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Cougars v Lions at Nelspruit (Gallo)
the Lions achieved five victories out of five in the Currie Cup by defeating a brave Pumas attire 33-25 in Nelspruit.
The victory places the Johannesburg team in second place in the overall table with one game remaining in the regular season and within reach of a place in the semi-final.
AS A STEP: Cougars 25-33 Lions
Fit fullback Tiaan Swanepoel scored two tries and kicked four penalties for a 22-point shot, while Jaco Visagie scored a try and Elton Jantjies added three conversions.
The game got off to a frantic start with the Pumas drawing blood on a well-crafted attempt before the Lions returned the favor with a five-point, all in the first five minutes.
It was a single phase game of a scrum that set up the Pumas try, with winger Phumzile Maqondwana surging over the win line before throwing a pass to number 8 Willie Engelbrecht to score.
But the Cougars would give away a penalty kick-off, allowing the Lions to kick across territory and set up the rolling maul, which advanced with ease before hooker Jaco Visagie crashed for the try.
The Lions took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a pair of long-range penalties from fullback Tiaan Swanepoel, the first from 40 meters and the second from nearly 50, but Ginter Smuts cut the deficit shortly after when a Los Angeles player Lions were penalized for holding on.
The Lions went through a period of dominant possession, but couldn’t break through the Pumas defense and instead it was the home team that finished the first half on attack.
An attacking lineout right on the Lions’ try line saw them prepare for the rolling maul, and after nearly being dragged over the touchline, the group was able to readjust to allow hooker Simon Westraadt to pass through for the try. Smuts added extras from the outside when it finished 17-13 for the Pumas at halftime.
The Lions had a chance to go for an easy three points early in the second half, but opted to establish an attacking lineout. It was a decision that paid dividends shortly thereafter, when his rolling maul carried the ball up the line before it moved out, where Jantjies helped create the space for Swanepoel to pass.
The visitors continued to look dominant in the second half and were soon rewarded with another five points, this time from a brilliant counterattack that saw Courtnall Skosan dash down the field before unloading it to Andre Warner, who found Swanepoel for the score. . . Jantjies converted and the Lions took a 27-17 lead.
Smuts was able to cut the deficit to just seven points shortly before the hour mark, but once again the Lions were able to count on Swanepoel’s incredible precision from range when he nailed a penalty kick from within the Pumas’ half to restore its 10-point lead.
However, the Pumas refused to lie down and set up a shot in the stands when Etienne Taljaard stabbed a clever kick through the Lions defense for Erich Cronje to pick up and score.
The home team had a chance for a win in the final 10 minutes, but the Lions were finally able to hold the win when a late Swanepoel penalty took the game past the Pumas.
Scorers
Cougars 25 (17)
Attempts: Willie Engelbrecht, Ginter Smuts, Erich Cronje
Conversions: Devon Williams, Smuts
Penalties: Smuts (2)
Lions 33 (14)
Attempts: Jaco Visagie, Tiaan Swanepoel (2)
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3)
Penalties: Swanepoel (4)
