Lions ease past the Leopards
Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:04
Derick Minnie of the Golden Lions scores a try
The Golden Lions kept their slim Currie Cup play-off hopes alive when they eased past the Leopards 31-13 in Johannesburg in Friday.
The Lions took a commanding 24-6 lead in the first half, but were held to a 7-all scoreline in the second 40.
However, the bonus-point win was good enough to keep them in touch with the top four.
It took just one half for the Golden Lions to achieve their objective - victory with five points and playing splendid rugby.
The second half was not nearly up to the same standard and the Leopards finished better though really well beaten. In fact it took just half an hour for the home side to do the job. In the last 50 minutes of the game the Golden Lions scored just seven points and lost that period of time 7-10.
Had the Leopards' handling and line-out work been better the score should have been different - or at least that is how it seemed but in truth one felt that the Golden Lions could always turn on the charm. The lead-up to their only second-half try was brilliant.
The Leopards probably came east in hope. They had beaten Boland and lost to Griquas by just one point in 67, but the Golden Lions had the greatest confidence boost of all - victory over the neighbouring Blue Bulls, and they played like a confident team.
It was - yet again - that man Jano Vermaak who started the Golden Lions on the road to victory. In fact it was a match of two outstanding scrumhalves - Vermaak for the Golden Lions and Michael Bondisio for the Leopards, two men of international calibre.
The Leopards won a turnover at a tackle but then dropped the ball. Franco van der Merwe toed it, but into a Leopard. The ricochet came to Vermaak who scurried 50 metres down the field to score. 7-0 after 6 minutes.
The Golden Lions attacked on the left and Johan Jackson grubbered towards the Leopards line where Russell Jeacocks fell on the ball with Alwyn Hollenbach in close attendance. Jeacocks was penalised, the Golden Lions tapped and captain Willem Alberts managed to get the ball down to the TMO's pleasure. 12-0 after 10 minutes.
The Golden Lions attacked on the left with Vermaak playing his darting, flicking game three times in the movement. From a scrum Alberts bashed and then the ball went wide where Todd Clever gave a clever pass to Dusty Noble who beat two defenders to score. 17-0 after 19 minutes.
In this match the Golden Lions were much penalised - 17 times to eight. In the second half the penalty count was 10 to three against them.
A penalty at a tackle enabled Cecil Dumond to open the scoring for the victors, but 10 minutes later the Golden Lions again bashed from a scrum and Kevin Buys was close till Vermaak flicked a pass at Derick Minnie, who scored. Ruan Boshoff converted. That was it the bonus pint and a 24-3 lead with still nine minutes left in the half.
Just before half-time Dumond goaled a penalty and there were powerful runs by hooker Marthinus van der Westhuizen and left wing Bom Samaai.
The Golden Lions had attacking moments but their try came from a long way out as they raced down the left, short passes lacing their attack till the Leopards were penalised and from a tap Boshoff cut through three defenders to score. 31-6 - a gem of a try.
After this the game rather belonged to the Leopards who dominated the scrums and the loose ball, but failed in the line-outs. In addition - and this was right through the match - their passing was unsympathetic, too often too high, taking the impetus out of the attack. But they got an excellent try.
Riaan Swanepoel burst through in midfield and Gavin Williamson took it on. Dames got a clever pass to lively Basil de Doncker who surged over under the posts.
They nearly got a second try in the last minuted when De Doncker went after a grubber, was leading the race as he dived for the ball, but well in in-goal he knocked it on.
Man of the Match: There was Willem Alberts and there were the two scrumhalves. Jano Vermaak was rested early but Michael Bondesio played right through and showed what miracles a scrumhalf can work in a losing side. He was our Man of the Match.
The scorers:
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Vermaak, Alberts, Noble, Minnie, Boshoff
Cons: Boshoff 3
For the Leopards:
Try: De Doncker
Con: De Doncker
Pens: De Doncker 2
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Doppies La Grange, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Ruan Boshoff, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts (captain), 7 Todd Clever, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Wayne Swart.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Johan Van Deventer, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht
Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Shuaib Samaai, 10 Cecil Dumont, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Christo van Niekerk, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 Gerhardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Gavin Williamson, 17 Barend van der Walt, 18 Bennie Adams, 19 Riaan Swanepoel, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Deon van Rensburg.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: JC Fortuin
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