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Johannesburg - Griquas kept their hopes of a home semi-final in the Vodacom Cup competition alive by beating the Golden Lions 33-18 in Kimberley on Saturday.
The home side started well and looked to make amends for their loss against the Pumas in Nelspruit last week, with centre Jonathan Francke almost scoring in the second minute.
Breaking through the Lions' defence, he stretched out to ground the ball, but lost it forward in the process.
From the resulting scrum, Griquas applied good pressure and were awarded a penalty which fullback Gouws Prinsloo slotted with ease. He was again called into service to convert a good try by lock Jaco Nepgen, who burst over from a lineout.
The Lions got on the scoreboard thanks to a penalty by flyhalf Willie du Plessis after Griquas were penalised at the breakdown.
The hosts were on fire, though, and good pressure resulted in their second try via eighthman Carel Greeff, who ran 40 metres to score. Prinsloo slotted the conversion.
The Lions had some good periods of play and progressed into the Griquas' half, but the hosts held them at bay. The visitors finally got some reward when Du Plessis kicked a second penalty to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
Griquas led 24-6 at the break after wing Ederies Arendse scored their third try, which Prinsloo converted.
The Lions reduced the deficit early in the second half when they were awarded a penalty try, after Griquas' hooker Martin Bezuidenhout had earlier been yellow-carded. The Lions tried to maul from the penalty, but the hosts infringed and the penalty try was given.
Griquas replied with a penalty via Prinsloo to make the score 27-13 in favour of the hosts.
Soon afterwards Griquas' prop Ewald van der Westhuizen was also yellow-carded for pulling down the Lions' driving maul close to his goalline. Flank Stephan de Witt scored from the maul for what was to be an unconverted try, to reduce the deficit to nine points.
Prinsloo again stretched the lead to 12 points with a penalty kick, but the Lions kept on attacking and putting Griquas under pressure. Prinsloo, however, had the last say, kicking another penalty to seal the Lions' fate.
Scorers:
Griquas 33 (24): Tries: Jaco Nepgen, Carel Greeff, Ederies Arendse. Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (3). Penalties: Gouws Prinsloo (4).
Golden Lions 18 (6): Tries: Penalty try, Stephan de Witt. Conversions: Willie du Plessis. Penalties: Willie du Plessis (2).
