In the third match of the Currie Cup weekend, Eastern Province had to fight back from trailing by 12-15 at the break to beat the Leopards by 40-32 in Kariega.
Both teams scored to first-half tries and converted one, but a penalty goal by Leopards flyhalf Jandre Burger saw his team hit the sheds leading by three.
A second penalty goal by Burger early in the second half pushed the Leopards 18-12 ahead, but two converted tries by CJ Velleman before the hour-mark handed the momentum back to the hosts as they took a 26-18 lead.
That gap was closed to 26-25 with 20 minutes to go, and following a yellow card to EP lock Athenkosi Khethani and a raft of replacements, the Leopards took a 32-26 lead when Brandon Keevy went over with 13 minutes to go.
EP were not done though as they answered with a converted 74th minute try by Liyema Matyolweni and a penalty try in the final minute to seal the win and deny the Leopards a losing bonus point.
Scorers:
Eastern Province 40 (12), Leopards 32 (15)
- EP – Tries: CJ Velleman (3), Mpho Ntsane, Liyema Matyolweni, Penalty try. Conversions: Jaydon Bantom, Maxwell Klaasen (3).
- Leopards – Tries: Siniothando Tshontsyi, Jason Alexander, Hlumelo Ndudula, Brandon Keevy. Conversions: Jandre Burger (3). Penalty goals: Burger (2).
