The Fidelity ADT Lions were the firm favourites against defending champions, the Toyota Cheetahs, however following a hectic eighty minutes of play the home team secured a 43-34 win to secure a home final next Saturday.
The winner of this clash will face the winner of the second semi-final between Vodacom Bulls or Hollywoodbets Sharks in the final. The two teams meet at Loftus Versveld at 17:00.
The Cheetahs started like a house on fire and flyhalf Ethan Wentzel controlled a bouncing ball in the Lions' half to score the visitors' first try of the match after just five minutes of play. Five minutes later the Lions once again could not control a bouncing ball and Ethan Wentzel added another seven points with a converted try to extend the Cheetahs' lead to 14-00.
Against the run of play, Jarrod Cairns stormed a kick down of the Cheetahs and scored the hosts' first try of the match to reduce the Cheetahs' lead to 14-07 and twenty minutes still to play in the first half.
In the following ten minutes, the Lions set up camp in the Cheetahs' 22m and with nine minutes still to play Asenathi Ntlabakanye showed some individual brilliance when he burst through a tackle and ran fifteen meters to score the Lions' second try to level the scores 14-14.
However, the Cheetahs struck back almost immediately sending the ball out wide with quick hands to open up space for Cohen Jasper to score the Cheetahs' third try and retake the lead 19-14.
Two minutes later the Lions started to attack from within their in-goal area which ended with Ruan Venter scoring the Lions' fourth try to level the score 19-19 once again.
The halftime chat seemingly worked as the Lions stormed into the second half to score their fifth try of the match after just one minute of play. Captain Marius Louw scored the Lions' first try of the half following brilliant hands and straight running by his teammates.
A storming run by Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete and replacement hooker Vernon Paulo scoring from the back of a lineout-maul were the Cheetahs' immediate replay to retake the lead 29-26 with thirty minutes to play in the second half.
Following a penalty converted by Sanele Nohamba he added more magic, stepping his way past several Cheetahs defenders to score under the posts. Nohamba added a quick ten points to the Lions' scoresheet. The Lions led 36-29 with fifteen minutes to play.
The Lions attacked from everywhere when Morne Brandon scored a brilliant fifty-meter try to extend the Lions' lead to 43-29 with five minutes to play. The Cheetahs replied almost immediately when George Lourens reduced the Lions' lead to 43-34 with the visitors' sixth try.
The Lions secured a home Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final with a 43-34 win.
Scorers:
Fidelity ADT Lions: Tries: Jarrod Cairns, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cohen Jasper, Ruan Venter, Sanele Nohambo, Morne Brandon. Conversions: Kade Wolhuter (2). Sanele Nohamba (2). Penalty: Sanele Nohamba
Toyota Cheetahs: Tries: Ethan Wentzel (2), Cohen Jasper, Victor Sekekete, Vernon Paulo, George Lourens. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (2)
Teams:
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marous Louw, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Kelly Mpeku.
Toyota Cheetahs: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Evardi Boshoff, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (c), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 George Lourens, 23 Litha Nkula.
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