Craven Week: SWD sink Lions
South Western Districts proved too strong for the Golden Lions, picking up a 28-19 victory in their Craven Week clash.
It was a polished performance from SWD, who lost out narrowly to Eastern Province in their first match, while for the Lions it was a second defeat following their slender loss to KZN.
The Eagles scored two tries in each half to hold off the challenge from a Lions side whose three tries all came in the second half.
SWD started with real intent and dominated territory in the opening stages, but their first try came from a counter-attacking movement which started in their own half, with right wing Bradley Kiewitz finishing in the corner and Imanuel Libbok's conversion putting them 7-0 up.
The Lions were forced to make plenty of tackles in their own half as SWD called the early shots with inside centre JP Duvenhage hitting a few gaps in midfield to put them on the front foot.
The pressure on the Lions' defence told when SWD flyhalf and captain Christo Hamman powered his way for their second try which put them 14-0 ahead once converted by Libbok.
The Lions forwards were impressive in the set-pieces, but they were unable build pressure with ball in hand, and SWD managed to dictate terms and took their 14-0 advantage into the half-time break.
The Gauteng side came out firing in the second half as they looked for a response, and eventually it would be fullback Ivan Smit who stepped his way over for their first points of the match.
The game opened up as the Lions took the game to the opposition, which provided a few counter-attacking opportunities for the quicksilver SWD outside backs.
The Lions were next to strike as right wing Michael Tambwe was put in space on the outside and showed good pace before being hauled down just short of the tryline. He got the offload away to No.8 Len Massyn, and the conversion from flyhalf Xander Kruger made it anyone's game with SWD holding a slender 14-12 lead.
However, SWD hit back straight away as Libbok grabbed an intercept and raced away for their third try which he converted himself to put them 21-12 ahead.
That was followed by another intercept try shortly afterwards from flank Nevada Jacobs which effectively ended the Lions' hopes of a comeback.
The Lions had the final say through a superb individual effort from Smit, who carved his way through the SWD defence with ease, but it was not enough for his side as they slumped to their second defeat.
Man of the match: Imanuel Libbok
The scorers:
For SWD:
Tries: Kiewitz, Hamman, Libbok, Jacobs
Cons: Libbok 4
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Smit 2, Massyn
Cons: Kruger 2
Teams:
SWD: 15 Darren Adonis, 14 Bradley Kiewitz, 13 Imanuel Libbok, 12 JP Duvenhage, 11 Daine Kannemeyer, 10 Christo Hamman (captain), 9 Ruan Steyn, 8 Luvuyo Ndevu, 7 Nevada Jacobs, 6 Bertie De Bod, 5 Justin Levendal, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Chrisjan Du Toit, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Hermanus Botha.
Replacements: 16 Curt de Laan, 17 Andrew Kuhn, 18 Roux Swart, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Eckard Leicher, 21 Logan Stoffels, 22 Darryle Kameel.
Golden Lions: 15 Ivan Smit, 14 Michael Tambwe, 13 Mthi Simelane, 12 MJ Pelser, 11 Ntobeko Mkhwanazi, 10 Xander Kruger, 9 Franco Tiedt, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Mvovo Dayimani, 6 Moses Mthembo, 5 Thomas Meyer, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 JP Swart, 2 Justin Brandon, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Van der Merwe, 17 Ricky Nwagbara, 18 Reinhard Nothnagel, 19 Henro Liebenberg, 20 Elrico Swartz, 21 Vuyo Shongwe, 22 Lwazi Monakali
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Vusimuzi Msibi, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: Fernando Uithaler
