Flying start for new-look Lions
Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:11
Try-scorer: Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak got on the scoreboard for the Golden Lions
The Golden Lions, with a new-look team and under the coaching of New Zealander John Mitchell, claimed a welcome 43-13 win over the Leopards in Currie Cup action at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng on Friday evening.
Two tries by livewire Lions scrumhalf Jano Vermaak were the bullets that gunned the Leopards down in an uninspiring match.
Those tries, their discipline and their goalkicking helped cull the home side.
Lions flyhalf Herkie Kruger also helped sink the Leopards with four penalty goals - not to mention three conversions - as referee Lourens van der Merwe showed no mercy to the Leopards on the night.
The first half did not produce anything to write home about and it would probably be best remembered for the sounds of the vuvuzelas... as the visitors ran into a 20-3 half-time lead thanks to a try by Vermaak and outside centre Marius Delport.
Springbok centre Waylon Murray - on Currie Cup debut for the Johannesburg side - kick-started the Lions' score in the second half when he ran in unopposed and Vermaak soon followed with a replay of his first-half try.
Tries by winger Deon Scholtz and captain - and flanker - Wilhelm Koch got the Leopards into double figures, but based on this performance they are in for a long season in the Currie Cup's top-flight.
'Baby Bok' Jaco Taute - in his second season of Currie Cup rugby, despite being just a year out of school - scored a try inside injury-time to make it a comfortable Lions victory.
Taute, who played at centre for the South African Under-20 team this year, was one of three 'Baby Boks' in the Lions 22; the others being replacement hooker Francois du Toit and back-up flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The scorers:
For the Leopards:
Tries: Scholtz, Koch
Pen: C Dumond
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Vermaak 2, Delport, Murray, Taute
Cons: Kruger 3
Pens: Kruger 4
The teams:
Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Neill Jacobs, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Cecil Dumond, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 RW Kember, 7 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6 Victor Joubert, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Antonie Gronum, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Eric Coetzee, 18 Edrich Linde, 19 Riaan Swanepoel, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Kempie Rautenbach, 22 Danie Dames.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 David Bulbring, 4 George Earl, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Kevin Buys, 18
Warren Whiteley, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Deon van Rensburg.
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
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