Defending champions Griquas saw off the visiting Lions 31-19 in their top-of-the-table Carling Currie Cup round-four clash at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
The Johannesburg side arrived in the Northern Cape as the competition’s early pacesetters, but came up against a Griquas outfit seeking a third successive home win in a heavyweight meeting between the sides that was a repeat of last season’s final.
The hosts made the brighter start and applied pressure on the Lions, who were unable to impose the attacking authority that had characterised their opening matches of the campaign.
Griquas’ ability to turn pressure into points left the Lions playing catch-up for much of the opening 40 minutes, with Dylan Maart and Gurshwin Weir grabbing the first two tries before flank Thando Biyela replied to ensure the visitors remained within striking distance at the interval at 13-7.
Whitehead landed a second penalty early in the second stanza before hooker Janes Venter barged over from a rolling maul to extend Griquas’ lead to 21-7.
Competition top scorer Bobby Alexander then showed great gas to score the fourth try, outstripping the defence to latch on to a clever cross-kick into space by Zane Bester.
The Lions hit back through loose forward Jarod Cairns as they began to turn the screws, with centre Bester sin-binned for repeated infringements, and they trailed 28-14 with 15 minutes left to play.
The Griquas were forced to hang on grimly with 14 men. The visitors, however, were unable to make their numerical advantage count, with their lineout proving a particular source of frustration.
The boot of Whitehead relieved the pressure at key moments in the closing stages of the match, while a drop goal by the veteran helping steady any lingering nerves as Griquas weathered the storm to claim a crucial bonus-point victory.
Substitute Exause Kevani crossed for a late consolation try for the Lions, who returned to Johannesburg empty-handed.
Scores
Griquas 31 (13) – Tries: Gurshwin Wehr, Dylan Maart, Janus Venter, Bobby Alexander. Conversions: George Whitehead. Penalties: Whitehead (2). Drop goal: Whitehead.
Lions 19 (7) – Tries: Thando Biyela, Jarrod Cairns, Exause Kevani. Conversions: Sam Francis (2).
