The Golden Lions kept their slender hopes to make the Vodacom Cup quarterfinals alive when they outplayed the Griffons 53-32 and scored a bonus point in the process at Alberton Rugby Club on Saturday afternoon.
Going into their fifth match of the competition without a win and seven points behind the Pumas who played Griquas at the same time on Saturday, the Lions had to win by a good margin and get a bonus point to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive — and of course hope that the Pumas didn’t win.
That they did in no uncertain manner, dominating the first half to lead 31-13 at the break and scoring seven tries to the Girffons’ four in the match.
The Lions started off well, with a Jody Rose penalty that put them ahead after barely three minutes. The Griffons were seldom out of their 22 and under great pressure, but were the next to score when flyhalf Hugo Kleynhans slotted a 53m penalty. Two minutes later, Lions centre Barry Goodes took a pop pass, cut the line and fed ever-present No 8 Warren Perkins, and the Lions were deservedly 10-3 up after 18 minutes.
When Walter Venter cut through after 27 minutes for Rose to convert, the score was 17-3 and Earl Lewis’ converted try made it 24-6 after 30 minutes shortly after another Kleynhans penalty. A converted try by Nicky Steyn pulled the Lions’ lead back to 24-13, but on the stroke of half-time Lions wing Michael Killian exploited the poor midfield defence of the visitors again to put his side into a 31-13 halftime break.
Prop Herkie van der Walt briefly brought the Griffons back to contention with a converted try (31-20), but a Rose penalty and then a deft inside pass from the flyhalf to lock Rob Andrew for a try under the posts took the Lions away to 41-20.
Second tries by Venter and Killian and one each for the Griffons by replacement Tertius Maarman and speedster fullback Cecil Afrika for the Griffons completed a pleasant but somewhat scrappy match with the Lions showing more purpose, structure and cohesion and fully deserving of their win. — Sapa