Defence key as Griquas down Lions

MATCH REPORT: With a gargantuan defence effort, Griquas won an emphatic duel against the Lions in Kimberley on Friday when they held on for 83 minutes to take it by 25-21.

The home-side showed true character as they defended their try-line with their lives to keep out the Lions during a massive onslaught towards the end of the game, thus keeping their hopes alive for the play-offs.

The Griquas started like a house on fire, sending over Jay-Cee Nel in the third minute of the game. This was followed by a brilliant try by captain Hanru Sirgel ten minutes later during a huge onslaught by the men in pale blue, added by poor tackling by the visitors.

In this time the role of flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela was instrumental as he kept his backline on the front foot, ready for attack.

The Lions were finally rewarded after setting up camp in the Griquas’ 22 with a penalty try which saw Sako Makata take a breather in the sin bin for cynical play.

Then it was the turn of Johan Mulder, who has had a massive Currie Cup season up to now, score his seventh try in the competition in a complete mismatch of pace which saw only Travis Gordon of the Lions attempt a last grasp tackle.

The second half saw a resurgence by the Lions and coach Mwakhe Nkosi must have given one heck of a speech at half-time. The men in red came out roaring and totally dominated the half, spurred on by the performance of JC Pretorius.

First he scored a brilliant try with a perfectly timed run off the back of a line-out and then he managed to keep the ball miraculously in play on the sideline making it possible for replacement Morne Brandon to dot down.

The Lions not only did most of the attacking in this half, they also defended their try-line with aplomb, while some frustration crept into the Griquas defence. This saw Sean Swart being sent off for foul play.

As the hooter went for full-time, the Lions were all over the show, attacking from all angles. The Griquas however showed grit and determination and defended their try-line with all they had, even after a dropped ball in the in-goal area by Rosko Specman.

Kimberley must heave a sigh of relief as it is all downhill to the play-offs from here.

Scorers:

For Griquas:
Tries: Nel, Sirgel, Mulder
Cons: Dobela 2

For the Lions:
Tries: Penalty try, Pretorius, Brandon
Con: Penalty try conversion, Swanepoel 2

Yellow cards: Sako Makata (Griquas, 23’ for cynical play), Sean Swart (Griquas, 75’ for foul play)

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Cebo Dlamini
Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Dylan Sjöblom, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.

Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Travis Gordan, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Tyler Bocks, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel

Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Christie du Preez