Lions in lucky escape at the den

In a game in which the lead changed hands on several occasions, the Lions had to dig deep and only secured victory in the game's closing stages when Marnitz Boshoff slotted two penalties.

The result means that Johan Ackermann's charges will face Western Province in next weekend's Final in Johannesburg.

In a thrilling match, played at a hectic pace, the Cheetahs' ability to match the Lions' free-flowing and fast-paced game kept them in the game until two late yellow cards – to Boom Prinsloo and Maks van Dyk – took the wind out of their sails.

The home side had to dig deep to secure victory and they trailed 13-16 at halftime, after the Cheetahs caught them off guard with a superb display in the opening half.

The Cheetahs dominated for large periods and outscored their hosts five tries to four but poor goalkicking led to their undoing in the end.

The Bloemfontein-based side, who were overwhelming underdogs, showed their intentions from the kick-off and opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when Francois Venter beat a couple of defenders before crossing for the opening try.

The visitors kept up the pressure during the opening quarter but failed to extend their lead.

The Lions eventually replied with a try by their captain Jaco Kriel from a lineout drive.

Marnitz Boshoff added the extras but Neil Marais gave the visitors an 11-7 lead with two successive penalties inside the opening 20 minutes.

Boshoff kept his team within touching distance with a penalty of his own but the Cheetahs extended their lead when Prinsloo dived over for their second try from a lineout drive on the hour-mark.

Boshoff added another penalty shortly before the break and the Lions knew they had to pull out all the stops if they wanted to retain their unbeaten record in the competition.

They did just that when Lourens Erasmus got over for a try shortly after the restart but the Cheetahs weren't going to surrender without a fight.

They replied with a Gerhard Olivier try in the 51st minute, after Sergeal Petersen did well in the build-up.

When Marais crossed for their fourth try five minutes later, the Lions had their backs to the wall with the Cheetahs leading 28-20.

Boshoff added another penalty before Prinsloo was sent to the sin bin for deliberately slowing the ball down at the breakdown.

Shortly afterwards the scores were level when the hosts were awarded a penalty try after the Cheetahs were punished for illegal scrummaging.

Boshoff gave his side the lead after slotting the conversion, but the Cheetahs struck back with a Sias Ebersohn try which meant they led 33-30 with time running out on the clock.

Kriel then showed his class as he shrugged off three defenders before crossing for his second try.

When Van Dyk was sent off for illegal scrummaging the visitors' challenge ran out of steam.

Boshoff's two penalties secured them the Lions the result and the chance to finish the season off in style in next week's final.

Man of the Match: Johannes Prinsloo had a collosal game for the Cheetahs before being yellow-carded. He gave the Lions a torrid time at the breakdowns and he tackled with purpose. However, Lions captain Jaco Kriel showed his class by scoring what would ultimately prove to be the winning try.

Moment of the Match: Prinsloo's sending-off undoubtably stopped the Cheetahs momentum and gave the Lions a chance to get back into the match.

Villain of the Match: Discipline was overall of a very high standard, so we have no villains.

The scorers:

For the Golden Lions:

Tries: Kriel 2, Erasmus, penalty try

Cons: Boshoff 4

Pens: Boshoff 5

For the Free State Cheetahs:

Tries: F Venter, Prinsloo, Olivier, Marais, Ebersohn

Con: Marais

Pens: Marais 2

Yellow cards: Johannes Prinsloo (Free State Cheetahs, 64 – professional foul, nit releasing in tackle on tryline), Maks van Dyk (Free State Cheetahs, 72 – repeated infringements, collapsing the scrum)

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Steph de Witt, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Fabian Booysen, 19 Albertus Smith, 20 Jaco van der Walt, 21 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Sampie Mastriet.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Burrie Gildenhuys Uys.

Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Nicolaas van Dyk, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Gerhard Olivier, 20 Ruan van Rensburg, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Adriaan Coertzen.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Stephan Geldenhuys

TMO: Marius Jonker