Lions keep semi hopes alive with win over Griffons

The ADT Fidelity Lions kept their slim hopes of making the Currie Cup semifinals alive as they picked up 39-22 bonus point win over the Novavit Griffons at the HT Pelatona Projects Stadium in Welkom on Friday afternoon.

The win moved the Lions up to fourth on the log, but they still need the Toyota Cheetahs to beat the Vodacom Blue Bulls without letting them get a point, and the Cell C Sharks to beat DHL Western Province in Saturday’s games for them to reach the knockouts.

In the match the Lions enjoyed a strong start, with plenty of pressure in the Griffons territory leading to the opening score.

From a lineout on the 22m the Lions set the maul and powered it over the line, with flank JC Pretorius dotting down, as scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba added the conversion.

However the Griffons hit straight back from the kick-off as the Lions allowed the ball to bounce into their 22m, with lock Riaan Olivier superbly chasing and catching it to dive over in the corner, with the extras from scrumhalf Jaywinn Juries levelling it up after 11 minutes.

The visitors then took charge with a quickfire double as lock Ruben Schoeman crashed over from a pick and go, while wing Boldwin Hansen raced onto a Nohamba grubber to dot down, as the Lions took a 19-7 lead after 32 minutes.

A yellow card to Schoeman for a dangerous tackle didn’t slow the Lions as they finished the half brilliantly with a fantastic counter-attack that saw hooker Jaco Visagie run over 50m to score under the posts, with Nohamba converting for a strong halftime lead.

The Griffons got off to a great start in the second half as they fought their way back into the match through two tries either side a penalty to Nohamba.

Straight from the kick-off the home side attacked, putting a kick into the Lions 22m where wing Keanu Vers slapped the ball back for outside centre CJ Coetzee to catch and go over in the corner for the converted score.

The second was a superb counter-attack that ended with Juries sniping down the blind and offloading to hooker HP van Schoor to go over, making it 29-19 after 52 minutes.

The scrumhalves then traded penalties, with Juries popping one over followed by Nohamba slotting one with the score 32-22 after 60 minutes.

The Griffons tried their best over the final 20 minutes, playing well despite losing fullback Duan Pretorius to a yellow card for cynical play with 10 minutes to go.

But the Lions made sure of the win with a late try as they attacked from a lineout in the Griffons 22m, with lock Raynard Roets going over in the corner and flyhalf Gianni Lombard nailing the conversion.

LIFELINE??@LionsRugbyCo keep their slim semi-final hopes alive with a win in Welkom??#CurrieCup #WhereLegendsRise pic.twitter.com/VXYdWm2IKh

— The Currie Cup (@TheCurrieCup) June 9, 2023

Scorers