Hook nails late winner
13 Jun 2009
Replacement James Hook goaled a penalty in the 74th minute to give the Lions a scrappy 26-23 win over WP.
The rain abated from kickoff to climax, but the heavy showers around lunchtime certainly left their mark on the Newlands turf. The greasy ball was even harder to field given the turbulent wind, as WP fullback Joe Pietersen indicated on more than one occasion.
The Lions employed the high-ball tactic to good effect as Pietersen and company dropped several bombs to hand the visitors both territory and possession. The first quarter was characterised by garryowens, probes for touch and low-trajectory grubbers, and for the most part it was the Lions who executed these kicks better.
Willem de Waal kicked two penalties and a drop goal in the first half while Pietersen sunk a drop goal of his own, but unfortunately for the home fans, WP just never looked like scoring a try. The Newlands’ faithful screamed whenever the hosts drew close, but as the move broke down a more prominent cry of ‘Lions, Lions’ could be heard from the travelling contingent.
Wales No 8 Andy Powell stood out for the tourists, beating the first tackler with his dangerous combo of quick feet and powerful upper-body strength. It was a Powell break that sparked the first try as the Lions’ backs and forwards combined to expose some poor WP defence.
Powell offloaded to Martyn Williams who in turn popped a smart pass to Stephen Jones. Rob Kearney took it wide, throwing a great floating pass in spite of conditions. Tommy Bowe received the ball on WP’s 22, spun out of one tackle, stepped inside another and bust through two more to dot down.
Bowe’s direct running set up the visitors’ second try in the 35th minute, and again credit must go to the shocking WP defence. Bowe slid through the first line effortlessly and was eventually hauled in by Tonderai Chavhanga after repelling the hapless Pietersen. He also found the time to deliver a basketball-pass to fellow winger Ugo Monye, who showed great anticipation and pace to finish.
De Waal goaled a penalty right on half-time to reduce the deficit to 18-12, but WP were struggling to stay in the match.
The scrums were a mess with both teams falling foul to a slippery pitch while the Lions’ lineout were solid on their own ball and competitive on WP’s. The breakdowns were also a mess with no team obtaining a clear advantage.
De Waal’s penalty attempt just after the break dropped under the bar, but several moments later he was on target to further narrow the gap. Province began to believe, and this was exemplified by lock Anton van Zyl’s scuffle with opposite number Donncha O’Callaghan.WP were outclassed but were determined to go down fighting.
But there was never enough accuracy in their fight for it to amount to any real threat. They bounced off too many first-time tackles and dropped too many passes. There were several turnovers that the Cape crowd cheered, but these were very minor and insignificant victories.
The Lions piled on the pressure and eventually the WP resistance crumbled again in the 57th minute. They built through the phases never shifting out from the first-receiver, and eventually Williams flopped over in the corner.
Stephen Jones’s goal-kicking radar was off in this fixture and he’ll surely be keen to get back up to the highveld. Newlands is notorious for its difficult goal-kicking conditions but that hardly seem to affect De Waal, who kicked an important penalty in the 61st minute to keep the hosts in the game at 23-18.
Province drew level three minutes later when a sustained period of pressure paid dividends. They looked to have butchered an opportunity but remained patient, and when the overlap was created De Waal threw a good overhead pass to Pietersen who showcased his finishing ability. De Waal, couldn’t convert from the touchline, but at 23-23 with 16 minutes remaining, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.
Hook didn’t fare any better than Jones with his first penalty attempt, and so the Lions failed to take the lead. Brimming with confidence, the hosts fought their way into Lions territory but were undone by a handling error again. This time it was De Waal who dropped the ball cold.
Hook goaled a difficult penalty from 50m out to regain the lead and from here the Lions fought to hang on. Again they were helped by WP’s errors, an attacking movement in Lions territory coming to nought due to a forward pass. On the hooter, Pietersen also grubbered the ball away to hand the visitors victory.
It was a far from polished performance from the men in red, but the bottom line is the Lions have won their fifth match in succession and gained further match preparation ahead of next Saturday’s Test in Durban.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Newlands
657 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All
13 Jun 2009, 15:12 pm
Lions 6 / 3
13 Jun 2009, 15:13 pm
Is Luke playing.. oh yeah there he is in the centres, whilst a maul is on…
13 Jun 2009, 15:16 pm
#51 grootblousmile: haha. hy groei ‘n mooi baard, lyk my hy wil vriende maak met victor.
13 Jun 2009, 15:17 pm
#51 grootblousmile: lol. He’s still a tosser no matter how he plays
13 Jun 2009, 15:17 pm
Klink asof die skare die BIL ondersteun en nie die WP nie ?
13 Jun 2009, 15:19 pm
#54 BDB: There are a LOT of BIL supporters in Cape Town…Waterfront was packed with them last night.
13 Jun 2009, 15:20 pm
#53 goyougoodthing2: He is a glory ball seeker.. no more !
13 Jun 2009, 15:20 pm
6 / 6 Droppie by Wielie Waalie
13 Jun 2009, 15:21 pm
#56 grootblousmile: Ball seeker LOL. He is form Cape Town, of course he likes balls.
13 Jun 2009, 15:21 pm
6/6 all, lekker
13 Jun 2009, 15:21 pm
#57 grootblousmile: Goeie drop van Willem de Bal !
13 Jun 2009, 15:23 pm
kearney class, gotta start 1st test
13 Jun 2009, 15:23 pm
Die Hekke gaan nou nou oop maak.
13 Jun 2009, 15:24 pm
Is Chavanga bang vir Monye ??
13 Jun 2009, 15:25 pm
chavanga is useless.
13 Jun 2009, 15:25 pm
If this carries on I might come last on SuperBru…
13 Jun 2009, 15:25 pm
#63 grootblousmile: Natuurlik. Jy vergelyk 40kg met 110kg.
13 Jun 2009, 15:26 pm
Marc Lawrence fok die game op.
13 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
#66 Ed_the_Lion: Hellooo Ed, Edd & Eddie !
13 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
Ag nee wat. Die Lions word moeg gestraf.
13 Jun 2009, 15:27 pm
hierdie leeus is baie baie gemiddeld. hulle skep geen geleenthede nie.WP all over them.
13 Jun 2009, 15:28 pm
geez Lawrence is making it a bit easier for the WP… shocker decision!!!
13 Jun 2009, 15:28 pm
#68 grootblousmile: Hello GBS. Sien kotsgesiggie is op die veld. Hy doen net fokkol.
13 Jun 2009, 15:28 pm
Province taking it too them for sure, good to see
13 Jun 2009, 15:28 pm
#67 Ed_the_Lion: YEP
13 Jun 2009, 15:29 pm
Droppie Petersen
Wp 9 / 6
13 Jun 2009, 15:29 pm
#72 Ed_the_Lion: veral as jy hom vergelyk met brussouw se vertoning laas week!
13 Jun 2009, 15:29 pm
#76 Veltie: Nee wat vergelyk nie koek en kak nie.
13 Jun 2009, 15:30 pm
What a GREAT try!
13 Jun 2009, 15:30 pm
Try Lions
Bowe ??
13 Jun 2009, 15:30 pm
Moes lankal gekom het.
13 Jun 2009, 15:30 pm
good try by Lions
13 Jun 2009, 15:31 pm
Lions 11 / 9
13 Jun 2009, 15:31 pm
poor tackling.
13 Jun 2009, 15:33 pm
#83 cab: Earl Rose is the tackling coach
13 Jun 2009, 15:33 pm
Joe Pietersen is absolute kak! Whoever said he should be selected for the Boks is a complete doos…Kirchner is 100 times better eish!
13 Jun 2009, 15:33 pm
Drop goal was gr8, but Pietersen is making a lot of mistakes
13 Jun 2009, 15:34 pm
Fake Tan Lawrence is making a meal of it both ways..
13 Jun 2009, 15:35 pm
Mark Lawrence is missing a couple of things, both sides…
13 Jun 2009, 15:35 pm
Watson’s impact on this game is minimal. Brussouw is definitely a better option at openside.
13 Jun 2009, 15:36 pm
as hierdie Wp outjies die leeus so terugtekkel, verbeel julle wat die bokke met hulle gaan maak. hehehehehehe
13 Jun 2009, 15:36 pm
#89 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: Puke is MIA. Glory Hole boy.
ANOTHER GREAT TRY!
13 Jun 2009, 15:36 pm
Try Monye… made by Tommy Bowe
13 Jun 2009, 15:36 pm
Great try!!!!!!!!!!!
13 Jun 2009, 15:37 pm
some dangerous wingers bowe and munyo.
13 Jun 2009, 15:37 pm
#93 Ed_the_Lion: k*k tackling bra…altwee driee sover…
13 Jun 2009, 15:37 pm
Game over for WP. At least the Sharks lasted 40 mins before the floodgates opened. Another kak performance by a South African team.
13 Jun 2009, 15:38 pm
Watson just NEVER goes into a ruck or maul… NEVER !
Lions 18 / 9
13 Jun 2009, 15:38 pm
More terrible tackling though… Joe has given away 10 points now
13 Jun 2009, 15:39 pm
#95 Veltie: Very Kuk
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