Golden Lions have too much pace for near neighbours

In the SuperSport Rugby Challenge on May 12, played in the North Section, the Xerox Golden Lions had too much pace and class for the Hino Valke.

They ran in ten tries to outplay the Hino Valke 68-12 (halftime 26-5) at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park on Saturday. Xerox Golden Lions XV fly half Shaun Reynolds helped himself to 27 points and scored a hat trick and six conversions.

Another highly successful SuperSport Rugby Challenge Rugby Festival concluded a hugely exciting weekend of rugby action, with one previously undefeated team tasting defeat at Impala Rugby Club in Rustenburg on Sunday.

Tafel Lager Griquas was pipped 32-31 by the Toyota Free State XV on Sunday, leaving the Bloemfontein side, along with iCOLLEGE Pumas and DHL Western Province as the only sides without a loss after four rounds of action.

DHL Western Province had a bye, while the Nelspruit team travelled to Namibia, where they kept their winning run intact.

The Free State side almost let their strong first half effort slip away from them. They raced into a 24-0 lead at the break, but a determined fightback by the Tafel Lager Griquas almost snatched the win away from their neighbours.

The men from Kimberley scored 31 points in the second half as their attack finally found some rhythm. They outscored the Free State side with five tries to four, but with their last try unconverted, fell just a point short to pull off a memorable win.

In the second match of the day, also in the Central Section, the Leopards and Cell C Sharks XV entertained the good crowd with some great running rugby, resulting in 13 tries.

The visitors scored three quick tries in succession to race into a 17-0 before they match evened out in the remainder of the half. The Cell C Sharks XV scored two more tries before the break, as did the Leopards, who trailed 14-29 after the first half.

The second half had the crowd on the edge of their seats, but the Cell C Sharks XV used their opportunities better and pulled away from a gutsy Leopards team.

Action started on Friday in the South Section, where the Border Bulldogs pulled off a 22-17 win over the EP Elephants. This means that only the Port Elizabeth side in that section has not scored a win.

The Boland Cavaliers handed SWD Eagles their first defeat in Wellington on Saturday.

The Cavaliers won 37-12 (halftime 19-7) at the Boland Stadium and scored no less than six tries on their way to a solid win. The Eagles tasted defeat for the first time and will have to find a way to up their defensive effort if they want to get back on the winning trail again.

For Boland, who took DHL Western Province to the brink of a defeat last week, the continued improvement will please players and coaches alike.

The North Section saw another win for the iCOLLEGE Pumas, this time beating the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias in Windhoek.

They scored no less than seven tries (and a penalty try) to ease into a 54-12 win in the Hage Geingob Stadium. Both debutants, Heino Marais and Jeandre Rudolph dotted down for the Nelspruit team.

Byes: Vodacom Blue Bulls (North), DHL Western Province (South), Down Touch Griffons (Central).

Also Read:

Hat-tricks galore in SuperSport Rugby Challenge

Tries galore at Rugby Challenge

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