The Lions took to a wet Potchefstroom pitch to test out their Super Rugby squad in a warm-up match against the NWU-Pukke and the Leopards.
The 2 matches were split between the teams as the Lions took on Pukke for the first 40 minutes in their first game and where they were able to rack up a 26-0 lead.
The second 40 minutes saw the Lions then take on the Leopards with the Super Rugby team only managing to score an additional 7 points.
The first half of the match saw fullback Andries Coetzee slip the Pukke defensive line near the goal line to get the first points of the game.
The second try soon followed from speedy winger Courtnall Skosan to make 14-0.
The Lions third try from skipper Warren Whiteley who managed to barge over and stretch for the line after some solid work by the forwards.
The final try of the half came from bustling flank Derrick Minnie who linked well with centre Howard Mnisi.
The second half saw a new opposition arrive on the park as the Lions team faced off against a much sterner Leopards team.
It took 18 minutes for the first and only points of the second half to be scored as the Lions Lock Franco Mostert managed to plant the ball under the posts after some good interplay.
In the second game, the Lions XV managed to get onto the score sheet against the Pukke through young hooker Malcolm Marx after 30 minutes of play.
It was the only points that were scored in the entire half, however there was a flood of points to come in the second half.
The Lions XV managed late scores through Ruan Combrinck, Anthony Volminck, Mark Richards, Damian Engledoe and Kobus de Kock to make it a comprehensive 45-0 victory.
Scorers:
Game 1: Lions 33 / 0 Pukke & Leopards
Emirates Lions:
- Tries: Andries Coetzee (1), Courtnal Skosan (1), Warren Whiteley (1), Derick Minnie (1), Franco Mostert (1)
- Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
NWU-Pukke / Leopards:
- None
Game 2: Lions 45 & 0 Leopards & Pukke
Lions:
- Tries: Malcolm Marx (1), Ruan Combrinck (1), Anthony Volminck (1), Mark Richards (1), Damian Engledoe (1), Kobus de Kock (1)
- Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (3), Shaun Reynolds (1)
Leopards / NWU-Pukke:
- None
Teams:
Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7 Derrick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacements – from: Mark Pretorius, Corne Fourie, Pieter Scholtz, Robert Kruger, Ruan Ackermann, Thabo Mabuza, Victor Sekekete, Francois de Klerk, Shaun Reynolds, Harold Vorster, Gerdus van der Walt, Cameron Rooi.
Lions XV: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Luan Jacobs, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Schalk van Heerden, 3 Julian Redelinghuys (Captain), 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements – from: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Clinton Theron, 18 Dylan Smith, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 JP du Preez, 21 Cyle Brink, 22 Fabian Booysen, 23 Ricky Schroeder, 24 Kobus de Kock, 25 Alwyn Hollenbach, 26 Jacques Nel, 27 Damian Engledou.
NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Cooper Smit, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Dillon Smith, 8 Jeandré Rudolph (Captain), 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Danie Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Stephanus Bezuidenhout, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Joe Smith
Replacements – from: Wian Fourie, Mogau Mabokela, Cayle Denner, Walt Steenkamp, PJ Uys, Molotsi Bouwer, Marno Redelinghuys, Jaco Buys, Chriswill September, Rowayne Beukman, Marnus Tack, Arthur Festus, Ernst Haarhoff, Myburgh Briers.
Leopards: 15 Myburgh Briers, 14 Jaco Hayward, 13 Sergio Torrens, 12 Adri Jacobs, 11 Elof Scheepers, 10 Kobus du Plessis, 9 Malherbe Swart, 8 Morné Hanekom, 7 Henro-Pierre Swart, 6 Juan Language, 5 Francois Robertse, 4 Andrich Nortjé, 3 Stephanus Bezuidenhout, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Devon Marthinus
Replacements: TBC
Referees: Oregopotse Rametsi, Archie Sehlako
rugby365