Emirates Lions pull away as Africa Conference 2 leader

Emirates Lions made sure that they opened up the gap between them and the second place in the Africa Conference 2 leader board.

The Lions have accumulated 37 points from 11 matches while the Cell C Sharks on 35 have played one more match than the team from the Highveld.

The team from Johannesburg showed their playing skills when they beat the Jaguares in a 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby match. Lions won by a big margin of 52-24 on Saturday May 21 at Emirates Airlines Park.

In the first half the teams were still testing each other out and less conventional rugby was played by both sides. Warren Whiteley’s team outscored the visitors by eight tries to two and they led 19-9 at half-time.

The second half saw the Lions coming out of the dressing room with more motivation and nothing stopped them getting control over the match to score at leisure. The hosts cut loose in the second half with some excellent attacking play which resulted in no less than five attractive tries. Wingers Courtnall Skosan and Ruan Combrinck each scored a brace, while the other try scorers for the home side were Lionel Mapoe, Lourens Erasmus, Cyle Brink from Alberton and Jaco Kriel.

The Jaguares on the other hand never gave up and scored two consolation tries at the end of the match through Nicolas Sanchez and Gonzalo Bertrano.

Scorers:

Emirates Lions 52 – Tries: Courtnall Skosan (2), Lionel Mapoe, Lourens Erasmus, Cyle Brink, Jaco Kriel, Ruan Combrinck (2), Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2), Ruan Combrinck, Penalties: Ruan Combrinck (2).

Jaguares 24 – Tries: Nicolas Sanchez, Gonzalo Bertrano, Conversions: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Penalties: Nicolas Sanchez (4).

The Cell C Sharks continued with their improved form of late by overpowering the Southern Kings 53-0 at the 17:00 match on Saturday. The Kings defended much better in the second half and they only conceded two more tries following the home side’s scoring spree of 43 points in the opening stanza.

As expected the match of the day was played in Pretoria where the north south derby took place between Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Stormers.The two teams were locked at 6-6 at halftime and after the DHL Stormers had managed to close the gap in the second half to just 14-13, an excellent a drop goal by replacement flyhalf Tian Schoeman eventually clinched the match for the Pretoria side.

The Toyota Cheetahs, Brumbies, the Highlanders and the Hurricanes all had byes.

Other Rounds 13 results:

Saturday May 21:

Reds 35 Sunwolves 25

Chiefs 36 Rebels 15

Force 13 Blues 17

Friday May 20:

Crusaders 29 Waratahs 10

Reds 35 Sunwolves 25