eagles awoke from their slumber and big prop Ashley Buys burst over for his try in the 26th minute after some good pressure was applied by the hosts. Van Vuuren slotted the conversion and followed with a penalty shortly thereafter to make the halftime score 16-10 in favour of the Eagles.
The hosts came alight in the second half, with winger Alshaun Bock dotting down shortly after the kick off, with Van Vuuren converting. A yellow card shortly thereafter to Free State full back Sino Ganto did not help the visitors cause, as Bock went over for his second converted try in the 70th minute.
The Free State kept on fighting and Coetzee, one of few stalwarts on the night, went over for his second five pointer of the game, that replacement fly half Noel Marx converted. But the Eagles had done more than enough to secure the win.
Points scorers:
SWD Eagles 33 (16): Tries: Alshaun Bock (2), Ashley Buys. Conversions: Elric van Vuuren (3). Penalties: Van Vuuren (4).
Toyota Free State XV 17 (10): Tries: Peet Coetzee (2). Conversions: Coenie van Wyk, Noel Marx. Penalty: Van Wyk.
