Lions clinch their fourth win

MATCH REPORT: The Lions’ 36-28 win over Griquas in Kimberley, their fourth in five rounds, has elevated them into third spot in the Currie Cup standings.

Man of the Match, the Lions’ Renzo du Plessis, got in for his second Currie Cup try as he dove over in the fifth minute of the game.

It came off a short pass from Sam Francis but Griquas immediately hit back as Zane Bester got over after some lovely interplay between the forwards.

And then Cameron Hufke showed his gas after a turnover in the Griquas’ 22 left the entire Lions team lagging for the home side to take a 14-7 lead.

After 20 minutes of play, the Lions lost their star flyhalf Francis through what looked like a shoulder injury.

Tenacious defence of their try line ensued by the home side for the next ten minutes as the Lions chipped away to get across the line.

Finally, captain Jaco Visagie mauled his way over in the corner from a line-out.

Minutes later the Lions were again inches from the whitewash as first Nico Steyn, then Morgan Naude picked and went with the latter getting over for the Lions’ third try.

After 30 minutes Griquas had already conceded five penalties versus the one of the Lions. In the end their discipline let them down.

The Lions’ fourth try came from the kick-off as Jarod Cairns was allowed to run more than half the field before handing off to the storming (Renzo) Du Plessis who merely brushed off a tackle with his big bulk to score his second try.

Scrumhalf Nico Steyn then showed his class as he calmly found the touchline for the Lions to launch yet another attack.

They got quick ball but for once Griquas’ defence stood firm.

Close to half-time, the Lions’ share of possession was 62% and territory 71% putting them firmly in the driving seat.

The young backs in the Griquas side tried to speed up the game with some wonderful long-distance runs but their handling let them down.

The sides went into halftime with the visitors leading by 24-14.

It took the Lions just nine minutes into the second half to score again. It came from a counterattack by Tapiwa Mafura and was finished off by Cairns.

Gianni Lombard did not take his kicking boots to Kimberley but the Lions’ fifth try stretched their lead to 29-14.

Griquas, eager to to switch gears, managed to create something out of nothing and Connor Mahoney went over after Lubabalo Dobela created space and opportunity and also converted the try.

With only eight points in it, the home side played with renewed energy.

It worked and Tertius Kruger, Dobela, and Thomas Bursey combined well to send the replacement centre Kruger over under the poles.

The try was converted and Griquas closed the gap to 28-29 with 20 minutes to go.

And then Steyn, the star in the Lions side, took things into his own hands, sniping to put the cherry on top and score the Lions’ sixth try.

Zander du Plessis converted, stretching the visitor’s lead to 36-28.

Griquas’ back three used their acceleration to get into spaces, winning acres of space for their forwards to launch an attack, Bursey and Dobela showing some class.

But their efforts were to no avail as the Lions’ defence stood firm.

The entry of Lions replacement Darrien Landsberg sparked renewed energy among the Lions’ forwards, turning over possession and sending the men in red all the way down into Griquas’ 22.

The visitors worked hard for another late try but Griquas held in there to keep them at bay.

Scorers:

Lions:
Tries: R du Plessis 2, Visagie, Naude, Cairns, Steyn
Cons: Francis, Lombard, Z du Plessis

Griquas:
Tries: Bester, Hufke, Mahoney, Kruger
Cons: Dobela 4

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Connor Mahoney, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Stephan Smit (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Thabo Ndimandse, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Tertius Kruger.

Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Tiaan Wessels, 20 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 21 Luca Ribbens, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Zander du Plessis

Referee: Griffin Colby
TMO: Ben Crouse