The Xerox Lions hosted DHL Western Province at Emirates Airline Park for their first home game of the Carling Currie Cup. The Lions surprised many by beatingWestern Province 38-32 with a much-improved performance and despite a strong fightback from Western Province in the last minutes of the second half.
In a short turn-around from their last match on Friday, the Lions welcomed back numerous players to training of which Ruben Schoeman, Jaco Visagie and Morne van den Berg were selected for the match to strengthen the team.
This aspect together with the home ground advantage seemed to all count towards their tremendous effort where they dominated possession and territory for most of the match. Their strong forward play provided them with most of their tries.
Western Province managed to gain more control of the match in the second half when the Lions’ defence started to falter and provided a strong fightback attempt. However, this was too little too late.
06:47 The Lions draw first blood with a try by Sibusiso Sangweni after the ball is played quickly from a set scrum and Sangweni races down the touchline to score. Conversion is missed by Fred Zeilinga (5-0).
13:57 The Lions score again when EW Viljoen makes a break, through the Western Province defensive line in their quarter and gets the ball wide to RabzMaxwane who scores a try in the corner. Conversion is missed by Fred Zeilinga (10-0).
19:07 Western Province strikes back when Juarno Augustus powers over the try line after repeated forward phase play in the Lions quarter from a Western province line out. Converted by Tim Swiel (10-7).
20:00 The first part of the first half saw an equal battle for territory and possession however the Lions gradually gained more territory and applied pressure on Western Province to reap the awards with 2 tries. Western Province however managed to get into the Lions quarter to score a converted try.
24:55 The Lions is awarded a penalty and kicks for the line. They win the lineout 5 meters from the Western Province try line and start a powerful driving maul from where PJ Botha crashes over the try line. Converted by Fred Zeilinga (17-7).
28:15 Western Province is awarded a penalty in the Lions quarter which is successfully kicked by Tim Swiel (17-10).
38:10 Evan Roos from Western Province is awarded a yellow card after he illegally and cynically plays through the ruck to spoil the Lions’ ball.
39:27 The Lions is awarded a penalty due to the yellow card and they kick for the line. They again win a lineout 5 metres from the Western Province try line and start another driving maul drive from where Ruben Schoeman scores a try which is converted by Fred Zeilinga (24-10).
40:00The Lions continued to dominate the possession and territory to keep Western Province pinned in their half and defending for most of the play. The Lions’ continued pressure resulted in more penalties from where they scored their tries.
44:01 The Lions again draw first blood in the second half when their forwards set up strong phase play close to the Western Province try line and PJ Botha powers over the line for his second try which is converted by Fred Zeilinga(31-10).
47:21 Rabz Maxwane from the Lions brilliantly intercepts the ball being passed wide down the Western Province backline and scores a try which is converted by Fred Zeilinga(38-10).
60:00 Western Province managed to play more rugby in the Lions’ quarter but they were unable to capitalise on penalties and scoring opportunities. The Lions on the other hand managed to score during one of the few occasions they were able to play in the Western Province quarter to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
70:01 Western Province manages to get into the Lions quarter and apply pressure resulting in a penalty try awarded to them when the Lions collapse the scrum on their try line (38-17).
71:21 Western Province score another try when replacement scrumhalf De Wet Marais breaks around the scrum and sprints along the sideline from within the Western Province half to score. Converted by Tim Swiel (38-24).
73:23 Another try scored by Western Province when they play the ball wide in the Lions’ quarter and Cornel Smit scores. Conversion missed by Tim Swiel (38-29).
76:20 Penalty awarded to Western Province and successfully kicked by Tim Swiel (38-32).
Scorers:
Xerox Lions: Tries: Sibusiso Sangweni, Rabz Maxwane (2), PJ Botha (2), Ruben Schoeman. Conversions: Fred Zeilinga(4)
DHL Western Province: Tries: Juarno Augustus, De Wet Marais, Cornel Smit, Penalty Try. Conversions: Tim Swiel(2) Penalties: Tim Swiel (2)
Teams:
Xerox Lions: 15. EW Viljoen, 14. Jamba Ulengo, 13. Manuel Rass, 12. Dan Kriel, 11. RabzMaxwane, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Dillon Smit, 8. Francke Horn (capt), 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. SibusisoSangweni, 5. ReinhardNothnagel, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. PJ Botha, 1. Nathan McBeth. Replacements: 16. Jaco Visagie, 17. BaneleMthenjane, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. RuhanStraeuli, 20. Emmanuel Tshituka, 21. Morne van den Berg, 22. AidynnCupido, 23. Duncan Matthews
DHL Western Province: 15 Tim Swiel, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Rikus Pretorius, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 SeabeloSenatla, 10 Abner van Reenen, 9 GodlenMasimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Evan Roos, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 NeethlingFouche, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak. Replacements (from): 16 Jason Alexander, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Justin Basson, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Cornel Smit, 24 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 25 HacjivahDayimani, 26 Niel Otto.
Article by - Francois du Toit