The Xerox Golden Lions scored 2 tries in the 2nd half to secure a 26 / 18 win against the Cell C Sharks at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday afternoon. The win kept the Lions’ unbeaten status intact and they now have an 8-point lead over the Vodacom Blue Bulls on the Log.
Also on Saturday, former Junior Springbok wing Sergeal Petersen ran in a brace of tries as the Toyota Free State Cheetahs completed a 44 / 24 bonus-point home win over the ORC Griquas.
The win saw the Free State Cheetahs leapfrog the Cell C Sharks and the Steval Pumas to move into 4th place on the Log and keep their semifinal chances alive while the Griquas remain rooted to the bottom of the table after just 1 win from their 7 matches.
DHL Western Province gained sweet revenge against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands with a 29 / 14 victory in Cape Town on Friday evening. The Pretoria side will rue a string of missed opportunities that cost them the chance of closing the gap on the log leaders as handling errors and strong defence from WP meant they suffered their 2nd loss of the campaign.
The Steval Pumas kept their slim semifinal hopes alive with a gritty 20 / 9 win over the Eastern Province Kings in their fixture at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.
The Pumas had come into the game off the back of 2 consecutive losses and were desperate to get back to winning ways. The victory has kept them in distant touch with the front-runners and was just enough to make them outside contenders for the playoffs. They did not collect a bonus point but the win could prove crucial at the end of the round-robin stage.
After 7 Rounds, the Xerox Golden Lions are out in front on 33 points, followed by the Vodacom Blue Bulls on 25 points. Last year’s winners, DHL Western Province, are currently 3rd on 24 points, followed by the Toyota Free State Cheetahs on 17 points. The Cell C Sharks (13) and Pumas (also 13) follow next, then the Kings in 7th place (7) and Griquas (6).
Xerox Golden Lions (6) 26 / 18 (3) Cell C Sharks:
Xerox Golden Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff got the 1st points of the match in the 28th minute when he landed a penalty goal. His Cell C Sharks counterpart, Joe Pietersen, kicked 1 of his own a few minutes later. Boshoff was again on target to give the Golden Lions a 6 / 3 halftime lead.
The 2nd half started in the same fashion as the 2 kickers traded penalties – Boshoff slotting 2 more while Pietersen landed his attempt at goal. Golden Lions lock and man-of-the-match, Lourens Erasmus, had a storming match in his starting debut and it was fitting that he scored the opening try with 20 minutes left on the clock. His effort galvanised both teams as a further 3 tries were scored after that.
Golden Lions wing Courtnall Skosan scored in the corner after a strong driving maul by his forwards and Pietersen ran in a try for the Sharks which started deep in their half. The final minutes of the match belonged to the Sharks and some great interplay allowed flanker Francois Kleinhans to score a try in the 78th minute. Pietersen nailed the conversion to make the final score 26 / 18 to the Golden Lions.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions:
- Tries: Lourens Erasmus (1), Courtnall Skosan (1)
- Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2)
- Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (4)
Cell C Sharks:
- Tries: Joe Pietersen (1), Francois Kleinhans (1)
- Conversions: Joe Pietersen (1)
- Penalties: Joe Pietersen (2)
Toyota Free State Cheetahs (24) 44 / 24 (10) ORC Griquas:
Left wing Raymond Rhule opened the scoring in the 4th minute for the home side, which flyhalf Fred Zeilinga converted. Griquas struck back minutes later when Nel went over for a converted effort. The hosts regained the lead when Petersen crashed over for another converted try and a 14 / 7 lead.
Petersen was enjoying a fine half and he added to his try-tally when he went over for his 2nd converted try, as the home team started to take control of proceedings. Griquas narrowed the deficit through a penalty by inside centre Clinton Swart, while Free State flyhalf Fred Zeilinga replied with a penalty to put his team 24 / 10 in front.
Zeilinga landed his 2nd penalty 8 minutes after the 2nd half restart, before the hosts wrapped up the bonus point for scoring 4 times after scrumhalf Shaun Venter sniped over. Nel went over for his 2nd try and Griquas narrowed the gap to 17 points. They were right back in the contest when scrumhalf Tian Myer nipped over for a converted try 15 minutes from full time. However, Zeilinga nailed his 3rd penalty with 2 minutes left to seal the victory. Replacement scrumhalf Zee Mkhabela dived over in the dying seconds as Free State ended with a flourish.
Scorers:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs:
- Tries: Raymond Rhule (1), Sergeal Petersen (2), Shaun Venter (1), Zee Mkhabela (1)
- Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (5)
- Penalties: Fred Zeilinga (3)
ORC Griquas:
- Tries: Ruhan Nel (2), Tian Meyer (1)
- Conversions: Clinton Swart (3)
- Penalties: Clinton Swart (1)
DHL Western Province (15) 29 / 14 (9) Vodacom Blue Bulls:
DHL Western Province dominated the opening exchanges and within 9 minutes were 12 / 0 up thanks to 2 tries from right wing Dillyn Leyds and inside centre Huw Jones respectively. WP also dominated the Blue Bulls scrum and the breakdown. Flyhalf Robert du Preez converted 1 of the tries.
Visiting flyhalf Louis Fouché managed 3 penalties in the 1st half as Province mounted a strong defence in the final 10 minutes of the 1st half. The 2nd stanza resembled more of a test match environment as the Blue Bulls tried to push home their territorial advantage, but it was the home side who picked up the points on offer through 3 penalties from Du Preez.
The visitors finally made headway with just 7 minutes remaining, as replacement flyhalf Tian Schoeman put the ball onto his boot for right wing Travis Ishmaiel to touch down. WP replacement scrumhalf Jano Vermaak sealed the win with the home side’s 3rd try of the evening.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province:
- Tries: Dillyn Leyds (1), Huw Jones (1), Jano Vermaak (1)
- Conversions: Robert du Preez (1)
- Penalties: Robert du Preez (4)
Vodacom Blue Bulls:
- Tries: Travis Ishamiel (1)
- Penalties: Louis Fouche (3)
Steval Pumas (17) 20 / 9 (9) Eastern Province Kings:
The EP Kings had promised much against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Port Elizabeth last weekend but they found repeating their heroics away from home against the Steval Pumas a bridge too far. 2 Scott van Breda penalties gave the EP Kings an early 6 / 0 lead. The Pumas struck back with a skilful try when No 8 and man-of-the-match Jason-Collin Fraser dotted down. Flyhalf Justin van Staden added the 2 points.
EP Kings flank Thembelani Bholi was Yellow Carded in 19th minute and Van Staden duly landed the penalty to put the home side 10 / 6 in front. The Pumas increased their lead when prolific try scorer Marnus Schoeman crashed over from a driving maul and Van Staden kicked the conversion. Van Breda landed his 3rd penalty to send to Pumas into a 17 / 9 halftime lead. Van Staden added another penalty after the restart as the Pumas took control. However, despite their dominance they were unable to add any further points.
Scorers:
Steval Pumas:
- Tries: Jason-Collin Fraser (1), Marnus Schoeman (1)
- Conversions: Justin van Staden (2)
- Penalties: Justin van Staden (2)
Eastern Province Kings:
- Penalties: Scott van Breda (3)