The Lions produced a upbeat performance in the Jukskei derby to beat a unstructured Blue Bulls team 20-13 (halftime 10-0) in their Currie Cup Premier Division match played at Coke Park on Saturday.
The home side were full value for their win, scoring 17 unanswered points in the first hour thanks to industrious work up front, clinical finishing by the backs, and the deadly kicking boot of flyhalf Herkie Kruger.
They might have picked up their fourth victory from eight starts, but the Lions remain in sixth position on the Currie Cup table, tied with the Free State Cheetahs on 20 points but with an inferior points difference.
Ironically, the Bulls began the weekend in fourth place but despite suffering their third defeat – and a comprehensive one at that – they actually climb up the ladder to third, thanks to a late bonus-point gained for finishing within seven points.
In truth, the scoreline flattered the Bulls, who were well beaten in all departments, with only a 79th-minute try from centre Jaco Pretorius and an injury-time penalty from replacement Francois Brummer creating the illusion that this was somehow a close affair.
The Lions opened their account in the 18th minute thanks to a penalty from the boot of Kruger, who delivered an assured display in the number ten jersey.
Despite dominating the set pieces and the breakdown, the healthy home crowd had to wait until three minutes before the break to see their team cross the whitewash – centre Alwyn Hollenbach finishing off a quick-tap penalty in fine style.
The try was started by a bulldozing charge by hooker Hans van Dyk, who fed a flying scrumhalf Jano Vermaak on the break. From a resultant breakdown penalty deep in Bulls territory, Vermaak took a quick tap kick and good hands from skipper Cobus Grobbelaar in particular saw Hollenbach dummy his way over for a try that made it 10-0 at the break.
Any thoughts that the Bulls would somehow shake off their lethargy in the changerooms were quashed within two minutes of the restart, when Vermaak was on hand to capitalise on a speculative chip ahead by flanker Franco van der Merwe, after the Bulls had somehow conspired to lose a regulation lineout take.
Kruger’s conversion made it 17-0 before his Bulls opposite number, Burton Francis, finally put his side on the board with a penalty after 57 minutes.
Kruger then kicked his second penalty with three minutes remaining to make it 20-3 before he and his teammates, perhaps understandably, took both feet off the pedal as they waited for the sands of time to run out – only had to watch on as the Bulls chipped 10 points off the deficit in next to no time.
It might not have been enough to win them the game, but the vital bonus point the Bulls gained could yet prove invaluable in the final shake-up for semi-final positions – and perhaps decide the all-important matter of home-ground advantage.
Scorers:
Lions 20 – Tries: Alwyn Hollenbach, Jano Vermaak. Conversions: Herkie Kruger (2). Penalties: Kruger (2).
Blue Bulls 13 – Try: Jaco Pretorius. Conversion: Burton Francis. Penalties: Francis, Francois Brummer.
@SA Barbarians – Carol is our English Rose. We love having her on this website.
@SA Barbarians – SAB, you have mail
@Ed_the_Lion – 31
Absolutely! And we will treat het better than kortenvolen. Geez I still get the moer about that idiots lack of respect for our rose
@Ed_the_Lion – 32
so do you 🙂
@SA Barbarians – SAB, luckily she is strong. She didn’t take any noncens from the above mentioned.
@Ed_the_Lion – Strong ….hit the nail on the head there ‘young fellow me lad’!
I have just fed WRS pigeon breast btw!! Very low fat!
@Ed_the_Lion – When do I get the 10 minutes?
They sound sort of ‘special’ !! 😉
@SA Barbarians – 29 – I am charmed kind Sir!
Just looked at the Currie Cup timetable, it goes on for ever!!
@carol – 36
Ugghhh pigeon breast….. poor guy 🙂
@SA Barbarians – Also realise I have time to attempt to get ahead of you on Superbru!
My guesses must be far wilder next weekend!! 😉
@SA Barbarians – He did not complain!! 😯
@carol – 40
I am doing OK in the 3N, but have come unstuck in the CC
@carol – 41
He wouldn’t dare!!! 🙂
It’s just that I prefer bigger birds than mossies and pigeons
@carol – When ever we meet Carol. I will have your Lions jersey ready.
@SA Barbarians – You are thrashing me in 3 Nations however I am 1 place ahead of GBS 😉
No WRS knows which side his bread is buttered, complain at his peril!!
Pigeon actually is lovely, wood pigeon not the London Vermin Pigeon !! Hahahhah
@Ed_the_Lion – 44
I still have that (unwashed)WP no 15 jersey waiting for Carol too
@carol – 45
Ooooh ok not the ones that crap on rooftops then? 🙂
@Ed_the_Lion – I am still very fond of my Bulls Jersey, but a very kind thought!!
Have you been to England before btw?
@carol – 45
“No WRS knows which side his bread is buttered, complain at his peril!!”
Geeez blackmail …. poor guy.. tsk tsk tsk
@SA Barbarians – Ohhh, Percy’s unwashed jersey……I’m on my way. I did see him briefly today……my Percy crush is slowly dwindling……it has taken years!!
These pigeons cr@p in the woods (like bears) !! Heheheh
@carol – 48
Have you wished Ed a happy birthday?
@carol – 50
🙂
Ok, if they do it in the woods it’s fine 🙄
🙂
@SA Barbarians – 49 do you know what I really LOVE about Rugby-Talk?
There is no smart arse waiting to tell me off for not mentioning rugby in every sentence…
GBS and Ed did say this is a rugby blog where rugby lovers talk rugby and when we are done with that we can just have a chat!
How cool is that!!
@SA Barbarians – No, I was going to wait until the morning because he is still about 7 hours behind us and I think it is his birthday tomorrow!!
I do not want ‘premature congratulation’ – 😉 Heheheh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry, a bit smutty!
Hi Carol. I have been in Europe a few times but never in England. I would like to go visit Supa sometime. 😆
SAB, I need your images for the website.
Actually it is Saturday night so anything goes!!
@Ed_the_Lion – There are lots of your mates over here that would love to see you! Plan to do it before you get married, kids etc!!
Then you can do the works!!
@carol – 53
Yes we are a cool bunch on RT and wish to keep it that way
54
Howling with laughter!!! No smiley for that 🙂
@carol – I will do that. Sounds great.
@Ed_the_Lion – 55
Ed could you open the file? Will it help if I send a htm file?
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