Close But No Cigar – Lions Craven Week 2016

The main game of the Craven Week between Western Province and the Lions was scintillating as both teams gave everything to get onto the front foot. The difference between the sides, however, was that Western Province made better use of their point-scoring chances, and they backed this up with a determined defensive effort. The opening exchanges of the clash were tight as the teams exchanged penalty goals. Western Province scored the first try of the match in the 15^thminute compliments of Manuel Rass as they spread the ball wide, but this was cancelled out by Lions flyhalf Tyrone Green, who won a turnover and later touched down under the posts. The Cape side, however, had the final say with a try by Muller Uys to take a 20-10 halftime lead.

The second half was tightly-contested as the Lions struck first with a try one minute into the half, but this was cancelled out by Western Province two minutes later as they crossed the tryline for their third try. Both teams ran hard at one another as the match progressed, but neither could break through the defence. The Lions closed the gap on the scoreboard to 27-20 compliments of a penalty by centre Wandisile Simelane eight minutes before the final whistle, but that proved to be the last points of the match, and saw Western Province emerge as the top team for the second successive year.