Lions' URC class too much for undecorated Cavaliers
MATCH REPORT: The Lions will get another crack at ending their Currie Cup drought, after they cruised past the Boland Cavaliers, winning 67-19 in the semifinal at Ellis Park on Saturday.
After falling to an injury-time penalty in last year’s Final, the Lions will host the 2025 Grand Finale at the same Johannesburg venue next week.
Angelo Davids scored four and Henco van Wyk two of the Lions’ 11 tries.
The difference in class between the United Rugby Championship side and the Currie Cup part-timers was obvious.
The Lions could raise the tempo at will and looked like a class outfit.
In contrast, the Cavaliers were willing, but too often very sloppy.
It did not help that Boland barely made 50 percent of their tackle attempts in the first half and eventually missed 30-odd tackles in the match.
The loss of captain PJ Botha to injury late in the first half would be the Lions’ biggest concern.
* To recap the drama, CLICK HERE!
The Lions got off to a perfect start. Quan Horn started a counter inside his half from an aimless kick, giving the scoring pass to wing Angelo Davids to stroll over. The conversion attempt was wide of the mark – 5-0.
An offside penalty allowed Chris Smith to take a shot at goal from 50 metres out, making it 8-0 in as many minutes.
Davids got his second try in the 14th minute, finishing off a superb team try, with forwards and backs combining with smooth precision. Smith’s conversion made it 15-0.
Henco van Wyk scored the third try at the end of the first quarter, a move in which flanks Ruan Venter and Jarod Cairns were prominent. Smith made it 22-0 with the conversion.
Van Wyk got his second soon afterwards, with captain PJ Botha giving the scoring pass. Smith’s conversion made it 29-0 after 24 minutes.
On the half-hour mark prop SJ Kotze scored the fifth try, with centre Richard Kriel breaking the line and offloading the scoring pass. Smith’s conversion made it 36-0.
Boland eventually broke their duck when hooker Sidney Tobias got an armchair ride at the back of a powerful maul. James Tedder was wide of the mark with his conversion attempt, 5-36.
Davids got his hat-trick in the 37th minute, a sublime cross-field kick from Smith and an acrobatic dive in the corn. Smith’s conversion was wide of the mark, 41-5, also the half-time score.
The second half started with a penalty try to the Lions and a yellow card for Boland fullback James Tedder, for cynically slapping the ball away near his line, 48-5.
Davids got his fourth try in the 55th minute, from another sublime Chris Smith cross-field kick. Smith failed with the conversion attempt, but the Lions were past the 50-point mark (53-5).
Jayden Bantom eventually got Boland’s second try with a sublime chip-and-chase. Replacement Juan Mostert added the conversion, 12-53.
Lions fullback restored order when he busted through a tiring Boland defence, with Smith making it 60-12 with the conversion.
It was another of the Boland replacements who scores next, Chriswill September at the end of a series of pick-and-go phases. Mostert made it 19-60.
There was enough time for Renzo du Plessis to put the seal on the rout with the Lions’ 11th try. Smith’s conversion made the final score 67-19.
Man of the match: Fullback James Tedder (despite his yellow card) and hooker Sidney Tobias were the epitome of the Cavaliers, always willing. All the Lions’ forwards deserve a mention for the hard shifts they put in. Behind the dominant pack Chris Smith pulled the strings at flyhalf. My award goes to Lions wing Angelo Davids. Although he was not flawless, he produced a masterclass in wing play – testing the Boland defence, was brilliant in the air and scored four tries.
The scorers
For the Lions
Tries: Davids 4, Van Wyk 2, Kotze, Penalty try, Horn, Lombard, Du Plessis
Cons: Smith 6, a penalty try does not require a conversion
Pen: Smith
For Boland
Tries: Tobias, Bantom, September
Con: Mostert 2
Yellow card: James Tedder (Boland Cavaliers, 48 – cynical foul, slapping the ball away)
Teams:
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha (captain), 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Boland: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede.
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen, Sean Muller
TMO: Egon Seconds
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