Cape Town - A hat-trick by wing Courtnall Skosan has helped the Golden Lions to victory in their Currie Cup Premier Division encounter against the Griquas at Ellis Park on Friday evening.
As it happened: Golden Lions v Griquas
The Golden Lions won 62-41, after trailing 19-20 at half-time.
The home side scored nine tries through skipper Ross Cronje, Sylvian Mahuza, Len Massyn, Wandile Simelane and a brace by Hacjivah Dayimani and a hat-trick by Springbok Skosan.
Flyhalf Shaun Reynolds landed seven conversions and a penalty to get newly appointed Golden Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen's campaign off to a winning start.
Meanwhile, the Griquas scored five tries through Andre Swarts, Khwezilokusa Mkhafu, Wilmar Arnoldi, Kyle Steyn and AJ Coertzen.
Flyhalf George Whitehead landed five in five conversions and two penalties.
In next weekend's Currie Cup action, the Golden Lions will face the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld (Saturday, September 1 - 15:00) while the Griquas have a bye.
Scorers:
Golden Lions
Tries: Hacjivah Dayimani (2), Ross Cronje, Courtnall Skosan (3), Sylvian Mahuza, Len Massyn, Wandile Simelane
Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (7)
Penalty: Reynolds
Griquas
Tries: Andre Swarts, Khwezilokusa Mkhafu, Wilmar Arnoldi, Kyle Steyn, AJ Coertzen
Conversions: George Whitehead (5)
Penalties: Whitehead (2)
Teams:
Golden Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Jan-Louis la Grange, 12 Manny Rass, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole
Substitutes: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 PJ Steenkamp, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Tyrone Green, 22 Wandisile Simelane
Griquas
15 Eric Zana, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 AJ Coertzen, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Pieter van Vuren, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus
Substitutes: 16 Wilmar Arnoldi, 17 Ruan Kramer, 18 Wandile Putuma, 19 Eital Bredenkamp, 20 Zak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts