Photo by Jorina Raath/Speedshots.co.za
The Emirates Lions did exactly what the coaching staff and supporters expected of them in wet conditions at home, they won with 27-20 against the Queensland Reds. However, their opponents next weekend, the DHL Stormers will not be as easy and they will have to lift their performance with 1000% if they want to have a realistic chance to surprise all.
The Reds started like a house on fire and scored a converted penalty after a period of setting up camp in the Lions camp to take an early lead with 3-0. After twenty minutes in the first half, it was all even at ten points each with the Lions just maybe getting the upper hand in a scrappy match.
The second quarter of the match was a lot more of the same with the Lions dominant in most of the sectors of the game with the Reds’ scrum dominant. A try by the Emirates Lions in the last seconds of the first half match gave them a deserved 17-13 lead.
A second yellow card reduced the Reds to 13 players after two minutes of the start of the second half, unfortunately, the Lions could not take advantage with sometimes only desperate defence that kept the Lions from scoring. The score after the third quarter of the match remained 17-13 to the Lions, but a full house Reds looking a lot better.
The last quarter of the game came alive with both teams happy and willing to spread the ball along the backline. A converted penalty by the Lions gave them a 27-20 lead, with four minutes to go that proved to be the winning score. A well-deserved to the Lions but definitely not a Championship-winning performance.
Scorers:
Emirates Lions: Tries: Tyrone Green (2), Marnus Schoeman, Courtnall Skosan. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2)
Reds: Tries: Jock Campbell, Tate McDermott. Conversions: Bryce Hegarty (2) Penalties: Bryce Hegarty (2)