Golden Lions grind Griquas down
The Golden Lions ground out a 26-12 win over the Griquas in their match at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The Lions have less than two weeks to go before they play the first leg of their Super Rugby relegation playoffs against the Kings and were made to work hard against a tough Griquas outfit.
The Lions struggled with their line-outs in the first period, and also battled to put solid backline movements together.
The Lions scored their first try in the 24th minute after trailing 6-0 to the visitors in the early stages of the game.
The home side grew in confidence and steadily improved their play with the backline playing a key role in the victory.
Earlier, the Lions struggled with their lineouts with hooker Francois du Toit throwing in skew when the home side were on attack in the Griquas 22.
The next line-out Griquas won the ball from Du Toit's throw-in.
On attack inside the Lions half, the Griquas were awarded another penalty and Brummer was successful with his attempt as the visitors went out to an early 6-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff failed to put the Lions on the board as he sliced a penalty from 45m in the 17th minute.
It took the Lions 24 minutes to click into gear and they put together their first fluid attack and Deon van Rensburg dotted down to score his side's first try.
Just after the half-time hooter Griquas were awarded a penalty out in front and Brummer made it 12-9 going into the break.
Two minutes after the interval Stokkies Hanekom broke clean through the Griquas line in their 22 and scored under the posts. Boshoff obliged with the extra two as the Lions led 19-9.
In the 69th minute, Gouws Prinsloo added three points for the visitors from a penalty from 15 metres out.
Four minutes later the Lions sealed the win as replacement Lionel Cronje burst through the Griquas defence, and he stepped up to convert his try to make 26-12 to the Lions.
The scorers:
For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Van Rensburg, Volmink, Hanekom, Cronje
Cons: Boshoff 2, Cronje
For Griquas:
Pens: Brummer 3, Prinsloo
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Guy Cronjé, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 JJ Breedt, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements – from: Mark Pretorius, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer, Hugo Kloppers/Gavin Annandale, Willie Britz, Ross Cronje/Wiaan van der Watt, Lionel Cronje, Chrysander Botha, Deon Helberg.
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 DuRandt Gerber, 11 PJ Vermeulen (captain), 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jonathan Adendorff, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Matthew Dobson, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements – from: Gideon Bruwer, Brummer Badenhorst, Jaco Nepgen, Deon Carney, Burger Schoeman, Justin Downey, Marnus Hugo, Dusty Noble, Nico Scheepers, Enrico Acker.
