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Johannesburg - The Lions outscored the Leopards by eight tries to five to secure a scrappy 53-36 Currie Cup victory in Johannesburg on Saturday night.
After racing to a commanding 29-15 halftime lead, the Lions were at sixes and sevens as the men from Potchefstroom nearly succeeded in staging what would have been one of the most amazing fightbacks in recent times.
Late tries by prop Jacobie Adriaanse and replacement Michael Rhodes restored some dignity to the Lions who at 36-all - with ten minutes left on the clock - looked like they could lose to the minnows of the competition.
Outstanding play by young flyhalf Wesley Dunlop and flanker Phillip de Wet ensured that the Leopards rose to the challenge during the final 50 minutes.
De Wet scored a try in each half while Dunlop's decision making was pure class.
During the second half the Lions were vulnerable on the counter attack and made a hash of nearly every kick-off they received. Their ball control also left much to desire.
The first fault at this facet of play gave De Wet his first try while winger Wynand Willis also scored from a similar mistake just before the interval.
The Leopards taught the log-topping Lions a number of rugby lessons that highlighted the fact that there is no such thing as an easy victory in Currie Cup rugby.
John Mitchell's men could not have asked for a better start to the match as scrumhalf Jano Vermaak dived over in the first five minutes.
The Leopards opened their account through flyhalf Clayton du Rand who converted a long range penalty, but still lacked the confidence needed to compete against a Super Rugby outfit.
After adapting to the referee's interpretation at the tackle area, the Johannesburg side were able to convert field position into points on the board in yet another display of exciting running rugby.
Had flyhalf Butron Francis converted all his team's conversions - Francis only succeeded with 50% of the try conversions - the game could have been taken out of the visiting side's reach earlier on.
Wing Dylan des Fountain scored the second try of the match in the 12th minute as the Lions forwards started barging over the advantage line at will.
While the home side dominated in most facets during the opening half, the visitors still made good use of the few chances they had when in possession.
Wing Deon Van Rensburg scored two tries before the break and was one of the more consistent players in the Lions backline.
Credit must go to the Leopards for their fighting spirit throughout the match while the Lions will go back to the drawing board knowing that a performance of that standard will not go unpunished against the big guns of the competition.
Scorers:
Lions: Tries: Jano Vermaak, Dylan des Fountain, Deon van Rensburg (2), Cobus Grobbelaar, Wikus van Heerden, Jacobie Adriaanse, Michael Rhodes. Conversions: Burton Francis (4). Penalty: Francis.
Leopards: Penalty: Clayton du Rand. Tries: Phillip de Wet (2), Wynand Willis, Danie Dames, Whestley Moolman. Conversions: Du Rand (1),
Wesley Dunlop (3)
Teams:
Golden Lions:
15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Patric Cilliers
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Hein Cronje, 22 Dylan Des Fountain
Leopards:
15. George Tossel, 14. Danie Dames, 13. Charl Weideman, 12. Joubert Engelbrecht, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Clayton Durand (captain), 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom, 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Philip de Wet, 5. Roan van Heerden, 4. Brendon Snyman, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Chrisstoffel Johannes Duvenage, 1. BG Uys
Substitutes: 16. Gavin Williamson, 17. Bêrend Botha, 18. Christo van Niekerk, 19. Juan Pretorius, 20. Theo van Wyk, 21. Walter Venter, 22. Wesley Dunlop
After racing to a commanding 29-15 halftime lead, the Lions were at sixes and sevens as the men from Potchefstroom nearly succeeded in staging what would have been one of the most amazing fightbacks in recent times.
Late tries by prop Jacobie Adriaanse and replacement Michael Rhodes restored some dignity to the Lions who at 36-all - with ten minutes left on the clock - looked like they could lose to the minnows of the competition.
Outstanding play by young flyhalf Wesley Dunlop and flanker Phillip de Wet ensured that the Leopards rose to the challenge during the final 50 minutes.
De Wet scored a try in each half while Dunlop's decision making was pure class.
During the second half the Lions were vulnerable on the counter attack and made a hash of nearly every kick-off they received. Their ball control also left much to desire.
The first fault at this facet of play gave De Wet his first try while winger Wynand Willis also scored from a similar mistake just before the interval.
The Leopards taught the log-topping Lions a number of rugby lessons that highlighted the fact that there is no such thing as an easy victory in Currie Cup rugby.
John Mitchell's men could not have asked for a better start to the match as scrumhalf Jano Vermaak dived over in the first five minutes.
The Leopards opened their account through flyhalf Clayton du Rand who converted a long range penalty, but still lacked the confidence needed to compete against a Super Rugby outfit.
After adapting to the referee's interpretation at the tackle area, the Johannesburg side were able to convert field position into points on the board in yet another display of exciting running rugby.
Had flyhalf Butron Francis converted all his team's conversions - Francis only succeeded with 50% of the try conversions - the game could have been taken out of the visiting side's reach earlier on.
Wing Dylan des Fountain scored the second try of the match in the 12th minute as the Lions forwards started barging over the advantage line at will.
While the home side dominated in most facets during the opening half, the visitors still made good use of the few chances they had when in possession.
Wing Deon Van Rensburg scored two tries before the break and was one of the more consistent players in the Lions backline.
Credit must go to the Leopards for their fighting spirit throughout the match while the Lions will go back to the drawing board knowing that a performance of that standard will not go unpunished against the big guns of the competition.
Scorers:
Lions: Tries: Jano Vermaak, Dylan des Fountain, Deon van Rensburg (2), Cobus Grobbelaar, Wikus van Heerden, Jacobie Adriaanse, Michael Rhodes. Conversions: Burton Francis (4). Penalty: Francis.
Leopards: Penalty: Clayton du Rand. Tries: Phillip de Wet (2), Wynand Willis, Danie Dames, Whestley Moolman. Conversions: Du Rand (1),
Wesley Dunlop (3)
Teams:
Golden Lions:
15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Patric Cilliers
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Hein Cronje, 22 Dylan Des Fountain
Leopards:
15. George Tossel, 14. Danie Dames, 13. Charl Weideman, 12. Joubert Engelbrecht, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Clayton Durand (captain), 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom, 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Philip de Wet, 5. Roan van Heerden, 4. Brendon Snyman, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Chrisstoffel Johannes Duvenage, 1. BG Uys
Substitutes: 16. Gavin Williamson, 17. Bêrend Botha, 18. Christo van Niekerk, 19. Juan Pretorius, 20. Theo van Wyk, 21. Walter Venter, 22. Wesley Dunlop
