A badly disciplined EP team were their own worst enemy when they were beaten 41-30 by the Falcons in a SA Cup match in Kempton Park on Saturday.
The Falcons delivered a strong second half display to emerge with the points in a high-scoring encounter at the Barnard Stadium.
EP will have to regroup quickly before a challenging clash against an in-form Pumas side at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (kickoff 3pm).
The Pumas gave an early indication of their firepower when they flattened the SWD Eagles 75-9 in Mbombela on Friday night.
The Falcons upped the pace in the second period when EP were on the receiving end of yellow cards to Deon Plaatjies, Laken Gray and Zuki Sali.
Coetzee was able to take heart that his team were able to score four tries via Rodney Damons (2), Troy Delport and Jaydon Bantom.
“We were our own worst enemies,” Coetzee said.
“EP fought back from an early 14-0 first half deficit against the Falcons who started well and scored two converted tries.
“It was our first game and obviously we didn't get the result we wanted to achieve.
“EP played against a much improved Falcons side.
“After being down 14-0 after 20 minutes, we fought back just before halftime and we scored two brilliant tries.
“EP were leading 22-14 at halftime and you could see the ascendancy was there.
“We tightened up things and we got over altitude and responded well.
“In the second half our discipline let us down badly.
“It was our inaccuracy in terms of the law at breakdown which resulted in yellow cards.
“Hands in the ruck once, occupying space in the ruck and then a grasscutter tackle by one of the props.
“I just think our discipline was not good enough in the second half and that made it difficult for us to respond.
“EP started poorly because of the altitude and it affected us in the first 20 minutes but we fought back.”
New flyhalf Billy Humphries contributed 10 points to EP's tally with two penalties and two conversions.
“I was happy with the four tries we scored and there were some magnificent tries,” Coetzee said.
“We were good when we had the ball in hand at stages, but then there was the snowball effect the cards had.”
Ahead of the clash, Coetzee promised his team would be competitive, but warned the Falcons would be a difficult team to play up in Kempton Park.
EP were also hamstrung by several injuries ahead of the clash.
The Boland Cavaliers made a flying start to the season when they downed the Cheetahs 45-29 in Wellington.
EP are gunning to end among the top four teams in the SA Cup and win promotion to play in the Currie Cup Premier Division later in 2025.
SA Cup results: Friday: Pumas 75 SWD Eagles 7. Saturday: Leopards 7 Griquas 64, Falcons 41 EP Elephants 30, Border Bulldogs 32 Griffons 55, Boland Cavaliers 45 Cheetahs 29.
• After beating the Golden Lions women 31-24 last week, EP's Queens stumbled to a heavy 69-5 defeat against Western Province in a SA Women's Premier League match in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Herald
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