The Fidelity ADT Lions secured their place in the 2025 Carling Currie Cup final with a comprehensive 67-19 win against the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Ellis Park.
It took the Lions three minutes to score their first try. Quan Horn caught an aimless kick by the Cavaliers and started to attack from within the Lions’ half. Great running by Horn set up a “lazy” pass to Angelo Davids, who strolled over for a five-pointer.
Chris Smith converted a fifty-meter penalty to extend the Lions' lead to 08-00 after eight minutes of play in the first half.
Following twelve minutes of play, the Lions kept up their speed of attack, and Angelo Davids once again was at the right place at the right time to receive the final pass. Chris Smith converted to extend the Lions' lead to 15-00.
Henco van Wyk scored two tries in quick succession. Smith added the extra two points to extend the Lions' lead to 29-00 after twenty-three minutes of play.
The Lions continued to run from everywhere, and prop SJ Kotze stepped past two defenders and scored the Lions' fifth try. Steyn converted to extend the Lions’ lead to 36-00.
Boland’s Sidney Tobias scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to open Boland’s account on the scoreboard with five minutes still to play in the first half.
With three minutes to play, Angelo Davids caught a great kick pass from Chris Smith to score his hat-trick try. The Lions led 41-05, which was also the halftime score.
The Lions started the second half as they ended the first, earning a penalty try as James Tedder was sent to cool off for ten minutes.
The following ten minutes were a bit of a bore; however, after fifteen minutes of play in the second half, Angelo Davids caught a brilliant kick-pass from Chris Smith and scored his fourth try of the match to extend the Lions' lead to 53-05.
Jayden Bantom scored a great individual try for the Boland. Tedder added the extra points to cut the Lions' lead to 53-12.
A try by Quan Horn (Lions) was followed by tries by Chriswill September (Boland) and Renzo du Plessis during the final ten minutes of play, securing the Lions a 67-19 win.
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha (c), 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Sanlam Boland Kavaliers: 15 James Tedder, 14 Xavier Mitchell, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Jayden Bantom, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Khwezi Mafu, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Ameer Hendricks, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Jurie van Vuuren, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.