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Johannesburg - The Golden Lions turned in another confident Currie Cup performance to romp to a 60-19 victory over the Eastern Province Kings at Ellis Park on Saturday.
It is the second consecutive week that the Johannesburg-based side put more than 40 points past their opposition.
The hosts ran in nine tries to three, to occupy the top spot on the Currie Cup log in this early stage of the competition.
From the outset it was clear that spectators were in for a treat as the two sides crossed the whitewash within minutes of each other after the kickoff.
The visitors opened the scoring two minutes into the match with Ronnie Cook scoring for the Kings with Gary van Aswegen converting.
The Lions responded immediately with centre Stokkies Hanekom scoring his side's first five-pointer in the fourth minute, while young pivot Jaco van der Walt added the two points.
The Eastern Cape side did well to keep the Lions from the line as the scores remained level on 7-7 for until the 22nd minute when hooker Robbie Coetzee scored from a maul.
Shortly before the try, the Kings copped a yellow card with Thembelani Bholi receiving his marching orders.
With 11 minutes to go before the half-time break Ruan Combrinck scored his team's third try, with Van der Walt failing with the conversion.
Seven minutes later Van der Walt extended the lead to 13 points with a penalty conversion before Jaco Kriel crossed the line for the bonus-point try a minute from the break with a 25-7 advantage.
The Lions proved to be in a rampant mood as they scored five tries in the second half with Kriel bagging a hat-trick.
His fellow flanker Derick Minnie also got onto the scoresheet in the 52nd minute to see their lead swell to 39-7.
On the 60 minute mark the Kings were given a brief reprieve when Aidon Davis scored for his side before Andries Coetzee continued the Lions' raid.
Scott Van Breda scored the visitors' final try of the match with nine minutes to go and it was Kwagga Smith that had the final say to score at the death for a comprehensive victory.
Scorers:
Golden Lions
Tries: Stokkies Hanekom, Jaco Kriel (3), Ruan Combrinck, Derick Minnie, Willie Britz, Andries Coetzee, Kwagga Smith
Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (6)
Penalty: Van der Walt.
EP Kings:
Tries: Ronnie Cooke, Aidon Davis, Scott van Breda
Conversions: Gary van Aswegen, Van Breda
Teams:
Golden Lions:
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Guy Cronjé, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Howard Mnisi
EP Kings:
15 Scott van Breda, 14 Ronnie Cooke, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Shane Gates, 11 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Luke Waton (captain), 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steven Cummins, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Edgar Marutllule, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Substitutes: 16 Albe de Swardt, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Ntabeni Dukisa
