The threat of lightning delayed the match between the Lions and Griquas on Saturday evening by more than an hour, and when it did eventually kick off (at 6.10pm) it was the home side who lit up Ellis Park, winning 37-7 to top of the log on 26 points and secure a home semi-final and potential final.
The Griquas made an electric start to the match, however, with Lourens Oosthuizen profiting from a third lineout maul in the first five minutes for the men from Kimberley. Flyhalf George Whitehead nailed the conversion (7-0).
Scrumhalf Nico Steyn thought he had brought the Lions level, after a great kick by wing Kelly Mpeku, but the try was overturned because of an Mpeku foul. Exciting winger Angelo Davids was also growing in influence for the home side.
Centre Henco van Wyk showed typical strength and determination to force his way over the whitewash after a strong Lions scrum in the 22nd minute. Smith added the extra two points (7-7).
Four minutes later, centre Richard Kriel got the home side’s second try after a tackle-busting run by prop SJ Kotze, and the Lions led 12-7.
The Joburgers were full of running, forcing the Griquas onto the back foot with sustained pressure on their try line with 10 minutes to go in the half. The visitors were hanging on grimly, and will have been grateful to only concede a further penalty before the break despite a yellow for centre Mnombo Zwelenedaba.
Pieter Bergh’s side trailed 15-7 at half-time, and were still in with a chance of hanging on to top spot with a win or losing bonus point. That soon faded, however, as the home side stepped on the gas in the second stanza.
A bit of individual brilliance from Steyn resulted in the first try of the second half for the Lions, selling the dummy to the Griquas defenders inside the 22, before jinking over. Mziwakhe Nkosi’s side were leading 22-7 with 30 minutes to play and chasing the bonus-point score. A second Smith penalty stretched their lead to 18 points (25-7).
A flying Angelo Davids then danced down the left touchline, and away from an attempted tackle, to give the Lions the crucial bonus point. Last year’s beaten semi-finalists were purring in front of the pride, with more than 20 minutes left in the match.
Quan Horn rounded off some brilliant Lions interplay, with a Kriel steal and no-look pass setting the fullback on his way (37-7). The Lions were bossing all aspects of play with 10 minutes left on the stadium clock, and saw the game out without further drama.
The Griquas had already secured a home-semifinal before the match, but a second loss of the campaign dropped them to second in the table, denying them a chance to hosts a Currie Cup final in Kimberley.
Points-Scorers
Lions 37 (15)
Tries: Van Wyk, Kriel (2), Steyn, Davids; Conversions: Smith (3); Penalties: Smith (2)
Griquas 7 (7)
Tries: Oosthuizen; Conversion: Whitehead
