In what will surely be remembered as one of the FNB Craven Week’s finest spectacles, Eastern Province held their nerve to claim a breathtaking 32-31 victory over Boland in a contest that had the crowd roaring. This was counterattacking rugby at its absolute finest, a ding dong battle that swung one way and then the other, refusing to release its grip on all who witnessed it.

When the final whistle blew, EP had prevailed by the slenderest of margins, but the scoreline barely tells half the story of a match that showcased everything beautiful about rugby, skill, passion, bravery and unrelenting determination from both sides.

Boland strike first

The second match of day three began with Boland announcing their intentions in emphatic fashion. In the sixth minute, Anzio Brinkhuis powered over the line after Boland had strung together impressive phases, their forward pack doing the hard yards to create the platform. At 7-0, they had drawn first blood and laid down the gauntlet.

EP’s response was swift. By the tenth minute they had cut the deficit to 7-5, serving notice that they had no intention of playing second fiddle in this encounter. The tone was set, this would be no procession.

The lead changes hands

Boland restored their advantage in the 18th minute with a textbook maul try, their pack demonstrating the kind of power and cohesion that wins matches at this level. The 12-5 scoreline suggested they might be pulling away, but EP had other ideas.

The 22nd minute produced a moment of pure magic. From a scrum close to the line, the ball went wide to Niel September, who showed blistering pace, turning on the afterburners to race over and narrow the gap to 12-10. The momentum had shifted once more.

Five minutes later, captain Erin Nelson reminded everyone why he wears the armband. Running a perfect line, he showed his class to give EP the lead for the first time at 17-12. Leadership personified.

Counterattacking brilliance

What followed in the 30th minute will live long in the memory of those privileged to witness it. Darren Makeza launched a magnificent counter attack, his pace carrying him down the sideline before producing a sublime offload to Anwill Jacobs, who dotted down to level proceedings at 17-17. It was champagne rugby executed with precision and flair.

Boland threw everything at EP in the dying minutes of the first half, getting into the 22-metre area only to be repelled by Boland, who were defending like men possessed. The teams trudged off at the interval locked at 17-17, the contest perfectly poised.

The second stanza began with EP’s tails up, momentum firmly on their side as they charged hard at the Boland line. Their pressure paid dividends in the 38th minute when they mauled over to score and grab the lead at 22-17.

But this was Boland’s day too, and they refused to buckle. From a four-man maul in the 49th minute, they drove over to reclaim the lead at 24-22. The ding dong battle continued unabated, neither side willing to concede an inch.

Defensive steel and attacking venom

The 58th minute encapsulated everything about this enthralling contest. EP had to defend for long periods, absorbing wave after wave of Boland pressure, before earning a crucial turnover. What they did next showed their class, attacking with absolute venom, they ran into the 22-metre area before winning a penalty.

Up stepped Kemp, and his boot gave EP the lead at 25-24. It was slender, but it was theirs.

Drama unfolds

The closing stages delivered drama by the bucketload. In the 62nd minute, Luke Doyle sniffed out space and paced into it, getting the offload away, but Boland’s defensive resolve held firm. EP kept coming, patient in their build-up, probing for weaknesses.

A minute later, EP won a penalty. Kemp lined it up but struck the post, the collective groan from EP supporters audible around the ground. Boland attacked from the reprieve but conceded another penalty, the momentum swinging like a pendulum.

Boland received a yellow card in the 64th minute, and EP sensed blood. They put phases together with patience and precision, and finally the big men smashed over to extend the lead to 32-24. Surely that was it?

Boland’s last hurrah

Boland had one final twist in the tale. In the 70th minute, they found space out wide and crossed for the final try of the day. At 32-31, they had set up a grandstand finish, but there was no time left for further heroics.

The final whistle confirmed EP’s victory, hard-fought and thoroughly deserved, but Boland could hold their heads high.

This was Craven Week rugby at its very best, two evenly matched sides refusing to take a backward step, producing counterattacking rugby that had the crowd on their feet throughout. The lead changed hands multiple times, defensive heroics were matched by attacking brilliance, and the outcome remained in doubt until the very last second.