Lions edge Bulls in Pretoria
CURRIE CUP REPORT: Two late tries from Hacjivah Dayimani helped the Golden Lions to a thrilling 38-35 win against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
Both sides scored five tries in the match with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions during the 80 minutes. It was an entertaining game with both sides intent on throwing the ball around.
Ruan Steenkamp scored a hat-trick for the Bulls, but it wasn’t enough for the Pretoria side, who suffered their second defeat of the season.
The Lions dominated possession in the opening stages and they were rewarded when Shaun Reynolds opened the scoring with a try in the fifth minute, which he converted.
However, the visitors’ lead barely lasted two minutes after the Bulls turned the ball over after the restart before it found its way to Andre Warner who went in for the try. Flyhalf Manie Libbok converted the try.
The Bulls then took the lead in the 14th minute when No.6 Steenkamp crashed over for his team’s second try after a number of phases in the Lions’ 22.
Ten minutes later the Lions were back on level terms when Steenkamp’s opposite number James Venter found himself in acres of space in the Bulls’ 22 before running in for an easy try, which Reynolds converted.
The see-saw nature of the game continued when Bulls centre Johnny Kotze took advantage of some poor defending from the Lions’ to burst through from about 10 metres out and score his side’s third try of the game in the 29th minute. Once again Libbok stepped up to convert to give his side a seven-point lead.
It was then the Bulls turn to show some poor defending when Lions’ scrumhalf Dillon Smit took a quick tap from a penalty near halfway before stepping passed a number of Bulls defenders to run in for a try. Reynolds added the extras and the scores were level at 21-21.
However, it was the Bulls who had the final say of the first half when Steenkamp swivelled his way to the tryline to score his second try after the half-time hooter sounded.
Libbok added another two points with the boot and the Bulls led 28-21 at the break.
The Lions opened the scoring in the second half via a penalty from Reynolds in the 44th minute.
But it was the visitors’ ill-discipline which allowed the Bulls to extend their lead with another try. After a few penalties in Lions’ 22 and a number of quick taps by the Bulls, the ball finally found its way to Steenkamp once again who completed his hat-trick.
Steenkamp then went from hero to villain when he received a yellow card in the 54th minute for illegally stopping a driving maul deep inside his half.
Despite having a man advantage, the Lions squandered a few try-scoring opportunities.
It eventually took some excellent play from Hacjivah Dayimani to bring the Lions back in the game. The No.8 showed some serious pace out wide to run in for his team’s fourth try in the 65th minute.
Dayimani was at it again a few minutes later when he was put into space inside the Bulls half to canter in for his second try of the game. Reynolds converted the try and the Lions had a three-point lead with less than 10 minutes to go.
The Bulls had a few chances late in the game to find a winning score, but the Lions scrambled well on defence to hold on for the win.
Man of the match: Ruan Steenkamp scored three tries for the Bulls in the match, while Hanro Liebenberg had a few big moments during the game. James Venter gave another good account of himself for the Lions. However, the award goes to Hacjivah Dayimani for another great all-round performance and his two crucial tries in the final 15 minutes.
The scorers:
For Blue Bulls:
Tries: Warner, Steenkamp 3, Kotze
Cons: Libbok 5
For Golden Lions:
Tries: Reynolds, Venter, Smit, Dayimani 2
Cons: Reynolds 5
Pen: Reynolds
Yellow card: Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls, 54 – cynical play)
* Some great entertainment from the @rugby365com #PODCAST team!
Teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Jano Venter, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Matthys Basson.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Conrad van Vuuren, 18 Ruan Nortje, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Duncan Matthews.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smith, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie (Captain), 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Madosh Tambwe, 22 Wandisile Simelane.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: Willie Vos
