Day boots Border to shock win over Lions

CRAVEN WEEK MATCH REPORT: The Golden Lions’ campaign had certainly not gone as planned.

The Golden Lions suffered a narrow 36-39 defeat to the Border on Day 4 of the Craven Week.

The result is the Lions’ second narrowed loss following the 14-18 defeat to Western Province XV on Tuesday.
While for Border, this win is their first tournament victory after the 24-35 defeat to Blue Bulls.

There was certainly very little separating the two sides, however, a Warrick Day’s last-minute penalty proved to be the only difference.

The Lions again started the match in horrific fashion. Similar to the instance during the Western Province XV on Tuesday, the Border kicked off the match, Lions failed to collect it and Border’s Bulumko Mfudisa picked up a loose ball and dived over the chalk for the first try and a 5-0 lead. That simply took 12 seconds.

Minutes later, the Border doubled their tally. Jarrod Taylor the one who got his name on the score sheet. From a scrum, Daimon O’Connel collected the ball before putting Taylor in the gap for the second try.

Warrick Day added the extra two for the 12-0 lead after less than five minutes of play.

It took the Golden Lions 18 minutes to get on the board. Border were penalised for offside on the halfway and the Gauteng side opted for the post. Jeppe learner Raubenheimer had no problem slotting over the 40-metre kick for the three points.

The Lions narrowed the deficit to just two points as Thabani Maruganyanga broke through numerous defenders for the try. Raubenheimer added the extras, Lions were down 10-12.

Border restored their seven-point lead courtesy of Lions’ horrendous defence, Sihlalo Benge went over for the side’s third try. 17-10 in favour of Border.

Minutes later Lions levelled matters. Flank Zander du Toit showed pure strength to handoff defenders before sending his loose trio partner lanky Izan Esterhuizen over for the five-pointer. Raubenheimer kept his cool made sure to add his side’s extra two points, 17-all.

With the first stanza reaching its frantic conclusion Jaylon Hamann put on the pace and went over the chalk for Border, however, it was ruled no try after the TMO spotted a knock-off by O’Connel in the build-up and that was also the last action of the first half.

In the second half, the Lions took control of proceedings. Influential Du Toit again produced a robust line break, this time the flank set up, Ngia Selengbe for the try. Raubenheimer added the extras for the 24-17 lead.

Border pulled one back through another try by speedster Benge. Day failed to add the conversion.

However, with every Border score, the Lions had to prove they are better.

And soon the Johannesburg extended their lead as Ngia Selengbe stepped his way through the defenders, Border’s Taylor was eager to hunt him down, however, the back proved to fast. Raubenheimber added the easy extras for the 31-22 lead.

The Gauteng side started to exploit Borders’ weakness – which was at the breakdown. Du Toit along with Esterhuizen dominated the ruck and gained possession,  the flank shifted to the backline, who linked up perfectly for Maruganyanga’s second try of the match. Unfortuanlay for Raubenheimber, the flyhalf could not convert and missed his first kick of the tournament.

With just over ten minutes remaining, the drama unfolded. Border started to crawl their way back.

A perfectly timed pass by Sibusiso Javu was neatly collected by Indiphile Tyeda, who handoff a defender for the try in the corner.

From a very difficult angle, Day popped over the extras, trailing 29-36.

There were more drama to come.

From a line-out, the Border retained the ball and set up a powerful drive resulting in a five-pointer for Ali Gqaza. Day again made sure to slot over the conversion to level matters at 36-all.

With one minute left on the clock, the Border produced a lethal attack but was held up over the line. However, with the Lions under pressure in defence, they conceded a penalty consequently making it very easy for flyhalf Day to slot over the three points for the win.

The scorers:
For Border:
Tries: Mfundisi. Taylor, Benge 2, Tyeda, Gqaza
Con: Day 3
Pens: Day

For Golden Lions
Tries: Maruganyanga 2, Esterhuizen. Selegne 2
Cons: Raubenheimer 4
Pen: Raubenheimer

Teams
Border: 1 Oscar Myataza, 2 Jacques Goosen, 3 Ali Gqaza, 4 Cullen Opperman, 5 Tyler-Jesse Glover, 6 Joshua van Vreden, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 8 Raiden Masters, 9 Daimon O’Connel, 10 Warrick Day, 11 Indiphile Tyeda, 12 Mntungwa Mapansela (captain), 13 Josh Jonas, 14 Ronaldo Daniels, 15 Sibusiso Javu, 16 Oyisa Dyani, 17 Bubele Madiba, 18 Simnikiwe Gege, 19 Dean Stokes, 20 Jaylon Hamann, 21 Sihlalo Benge, 22 Mmangaliso Mphinda, 23 Bulumko Mfundisi.

Golden Lions: 15 Tyler Skudder, 14 Tiaan Botes, 13 Ngia Selengbe, 12 Henco van Wyk, 11 Joseph Iye, 10 Munashe Chaitezwi, 9 Declan Raubenheimer, 8 Franco Hallat, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 Zander du Toit, 5 Kamohelo Tlome, 4 Connor van Buuren, 3 Justin Kalamer, 2 Sibu Shongwe, 1 Setjhaba Motaung
Replacements: 16 Kaelin Wills, 17 Munashe Mhere, 18 Joshua Nkomo, 19 Lifa Jambane, 20 Kabelo Moketi, 21 Thabani Maruganyanga, 22 Hugo Monteiro