South Africa’s Southern Kings on Saturday successfully soaked up continuous second-half pressure to beat Japan’s Sunwolves 33-28 and claim their first Super Rugby win this season.
However, the outcome at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Eastern Cape city Port Elizabeth could have been different if the Tokyo-based visitors had not run several kickable penalties.
The Sunwolves spent much of the second half inside the Kings 22, but the visitors did not break through until the final minute when star winger Akihito Yamada dived over in the corner for an unconverted try.
The Sunwolves won possession deep in their half from the start and launched a post-siren attack, hoping for a converted try that would have delivered a dramatic victory.
However, star Samoa-born flyhalf Tusi Pisi knocked on after they reached the halfway line and the final whistle sounded on an entertaining, eight-try round 6 match.
While Pisi contributed 13 points for the Super Rugby newcomers, his decision to spurn several close-range kicks at goal in favor of tap penalties ultimately cost his team dearly.
The result did not change the position of either team, with the Sunwolves remaining bottom of the Africa 1 table and Kings propping up the Africa 2 standings. A swirling wind and a heavy pitch were handicaps for teams generally considered the weakest in the expanded 18-franchise competition.
It was not difficult to understand why both sides began the match with four-loss records as there were many missed tackles and other basic errors.
While the general standard of play was lower than often seen in Super Rugby, the whole-hearted approach of the Kings and Sunwolves made for an enjoyable encounter.
The Kings built an early 15-3 lead via tries by lock Steven Sykes and winger Malcolm Jaer, only for the Japanese outfit to reply with two of their own from hooker Shota Horie and Pisi.
The hosts regained the initiative through a penalty from flyhalf Louis Fouche and a converted try by center Shane Gates.
Lock Timothy Bond sold a dummy to dive over for the Sunwolves and leave his team trailing 23-20 at halftime.
A Pisi penalty leveled the scores again and one from Fouche nudged the Kings into a 26-23 advantage.
However, after endless Sunwolves pressure failed to produce points, the Kings won a scrum against the head and substitute flyhalf Elgar Watts dived over.
Fouche converted for a 10-point lead that was halved when Yamada, who scored a hat-trick of tires in a previous loss, struck to earn a bonus point.
Both flyhalfs contributed 13 points, with Fouche slotting two conversions and three penalties and Pisi scoring a try and kicking a conversion and two penalties.
The Sunwolves continue a three-match tour by playing Western Stormers in Cape Town on Friday and the Kings host the Northern Bulls a day later.
In other Super Rugby action on Saturday, the Bulls ground out a 23-18 victory over the Cheetahs.
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