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
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13 Jun 2009, 16:02 pm
#144 cab: Bryce is not great. He’s Pedantic and slows the game down. Could be helpful to the Lions if he doesn’t ping them at the breakdown.
He misses A LOT though. Where have all the good refs gone and why can’t Kaplan ref one of these matches?
13 Jun 2009, 16:02 pm
#144 cab: PDV will sort it, the Kiwis love him
13 Jun 2009, 16:04 pm
Tighthead in the WP scrum for Lions…
13 Jun 2009, 16:04 pm
#151 Big Hit: Can the Muppet win a test series against the Lions?
13 Jun 2009, 16:04 pm
totally off their feet, telling u gotta watch them, their technoque is all wrong.
13 Jun 2009, 16:05 pm
Newman was out…
13 Jun 2009, 16:06 pm
Lions 18 / 15
13 Jun 2009, 16:06 pm
#151 Big Hit:
lol
13 Jun 2009, 16:06 pm
#154 cab: It’s working for them. They totally murdered the Sharks like that, couldn’t get anywhere near the ball – even if they wanted to which looked doubtful
13 Jun 2009, 16:06 pm
Jammer Luke speel nie vandag nie, sou graag wou sien hoekom hy volgens sommige die beste nr.6 flank in die S14 was … o ja, en wie is die agsteman van die WP wat so staan en niks doen die hele wedstryd ?
13 Jun 2009, 16:07 pm
#159 BDB: HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!
13 Jun 2009, 16:08 pm
Waalie kan NET skop, skop, skop
13 Jun 2009, 16:08 pm
#160 BDB:
Speel Luke NIE?
Nou wie is daai #8 met die baard dan?
13 Jun 2009, 16:10 pm
Just turned over to watch the rugga. WP not doing bad here at all.
Our Proteas got 183. WI need 184 to win.
Anyways good luck WP. Go WP
13 Jun 2009, 16:10 pm
Must say the Lions don’t look as aggressive today as the did Wednesday…
13 Jun 2009, 16:10 pm
#162 Pietman: Daai kortetjie, wat staan en niks doen… en naar lyk… dis Lulu… hehehe
13 Jun 2009, 16:12 pm
#164 goyougoodthing2: Think this is their 2nd side that played Cheetahs.
13 Jun 2009, 16:12 pm
Good build up there from the Lions, that kind of play could dismantle the Boks if they don’t have their game face on. The first 20 mins, rusty, no game time… gonna be tough. I think leaving them out of the Provincial teams was a mistake and I am SUPER p1ssed off at hpaying R1000 for tickets to watch the muck I saw Wednesday
13 Jun 2009, 16:13 pm
#166 Puma: Definately.
13 Jun 2009, 16:14 pm
TRy Williams
13 Jun 2009, 16:14 pm
Another good try.
13 Jun 2009, 16:14 pm
Moes kom.
13 Jun 2009, 16:14 pm
So patient, ruthless…. clinical…
13 Jun 2009, 16:15 pm
#171 Ed_the_Lion: as brussouw daar was was dit n turnover….
13 Jun 2009, 16:15 pm
PUKE so busy shouting he missed the guy going over and then jumped on him to pretend. He’s so easy to dislike. Pity, he has a good S14 compared to the rest of his rubbish team
13 Jun 2009, 16:15 pm
Bwaaaaaaa Luke standsof the maul shouting instrutions and then gets bulldozered over the tryline….
13 Jun 2009, 16:15 pm
Lions 23 / 15
13 Jun 2009, 16:16 pm
8 points its nothing, WP still in this if they keep it up.
13 Jun 2009, 16:16 pm
#172 grootblousmile: Well put. I really really really hope my Sharks team watches these matches and puts some patience into their arsenal. At the moment we have nothing and won’t defend the CCup playing like that. Which I guess is good for you but surely you want to see decent rugby
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
Peetersen is having a MARE
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
56 minutes of rugby.
How anyone can compare 46 to Brussouw as a fetcher just boggles the mind.
Not even.
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
pietersen kos wp die game man alleen….
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
#175 gunther:
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
#173 Veltie: En ‘n drie vir WP. Pietersen sukkel vandag.
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
#181 Veltie: dink net as luke ook daar was!
13 Jun 2009, 16:17 pm
Brussouw should have been in,Schalk is not 100% fit
13 Jun 2009, 16:18 pm
#184 JM: sou orals gekots het….
13 Jun 2009, 16:18 pm
#185 wpforever: Schalk is also playing 100& kak of late too.
13 Jun 2009, 16:19 pm
#182 goyougoodthing2:
in fairness he talks a good game..
13 Jun 2009, 16:19 pm
Lions 23 / 18
13 Jun 2009, 16:19 pm
#167 goyougoodthing2: Agree we should have had our 10 Sharks Boks in the side on Wed. Very, very stupid to leave them out. We have had no warm up game. Shark Boks played many weeks back. Would not have harmed us one bit to play those Boks. Actually think it would have done us more good than not. Would have known much more what to expect. Now going in cold turkey is just damn stupid. Also traing at sea level for two weeks before heading straight back to the highveld to play at altitude.
Phew!!!!!!! think these coaches have it wrong. REALLY hope we are all wrong.
13 Jun 2009, 16:19 pm
Zero penetration by Province.
13 Jun 2009, 16:20 pm
yip gotta watch this breakdown, okes going off feet, coming in from side.
13 Jun 2009, 16:20 pm
3 drieë teen flokkol en hulle is net 5 punte voor.
13 Jun 2009, 16:20 pm
How are these commentators, saying you can’t criticise Lawrence for getting things wrong… wtf…
Pay me R15k for getting things wrong 2 hours per week and I’d be smiling.
13 Jun 2009, 16:20 pm
#190 Puma: trang = training.
13 Jun 2009, 16:21 pm
#194 goyougoodthing2:
13 Jun 2009, 16:21 pm
#188 gunther: ha ha. Yes, like the Tiger Rajbansi, he can talk a lot too.
#190 Puma: I am soooo cross about the cash I have spent, I am livid to think how SARFU ripped me off
13 Jun 2009, 16:21 pm
WP has’nt looked close to scoring a try… not even a glimmer
13 Jun 2009, 16:22 pm
Go WP.
Turning over now to watch the 20/20 cricket. Brilliant game going on there.
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