Lions thump Boland

The win was the Lions second of their campaign and sees them move to third on the standings. However, that position could change before the end of the round.

The Lions showed their class from the outset when wing Selom Gavor stretched over for the game's first try after sustained pressure deep inside the Boland half.

Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff added the extras with a conversion from a tight angle and the Lions had a 7-0 lead after five minutes.

The home side dominated play after that score and they soon found themselves over the whitewash again. After a great Andries Coetzee break, the ball went wide to wing Anthony Volmink, who sprinted in for the try. 

After a Boshoff penalty, Boland then stunned the fans when they opened their account –  big lock Joubert Horn crashing through the Lions' defence to score. Flyhalf Theuns Kotze converted to reduce the deficit to just eight points after 27 minutes.

However, the Lions upped the temp once again after that score and with some quick hands, scrumhalf Dillon Smit sprinted in for an easy try. Boshoff converted the try for a 22-7 scoreline after 32 minutes.  

Boland then hit back with a score of their own when No.8 Wayne Wilschut scored his team's second try after a powerful driving maul deep inside the Lions' 22.

However, it was the Lions who had the final say in the half when centre Jacques Nel finished off a wonderful attack to score in the corner.

The Lions continued where they left off in the first half when flank Victor Sekekete scored his first Currie Cup try in the 45th minute. Boshoff added the extras two points for a 22-point lead.

Boland did have their chances early in the second half, but their handling and passing let them down on occasions.

Instead, it was the Lions who continued their try-scoring form when Gavor scored his second try of the game after some more good work from scrumhalf Smit.  

There was a brief break from the tries midway in the second half. However, the Lions again increased the tempo going into the final 15 minutes of the game.

After some quick hands in the Boland half, captain Howard Mnisi added his name to the scoresheet before Boshoff once again converted for a 36-point lead.

With the clock winding down, ill-discipline started to creep into both team's game with Bobby de Wee and Clemen Lewis getting yellow cards for different indiscretions.

In the end, the Lions capped off their dominant performance with a try from John-Wessel Bell and another by Dylan Smith just before full-time.

Man of the match: Wayne Wilschut and Joubert Horn impressed for Boland, while Gerhard Jordaan tried his best to give his backline quick ball. For the Lions, Ruan Ackermann had a high work rate once again, while Victor Sekekete and Selom Gavor also impressed all around the park. However, the award goes to scrumhalf Dillon Smit for his outstanding contribution on attack.

The scorers:

For Golden Lions:

Tries: Gavor 2, Volmink, Smit, Nel, Sekekete, Mnisi, Bell, Smith

Cons: Boshoff 6

Pen: Boshoff

For Boland Cavaliers:

Tries: Horn, Wilschut

Con: Kotze

Yellow cards: Bobby de Wee (Golden Lions, 71 – repeated infringements, not rolling away); Clemen Lewis (Boland, 72 – dangerous play, high tackle)

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Selom Gavor, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Howard Mnisi (captain), 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Steph de Wit, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Ruan Ackermann, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Corné Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Bobby de Wee, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Kock Marx, 22 John-Wessel Bell.

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Ryan Nel (captain), 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Gerhard Jordaan, 8 Wayne Wilschut, 7 Shaun McDonald, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Joubert Horn, 4 Hanno Kitshoff, 3 Basil Short, 2 Francois Esterhuizen, 1 Francois Hanekom.

Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Abongile Mnyaka, 18 Stephanus Wessels, 19 Ockie van Zyl, 20 Kenan Cronje, 21 Marnus Hugo, 22 Gerrit van Wyk.

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Pieter Maritz

TMO: JJ du Wagner