The Eastern Province Elephants broke a six-game losing streak at Telkom Park Saturday when they defeated Border Bulldogs 27-17 in very heavy underfoot conditions.

Border had a 17-13 lead at the break. This win keep up the hopes of the Elephants to salvage something of their season in the Bankfin Cup competition.

In a continuous drizzle EP fullback Justin Peach opened the scoring for the Elephants after three minutes when Ian Fihlani was penalised. The Border left wing rammed his opponent, Nardi Lombard, into the advertising boards on the side of the field and was punished by Peach, who missed three more attempts at goal in the half.

From the restart EP fluffed their lines, resulting in a penalty to the visitors. Border flyhalf Solly Goosen slotted the kick.

Lombard replied two minutes later with a well-worked try. EP flyhalf Monwabisi Mdyesha forced a half gap, Sam Gerber (centre) ran into space and sent Lombard away to score. Lombard, playing in his 50th match for the Elephants, ran 30 metres to the try-line.

Goosen had another kickable penalty after eight minutes and cut the deficit to two. The Elephants' Fabian Juries then 'scored' after a great solo run, but was ruled to lose the ball forward as he was diving over.

From the resulting scrum, EP spoiled Border's ball and got the put-in from which Chad Alcock (pictured) scored after a sniping break (13-6).

The scoring frenzy subsided a bit before Goosen slotted his third penalty after 20 minutes. The Bulldogs started to put some phases together and applied pressure on the Elephants.

Good driving by their pack forced EP on the defensive. This led to another Goosen penalty, bringing the visitors to within one point of the Elephants.

With Border doing all the playing and EP all the defending, it was just a matter of time before the Bulldogs would struck and this happened in the 35 minute when Derek Hendry crashed over in the far corner of the almost empty stadium.

This put Border 17-13 up at break.

EP started the second half brightly again, but handling errors prevented them for scoring. Monwabisi Mdyesha took over the kicking from Peach in the second half and drew first blood for EP when he slotted a penalty.

He also got onto the scoresheet second with another penalty, this time to put them ahead again (19-17).

Mdyesha initiated EP's next points as well when he again managed a half-break. This time Lombard ran onto a delightful grubber by Ronnie Fourie to put EP up 24-17.

They were not out of jail yet though, and Goosen just missed with a penalty. Mdyesha slotted a drop goal to extend the lead 27-17 with 10 minutes to play.

All EP had to do then was to hold out, and although Border came very close on three occasions, the home team managed just that.

Scorers:

Eastern Province - Tries: Nardi Lombard (2), Chad
Alcock; Penalties: Justin Peach, Monwabisi Mdyesha (2); Drop goal: Mdyesha.

Border - Tries: Derek Hendry; Penalties: Solly Goosen (4). - Sapa