Lions stay in the hunt

8 Sep 2006

The Lions kept themselves in with a chance of sneaking into the Absa Currie Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought 32-17 win over the Valke on Friday night.

The win was the Lions fifth in-a-row, after previous victories over the Pumas, Blue Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs in recent weeks.

The Lions scored five tries to earn a bonus point and match the Blue Bulls five-point haul. It means the Lions still trail the Bulls by four points, but have a great chance to pull level or even go ahead when they play Griquas at Ellis Park next weekend.

At the same time, the Bulls travel to Durban to play the Sharks and defeat could prove disastrous to their chances of making the play-offs. The Lions have a far easier run in to the semis compared to their neighbours.

It was not a completely dominant performance and after leading 17-0 at one stage, they saw the Valke claw back to 17-10 at the break. The Lions though stuck to their guns and managed to outlast a determined Valke outfit in the second half.

Two minutes after the break, centre Jaco Pretorius scored a brilliant solo try two, dancing past four tacklers in almost no space at all before scoring.

In the end the Lions did exactly what was required of them registering their sixth win of the competition, while the Valke remain in 7th position on the log with just two wins.

Scorers:
Valke: Tries: Mpho Matsaung, Jacques Nieuwenhuis. Conversions: Louis Strydom 2. Penalty: Strydom.

Lions: Tries: Louis Ludik, Wikus van Heerden, Wayne Julies, Jaco Pretorius, Ricky Januarie. Conversions: Earl Rose 2. Penalty: Rose.

By Andrew Hollely



9 Comments

  • 1.Blokkies: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2006, 21:41 pm

    Out of 5 conversions Rose missed 3… how many penalties he miss?

  • 2.Chelsea: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2006, 22:00 pm

    Blokkies

    Dont know, but I dont rate Rose, not because of his size, I mean look at Aplon he is much smaller but much better!!

    Would rather put Ludik at 15 and Mark Harris at 11!!

  • 3.Moaner: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2006, 22:44 pm

    Congrats Lions!!!

  • 4.walter: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2006, 22:50 pm

    #2, Ludik started at 15 with Harris at 14 and Esterhuizen at 11 and Rose on the bench, Harris went of injured fairly early in the game, that’s when Rose came off the bench..

  • 5.xpat: Reply to this comment
    9 Sep 2006, 07:24 am

    Well done die Rooi Bontes and so our climb continues.
    Must say for what its worth the Cheethas vs Weepee game was an absolute blinder. Rassies Cheethas gave a lesson on “in your face rugby” and that was an education to watch. If that is the ability we still have to call on for the Bokke then our rugby is in a healthy state, now all we need is to sort out the management.

  • 6.RedLion!: Reply to this comment
    9 Sep 2006, 09:58 am

    The Lions will not sneak into the play-off … no they will bust the door open and announce themselves as the soon to be new CC champions.

    Well done to the pride of Jo’burg. Thanks for puttinh those minnows in their place … now oyr next final will be against the team that got thumped by our brothere the Cheetahs.

    WP prepare for another thumping.

    LIONS TO WIN THE CC!!!

  • 7.rapid_uk: Reply to this comment
    9 Sep 2006, 11:49 am

    woohooo
    Lions to win the CC!

  • 8.BERNARD: Reply to this comment
    10 Sep 2006, 09:41 am

    well done lions – making the comp abit closer now – just a pity wp will beat u in the next round

  • 9.katman: Reply to this comment
    11 Sep 2006, 08:10 am

    And so our march towards CC domination continues. Will anyone be able to stop this juggernaut? I don’t think so!

    Thanks to the Free State for softening those hooped pansies up for us. I pity the Province fool who comes to Ellis Park banking on a win.

    Lions to win the CC!!!!!!!

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