Lions in sensational comeback
CURRIE CUP REPORT: The Golden Lions produced a sensational come-from-behind win to edge Western Province 30-28 at Newlands on Saturday.
WP, after a dominant first half, held a 21-10 lead at the half-time break.
However, two sublime tries – including a match-winning 50-metre screamer from fullback Tyrone Green – saw the Lions dominate the second half and sneak a deserved win.
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Despite outscoring the Lions by four tries to three- WP were made to pay for their lack of discipline.
And as a result the Lions, one of only two remaining unbeaten teams, overtook them on the standings – moving into rhird (on nine points), behing the Free State Cheetahs (10 points) and Griquas (10).
The consolation is that Province ended the match with two bonus points, as they head into a bye week. They are fourth on seven points.
The home side scored three tries in the first half, with all three coming from their dominant maul – as the forwards stamped their authority on the visitors up front.
The first try saw Siyabonga Ntubeni peel off the back to dive over in the corner and the second was nearly a carbon copy, except that the hooker passed to scrumhalf Paul de Wet to score.
Ntubeni added a second just before half-time, with Josh Stander landing all three conversions from the touchline.
The Golden Lions scored a try and a penalty in the first half, but the home side was in control at the break with a 21-10 advantage.
The visitors opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty from flyhalf Shaun Reynolds and they followed that up with a maul try of their own to make it a one-point game at 21-20 with 30 minutes left.
Province responded with their fourth try as some good handling from Ruhan Nel saw fullback Dillyn Leyds go over for the try which secured the bonus point.
The home side were down to 14 when replacement Jaco Coetzee was shown a yellow card for repeated offside offences and Reynolds kicked the resulting penalty to narrow the gap to 23-28.
Fullback Tyrone Green then delivered the killer blow with a late try that saw his side claim a narrow win.
Man of the match: Forwards John Schickerling and Siyabonga Ntubeni set the standard for the home team, while Sevens stalwarts Seabelo Senatla and Ruhan Nel made the most of their opportunities. The Lions’ veteran loose forward Marnus Schoeman came close with his amazing workrate, including a number of steals at the breakdown. Flyhalf Shaun Reynolds dictated play expertly, but our award goes to theatrical Lions fullback Tyrone Green – who produced the game’s most amazing moment and the match-winner.
The scorers
For Western Province:
Tries: Ntubeni 2, De Wet, Leyds
Cons: Stander 4
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: R Schoeman, Jansen, Green
Cons: Reynolds 3
Pens: Reynolds 3
Yellow card: Jaco Coetzee (Western Province, 69 – repeated infringements, offside)
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 SP Marais, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 John Schickerling, 6 Ernst van Rhyn, 5 Chris van Zyl (captain), 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Edwill van der Merwe, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Golden Lions: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Jan-Louis la Grange, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Leo Kruger, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 James Venter, 21 Len Massyn, 22 Dillon Smit, 23 Manuel Rass.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Jabian Jeftha
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
