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Johannesburg - The Golden Lions scored 33 unanswered first-half points on their way to a 47-14 victory over the Free State Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday.
As it happened: Golden Lions v Free State Cheetahs
Tries from Marvin Orie, Howard Mnisi, Hacjivah Dayimani and two apiece from Sylvian Mahuza and Shaun Reynolds proved too much for the visitors who scored through Louis Fouche and Rudy Paige.
The Golden Lions began on the front foot, playing an attacking brand of running rugby and were rewarded with the game’s first try.
Marvin Orie’s delightful offload freed up Howard Mnisi, who in turn fed Mahuza, the winger showing a brilliant stop-and-go to bamboozle his defender for the finish as Shaun Reynolds converted for the 7-0 lead after eight minutes.
Seven minutes later, the Free State Cheetahs were penalised for a deliberate knockdown and Reynolds kicked for the corner.
The flyhalf would go over after the ball went through a couple of phases from the lineout, converting his own score for a 14-0.
Soon after, the hosts had their third as Mahuza showed excellent pace and a neat sidestep to grab his second, beating two defenders in the process.
The visitors were losing their structure on defence and the Golden Lions were running them ragged out wide.
It was becoming all to easy as first Orie went over after a good lineout and a good set. Then, Reynolds bagged his brace, after some poor tackling from the men from Bloemfontein.
The hosts’ flyhalf converted his fourth attempt from five to give the home side a 33-0 lead heading in to the interval.
After the break, the away side showed some fight, applying pressure on the Golden Lions before and hitting back with two five-pointers. First, Fouche crossed the whitewash before captain Paige dotted down after a give-and-go with Ali Mgijima.
With five minutes to go, Mnisi got in on the act for the Golden Lions as he showed good awareness when not held in the tackle to get himself over the line as Reynolds converted.
Dayimani was not to be denied a try in the closing stages, adding to his impressive tally of five for the season Reynolds converted to cap off a 47-14 victory.
Scorers:
Golden Lions
Tries: Mahuza 2, Reynolds 2, Orie, Mnisi, Dayimani
Conversions: Reynolds 6
Free State Cheetahs
Tries: Fouche, Paige
Conversions: Fouche 2
Teams:
Golden Lions
15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sti Sithole
Substitutes: 16 Corné Fourie, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Stephen Bhasera, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Bradley Thain, 22 Wandisile Simelane
FS Cheetahs
15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Ali Mgijima, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Lloyd Greeff, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Rudy Paige (captain), 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Stephan Malan, 6 Abongile Nonkontwane, 5 Dennis Vissier, 4 Louis Conradie, 3 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Kevin Stevens
Substitutes: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Johan Kotze, 18 Luigy van Jaarsveld, 19 Nardus Erasmus, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Vuyani Maqina, 22 Reinhart Erwee
