VIDEO: Lions grab bonus point in Singapore win
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions recorded a bonus-point 37-24 win over the Sunwolves in an entertaining match in Singapore on Saturday.
The Lions outscored their hosts by six tries to three, as they retained their unbeaten run going against the Sunwolves in a game they never looked like losing – despite playing with 14 men, early on.
It also saw the Johannesburg-based franchise clib to the top of the South African conference.
The Lions’ forwards dominated all aspects of the game, allowing the visitors to dictate the tempo of the game.
It was a clinical performance from the South Africans, who used their driving maul and scrums to dismantle the Sunwolves.
Leading the way was captain Malcolm Marx, who scored two of his team’s tries and won a number of crucial turnovers.
The Sunwolves, who this past Friday had their participation in Super Rugby terminated after next year’s tournament, were also their own worst enemies with their lack of discipline.
Rahboni Warren Vosayaco scored two late tries, to give the scoreboard some respectability – after the hosts trailed by 19 points going into the final quarter.
Sylvian Mahuza was yellow-carded for a professional foul, stopping a certain try with a deliberate knock down inside his 22.
It resulted in a penalty try in the sixth minute and until a consolation double by Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco in the final quarter the Sunwolves did not look like breaching the Lions’ defence.
Besides Marx’s double, the Lions scored tries through scrumhalf Nic Groom, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, centre Lionel Mapoe and Tyrone Green.
- Continue reading below …
Man of the match: The Sunwolves’ South African import Gerhard van den Heever was not just rock solid on defence, but also a big threat on attack. Tyrone Green put on a special show of skill and pace at fullback. Courtnall Skosan also showed his blistering pace as well. Lionel Mapoe made some clever breaks. Elton Jantjies directed traffic very cleverly, but his kicking let him down. That man Malcolm Marx saved his team several times with crucial turnovers deep inside the Lions half and the Sunwolves on attack. Now add some strong carries and you have the reason why he wins our award.
The scorers:
For the Sunwolves:
Tries: Penalty try, Vosayaco 2
Cons: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Parker 2
Pens Parker
For the Lions:
Tries: Marx 2, Groom, Jantjies, Mapoe, Green
Cons: Jantjies 2,
Pen: Jantjies
Yellow card: Sylvian Mahuza (Lions, 6 – cynical foul, slapping the ball down)
RECAP: Sunwolves v Lions
Did you miss any of the action? Recapp all the drama here!
Teams:
Sunwolves: 15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Gerhard Van Den Heever, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Tom Rowe, 4 Grant Hattingh, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Masataka Mikami.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Alex Woonton, 18 Hiroshi Yamashita, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Amanaki Lelei Mafi, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Takuya Yamasawa, 23 Hosea Saumaki.
Lions: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lionel Mapoe, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Ruan Vermaak, 7 Stephan Lewies, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Hacjivah Dayimani, 20 James Venter, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Aphiwe Dyanti
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Shuhei Kubo (Japan), Tasuku Kawahara
TMO: Minoru Fuji
