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Van der Merwe try gives Lions historic win in Wales

rugby24 September 2022 21:01| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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A late try to Emirates Lions winger Edwill van der Merwe gave his side a massive, morale-boosting 28-27 win over the Ospreys in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in Swansea on Saturday night.

The try, in the 70th minute, came after the Lions punched up the middle and reserve props and brothers JP and Ruan Smith combined on the run to send the ball out to a flying Van der Merwe, who looped inside to score under the posts and give the Lions the lead for the first time since the 7th minute of the game.

It was a lead they held onto for the win, despite being outscored by the Ospreys four tries to three.

But for the Lions, when the final whistle went, they celebrated as if they had won the URC, such was the meaning of their away victory in the competition.

It was a tough old night for the Lions, as it looked for long periods as if their old habits would catch up to them, and despite dominating territory and possession, they were behind on the scoreboard for most of the game.

Despite taking an early lead through the boot of Gianni Lombard, it was the home side who used their chances more effectively to lead for most of the match.

It started with a quick penalty tap in the Lions half that was moved wide with purpose and put Keenan Giles over for his first of two tries.

Giles made it a second four minutes later when he crossed in similar fashion and it seemed the Lions were going to have the same old struggles as they went behind early.

But credit must go to them for clawing their way back into the game, first as Francke Horne emerged at the back of a maul as it rumbled its way over the line and for never letting the Ospreys get away from them at the scoreboard.

TWIN TROUBLE

Sure, there are a lot of work-ons, but given they were the South African franchise least expected to succeed, any away victory is a celebration.

It also meant that South African sides had a clean sweep of their games on the weekend, underlying the hope that this will be a good season for the local sides.

Still, the Lions often had more than enough possession, but were unable to turn it into points when it mattered, and the manner in which the Ospreys also struggled at times, could mean Toby Booth’s side is in for a long season as well, despite having a number of Welsh internationals in their side.

Rhys Webb went in for his try almost untouched as he extended the halftime lead to 19-14, but the Ospreys were unable to get enough momentum going to gain some distance from the visitors.

It was a mistake by Webb that let the Lions in the game again, as Sanele Nohamba turned hero and villain in a five minute period that first got his side back into the match, then almost lost it for them.

A back ball to Webb was dropped and snapped up Nohamba, who sprinted 20 metres to score and level matters in the 48th minute, but no sooner had the Lions celebrated than Nohamba cost them dearly as he knocked the ball out of Dewi Lake’s hands as he was preparing for a lineout, infuriating the referee and costing his team a penalty in the process.

The penalty was kicked to the corner and it was ironic that Lake was the one who twisted round the back of the maul to claim the try and give his side the lead again.

Lombard and Walsh traded penalties shortly afterwards and it started to look as if the victory was a bridge too far for the Lions.

But then came the breakthrough up the middle and it isn’t often you see two props running rampant, let alone twin brothers, before offloading to the speedster to get them over the line.

The Lions were solid in defence as the Ospreys looked desperately for the win, and when they were awarded a penalty on fulltime, it erupted into celebrations for a big win, built on character by the Johannesburg side.

SCORERS

Ospreys - tries: Keenan Giles (2), Rhys Webb, Dewi Lake. Conversions: Jack Walsh (2). Penalty: Walsh.

Emirates Lions - tries: Francke Horn, Sanele Nohamba, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (2). Penalties: Lombard (3)

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