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Cape Town - The Golden Lions ran in 10 tries as they mauled the Leopards 64-28 (halftime 26-7) in a provincial tournament clash at Olen Park Stadium in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The Lions were full value for their money as they secured the bonus-point for scoring four tries or more before the halftime whistle had blown. Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff missed just one kick at goal during the first 40 minutes as the visitors scored four tries in the first stanza.
But it was the home side who started brightly by opening the scoring as early as the fourth minute when right wing Bradley Moolman dashed over the line to open up a seven-point lead as fullback Rhyno Smith converted the score.
That was the only success the home team would have in the opening half as the Lions opened their account through tighthead prop, Jacques van Rooyen with Boshoff adding the extra points to level matters after 15 minutes. The Lions scored two more tries through inside centre Jarryd Sage and hooker Ramone Samuels before referee Stuart Berry dished out the first yellow card, sending Leopards hooker Wilmar Arnoldi to the bin for the remainder of the first half.
Flank Cyle Brink rounded off a good first half by crossing the line shortly before the halftime whistle for the bonus-point try which Boshoff converted to leave the Lions 19 points to the good.
The visitors turned on the style in the second stanza, opening up a 38-point lead as tries from replacement fullback, Sylvian Mahuza, No 8 Ruan Ackerman and lock Lourens Erasmus knocked the stuffing out of the home side. The Leopards find some gas in the tank and hit back with two tries of their own through scrumhalf Malherbe Swart and replacement wing Jaco Hayward. Smith converted both tries to reduce the deficit to 14 points before Berry whipped out a yellow card again.
Mahuza, who started the scoring in the second half, was given a ten-minute respite by the referee which allowed the home side to register their fourth try, and a bonus-point, as Arnoldi rumbled over to score. But it was the visitors who finished off the game the stronger by running in a further three tries as Erasmus burst over for his second score, as well as replacement centre Rohan Jansen van Rensburg and left wing Anthony Volmink.
SCORERS
Leopards - Tries: Bradley Moolman, Malherbe Swart, Jaco Hayward, Wilmar Arnoldi; Conversions: Rhyno Smith (4).
Xerox Golden Lions - Tries: Lourens Erasmus (2), Jacques van Rooyen, Jarryd Sage, Ramone Samuels, Cyle Brink, Sylvian Mahuza, Ruan Ackerman, Rohan Jansen van Rensburg, Anthony Volmink; Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (7).
