The Fidelity ADT Lions secured a 36-35 bonus-point try against the Airlink Pumas at the Nelspruit Rugby Club. The Lions returned to winning ways following their loss to the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers a week ago.
The Pumas kept fighting long after time was already up on the clock to secure an extra bonus point with their fifth try to lose by less than seven points.
The scores were tied on 21 each at the halftime break, whereafter, the Lions turned on the afterburner to extend their lead to 36-21. The Pumas scored two late tries to close the gap to 36-35, which was the final score.
The Pumas set up camp in the Lions’ half for the first ten minutes of the match but could only convert their dominance into points when flanker Ruwald van der Merwe opened the scoring with a great try.
The Lions replied almost immediately when Kelly Mpeku showed great footwork to level the scores at 05-05.
After seventeen minutes of play in the first half, scrumhalf Ross Braude scored a great try to extend the Pumas’ lead to 12-05 following the conversion by Danrich Visagie.
However, once again, the Lions’ Angelo Davids scored a team try in the corner, Lubabalo Dobela converted to level the scores at 12-12.
Darren Adonis added his name to the Pumas’ scoresheet, whereafter, once again, the Lions struck back when Renzo du Plessis crashed over for the Lions’ third try, to level the scores 21-21.
Lubabalo Dobela converted a penalty for the Lions after six minutes of play in the second half to lead 24-21.
Three minutes later, great interplay between Ruben Schoeman and Dylan Sjoblom led to Sjoblom scoring a great try, which was converted by Dobela to extend the Lions' lead to ten points.
Renzo Du Plessis scored a well-worked try out wide with twenty minutes still to play in the second half, to extend the Lions' lead to 36-21.
The Pumas threw everything they had at the Lions' defence, and two late tries by Jan-Henning Campher and Tiaan Pretorius reduced the Lions to 36-35, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Ruwald Van der Merwe, Ross Braude. Darren Adonis, Jan-Henning Campher, Tiaan Pretorius. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (5)
Fidelity ADT Lions: Tries: Kelly Mpeku, Angelo Davids, Renzo Du Plessis (2), Dylan Sjoblom. Conversions: Lubabalo Dobela (4). Penalty: Lubabalo Dobela.
Teams:
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vc), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisante, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Russwell Fredericks, 22 Tiaan Pretorius, 23 Dalvon Blood.
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Kelly Mpeku, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Johnre Stopforth, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.