The final match of Round 6 of the Currie Cup Premier Division between the Fidelity ADT Lions and Windhoek Draught Griquas was balanced on a knife's edge until the 84th minute of the match when Cebo Dlamini scored the visitors' winning try to edge their hosts 25-18.
Goerge Whitehead opened the scoring for the Windhoek Draught Griquas with a converted penalty after two minutes of play in the first half. The Fidelity ADT Lions levelled the scores after 10 minutes of play via the kicking boot of Tiaan Swanepoel.
A yellow card was shown to Janu Botha (Windhoek Draught Griquas) whereafter the host started to pile the pressure on their visitors. Eventually, Zeilinga Strydom pounced on a Tiaan Swanepoel grubber to score the first try of the match.
A brilliant break by Rosco Specman resulted in Janco Uys bulldozing his way over the tryline of the hosts to reduce the Fidelity ADT Lions' lead to 10-8 which was also the halftime score.
Following 20 minutes of ding-dong rugby and no points scored by either team, Tiaan Swanepoel converted a penalty to extend the Fidelity ADT Lions lead to 13-08.
The Windhoek Draught Griquas attacked with purpose for 5 minutes and Johan Mulder sniped next to a maul to break and scored the visitors second try and break the hearts of the Fidelity ADT Lions supporters as Windhoek Fraught Griquas retook the lead by 15-13.
A converted penalty by Eddie Fouche extended the Windhoek Draught Griquas' lead to 18-13.
With one minute left on the clock, JC Pretorius scored the Fidelity ADT Lions' second try and levelled the scores at 18-18. Pretorius caught an up-and-under in the visitors' in goal area to the delight of all.
Cebo Dlamini cut through the defence of the Fidelity ADT Lions defensive line and scored his second Currie Cup to secure a 25-18 win after 84 minutes of play.
Scorers:
Fidelity ADT Lions: Try: Zeilinga Strydom, JC Pretorius. Conversion: Tiaan Swanepoel. Penalties: Tiaan Swanepoel (2).
Windoek Draught Griquas: Try: Janco Uys, Johan Mulder, Cebo Dlamini. Conversions: Eddie Fouche (2). Penalties: George Whitehead, Eddie Fouche.
Teams
Fidelity ADT Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), 1 Morgan Naudé. Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Conor van Buuren, 20 Johannes Pretorius, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Vaughen Isaacs, 23 Zeilinga Strydom.
Windhoek Draught Griquas: 15 Lubabalo Dobela, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Hanru Sirgel (c), 7 Michael Amiras, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube. Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Neil Otto, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Sango Xamlashe, 23 Sako Makata.