Lions secure top position in the 2011 Currie Cup table after they defeat Blues Bulls at Pretoria - Rugby
The South African provincial rugby union side, Golden Lions, has stretched their winning streak to four consecutive wins as they defeated the Blue Bulls 36 – 27 in their round four encounter
of the 2011 Currie Cup tournament.
Bulls hosted the Lions at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria on Saturday, August 6. The win has put the Lions at the top of the 2011 Currie Cup table after they have won all of their four games in the
season so far and have secured 17 points.
Following the defeat to the Sharks at the hands of the Griquas, Lions are the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Visitors started the match strongly as they denied bulls form early possession. Lions were first to take the lead in the match courtesy of their fly half Elton Jantjies’ two consecutive successful
penalties in the 4th and 7th minute of the game.
Bulls replied strongly as they sent their hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle to score their first try of the game in the 9th minute. Bulls’ fly half Francois Brummer failed to capitalize
on the subsequent conversion. Bulls were enjoying a relatively good passage of play as they maintain both ball and territory possession.
However, Bulls fail to capitalize on the scoring opportunities came during their way. Brummer scored on two penalties in the 16th and 24th minute of the game to put the
hosts in the lead. Nevertheless, he failed to extend the lead by missing a drop goal and a penalty during the 26th and 27th minute respectively.
Elton Jantjies missed a penalty in the 32nd minute of the game, before successfully kicking the penalty in the 35th minute to reduce their deficit. However, the 37th
minute try by Bulls outside centre Stefan Watermeyer have again extended their lead. Brummer failed to convert as Lions clawed their way back in the match with a try.
For Lions, their number eight and captain Joshua Strauss scored a try in the 38th minute of the game, which was followed by Jantjies penalty, to levell the scores at 16 – all.
In the last minute of the first half, Brummer scored a penalty to put the hosts in the lead by three points. Both teams left the field at half time with scorecard reading 19 – 16, in favour
of Bulls.
At the start of the second half, Bulls lock Flip van der Merwe was sin binned, which provided the visitors to a chance to sneak past the hosts defenses. Jantjies missed a penalty in the 54th
minute of the game; however, their fullback Michael Killian scored a try in the 57th minute to put them into the lead. Jantjies followed with his conversion to take their lead to four points.
Brummer successfully kicked the penalty in the 61st minute to reduce the deficit to a single point. In next 10 minutes of the game, both teams tried hard to seek the advantage but
failed to do so. Van der Merwe’s 70th minute tackle, earned him a red card, which left the Bulls to play the last 10 minutes of the game with a man less. Jantjies scored his fifth successful penalty of the game in the 70th minute to extend
their lead. However, after Lions substitute lock Michael Rhodes was yellow carded in the 71st minute, the game was evenly poised.
Bulls pulled up an exceptional try in the 75th minute courtesy of their winger Akona Ndungane, to reduce the deficit to just two points. Brummer failed on the conversion and later
Bulls failed to hold on to the Lions serge to deny them scoring their third try in the game.
For Lions Killian scored his second try in the 77th minute of the game, which was followed by Jantjies conversion to take the scorecard reading 36 – 27, which remained the same,
until the end of the second half.
Tags: