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Lions back on track after storms disrupt match

football14 December 2024 19:42
By:Brenden Nel
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The Emirates Lions got their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign back on track with a 43-35 win over French side Section Paloise at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday night.

But the high-scoring game, which was played in front of a small crowd, and was first delayed, then interrupted by thunderstorms, finally finished three and a half hours after it started, with both sides claiming a bonus point for their efforts.

The Lions would have been happy after losing their opening game last week against Welsh side Ospreys, and will now have one final game for the year in Cape Town as they head to face the DHL Stormers.

The Lions outscored Pau five tries to four but had to fight hard for the win, with the French side not giving up and playing right until the end.

Given the conditions were expected to be hot and muggy, the thunderstorms probably evened the playing field a bit, with most of the game played in rain. Still both sides put on a good performance in a game that was entertaining - despite the interruptions and the rain.

The visitors were first to score, thanks to a break by Thomas Souverbie, who came close, only for former Sharks player Dan Jooste to pick up and go over to score.

But then the Lions took control of the game, with their first lineout setpiece move getting wide early to Edwill van der Merwe, who, with some work to do, beat two defenders to score in the corner in a textbook winger’s try.

A penalty by Pau flyhalf Axel Desperes took the lead again with a penalty, before another Lions setpiece move got close to the line with Morne van den Berg going over from close range.

Just before halftime,a lineout drive rumbled over the line, with PJ Botha emerging with the score that would give the Lions the halftime lead.

Pau came close twice early in the second half, feeding off Lions mistakes. And it was only a matter of time before Desperes went blind, threw a show and go and went over the line untouched to retake the lead for his side.

Disciplinary issues for Pau cost them dearly as the Lions took advantage, with two players heading to the bin in short succession. First it was wing Gregoire Arfeuil who received his marching orders for sticking a hand out to deliberately knock down a pass that was on its way to winger Rabz Maxwane.

From the penalty the Lions rumbled the ball up again with the lineout drive, and were awarded a penalty try after loose forward Lekima Tagitagivalu collapsed the maul. Tagitagivalu got his marching orders as a consequence.

The game was then stopped on 55 minutes because of a thunderstorm nearby, and resumed a half hour later with the Lions expecting to soldier on to victory.

The try of the night was when prop Juan Schoeman broke through the middle, pumped the legs and made another 10 metres, just enough to go over for a try that he will crow about in the changeroom for months to come.

Ruben Schoeman added his name to the scoresheet in the 61st minute, but Pau hit back two minutes later with Romain Ruffenach going over at the back of a maul.

Kade Wolhuter added a penalty to make the scoreline a bit more comfortable, but Pau were able to get their bonus point when Josselin Bouhier scored five minutes from the end.

The Lions held out for the win, giving their fans some Christmas cheer, and confidence for their Cape Town trip.

Scorers

Emirates Lions - tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, PJ Botha, Juan Schoeman, Ruben Schoeman. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (4). Penalties: Wolhuter.

Section Paloise - tries: Dan Jooste, Axel Desperes, Romain Ruffenach, Josselin Bouhier. Conversions: Desperes (3). Penalties: Desperes (3)

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