Griquas break Lions' hearts
MATCH REPORT: Griquas replacement Ashlon Davids scored in the 79th minute as the team from Kimberley came from behind to break the Lions’ hearts at the Wits University stadium in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The game was brought forward by a day and moved to the more intimate university field.
Initially, it looked as if it all played into Griquas’s hand, as they raced into a 13-3 half-time lead and then held a 16-3 lead till the hour-mark.
However, two tries – by Tiaan Swanepoel and Boldwin Hansen – saw the home team take a 17-16 lead.
And it looked like they might hold on for their first win of the season.
However, a late rally by the visitors saw Davids go over and flyhalf George Whitehead – barely back from 10 minutes in the sin bin – slot the conversion.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
The Lions, still winless after eight games, had an indifferent first half during which they conceded far too many penalties.
The men from Kimberley went into half-time with a 10-point advantage having scored the only try of the opening half, a conversion and two penalty goals, while the home side replied with one penalty goal.
Flyhalf George Whitehead slotted a penalty kick for the first point on the board following a penalty against the Lions for an illegal tackle.
The first try also went the way of the visitors and it came against the run of play when they forced a turnover deep inside their own 22. The ball was worked to the right wing, where Munier Hartzenberg showed his pace to run in under the posts.
Whitehead then added his second penalty as he made the home team pay for their transgressions, while fullback Tiaan Swanepoel kicked a penalty goal for the home side.
Whitehead got the second stanza off with another successful penalty, as he stretched their lead to 16-3.
But the Lions came roaring back with two converted tries, by Swanepoel and Hansen, which gave them the lead for the first time with the score on 17-16.
However, the visiting side kept a cool head as they managed to string together 15 phases to score the winning try through Davids.
Whitehead returned just in time from his period in the sin bin to take succeed with the conversion and leave the home team and their fans heartbroken.
The scorers
For the Lions
Tries: Swanepoel, Hansen
Cons: Swanepoel 2
Pens: Swanepoel
For Griquas
Tries: Hartzenberg, Davids
Cons: Whitehead 2
Pens: Whitehead 3
Yellow cards: Zander du Plessis (Griquas, 54 – cynical foul, high tackle), George Whitehead (Griquas, 69 – repeated infringements, killing the ball at the tackle)
Teams
Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 James Mollentze, 11 Zeilinga Strydom, 10 Luke Rossouw, 9 Andre Warner (captain), 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sasko Ndlovu, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Junior White, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Banele Mthenjane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Henk Gouws, 20 Lindo Ncusane, 21 Jurich Classens, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Ngia Selengbe.
Griquas: 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Randt, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Luyolo Dapula, 21 Johan Mulder, 22 Chris Hollis, 23 Ashlon Davids.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
* Additional reporting by SA Rugby
