The Lions completed a weekend of Absa Currie Cup shocks when they edged Western Province 32-28 in a thrilling encounter at Ellis Park on Saturday evening. The Lions led 16-15 at halftime.
Following the Eagles’ 32-31 win over the Cheetahs on Friday in George and the Sharks going down 30-13 to the Pumas in Witbank earlier on Saturday, the Lions kept the competition honest with a hard-fought victory over the fancied Province outfit.
Despite being outscored by four tries to two, the Lions were full value for the win and had the boot of flyhalf Nel Fourie to thank in the end.
The Lions pivot scored 19 points via five penalties and two conversions, but it was largely a team effort.
Lions No 8 Cobus Grobbelaar was named man-of-the-match for a sterling show throughout the 80 minutes.
Province went ahead in the first minute courtesy of a Gareth Wright penalty after good work by No 8 Adri Badenhorst from the kick-off.
The first quarter of the match was evenly contested as the Lions played with an eagerness and purpose that they failed to muster in their opening round encounter against the Cheetahs last weekend but still trailed 8-6.
The Lions though had more than their fair share of territory and possession and were making life difficult for the men from Cape Town.
The match sprang to life just before the half hour mark, when a scintillating break by centre Doppies la Grange set Jorrie Muller up for a try that gave the hosts the lead (13-8) for the first time.
It did not last long, however, as Province responded almost immediately with a fantastic team try that saw Joe Van Niekerk handle several times, before Pieter Rossouw stretched over near the corner. The conversion from fullback Earl Rose gave WP a 15-13 lead, but a penalty late in the half by Fourie took them into the break with a one-point advantage.
And they continued to apply the pressure after the restart and went further ahead through a try by fullback Jaco Booysen. Fourie kicked the extras and added a penalty five minutes later that took the Lions out to a 26-15 lead.
But again it was Van Niekerk who kept his former teammates honest with some silky skills — part of another fine move — to put Seconds away for WP’s third try.
Van Niekerk was subbed, suffering from cramp after 57 minutes — it was just a precautionary measure — but Province continued their comeback through tighthead prop Neil Fullard who crashed over to close the gap to a single point in the 59th minute.
Van Niekerk displayed some fine skills and came through nearly an hour of rugby, but does not seem ready to take on the All Blacks in a fortnight.
And they re-took the lead — for the first time since the 33rd minute — seven minutes from time when Rose slotted a penalty after Fourie had missed twice in three minutes moments before.
Fourie though had the last laugh when he made no mistake with his fifth penalty (from eight attempts) and then a last minute drop-goal to secure a great win for the Lions after last weekend’s pathetic performance in Bloemfontein.
Point-scorers: LIONS 32 (16): Tries: Jorrie Muller, Jaco Booysen. Conversions: Nel Fourie (2). Penalties: Fourie (5). Drop-goals: Fourie (1). WESTERN PROVINCE 28 (15): Tries: Egon Seconds, Pieter Rossouw, Neil Fullard. Conversions: Earl Rose (1). Penalties: Gareth Wright (1), Rose (1).
Yellow cards: Willem Stoltz (Lions — 52nd minute) – Sapa