In a real thriller, the Border Bulldogs gave the Golden Lions a scare in their compulsory friendly rugby match at the Absa Stadium on Saturday before going down 35-31.
By half-time, the Lions had built a handy 21-11 lead, scoring three converted tries to one, and after the break scored another two goals to extend the gap to 35-14.
Prepared to fight in the trenches and winning their own line-out ball through eighthman Pietie Loots, the Bulldogs started their rearguard action at the start of the last quarter when flanker Kaunda Ntunja was driven over near the posts for fullback Elric van Vuuren to convert.
It was easily the Bulldogs’ best showing of the season against a side whose backs and forwards impressed when going forward.
A brilliant bit of sidestepping by Bulldogs right wing Vuyo Zangqa following an initial surging run by substitute centre Oliver Fowles led to another converted try by the 69th minute, and when Van Vuuren banged over a penalty with six minutes to go, the Lions looked wobbly.
The Lions, whose back line always ran at pace, were responsible for some fine tries themselves although they were helped by poor Bulldogs midfield defence in at least two of them.
The home side looked confused whenever the Lion’s wingers were brought into the back line on attack, but their forwards — brilliantly served by Loots, lock Stephan Britz and loosehead prop Jacques Kemp — were always prepared to mix it.
Lions flyhalf Louis Strydom also booted 10 points, and excellent tries went to right wing Wylie Human, eighthman and captain Willem Alberts and flank Wilhelm Koch.
Their final try in the 57th minute went to centre Jannie Boshoff, and the Bulldogs first-half five-pointer went to flank Ntando Majokweni following a switch of play. — Sapa