Lions lift much coveted silverware

UNBEATEN throughout the season, the Xerox Golden Lions, captured the Absa Currie Cup in great fashion when they beat the DHL Western Province 32-24 at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, October 24.

The Johannesburg team had a dream season with 12 wins out of 12 matches and a strong performance against the Toyota Cheetahs in the semi-final ensured that Johannesburg’s pride snagged a home final.

Xerox Golden Lions lifted the much coveted trophy in 2011 when they also kept their ground to beat the Sharks 42-16 in the final. Last year the Xerox Golden Lions played and lost 19-16 in the final against the spirited WP team in Cape Town. They managed to overturn the record this year beating the DHL Western Province in front of almost 40 000 supporters.

The 2015 Currie Cup captain, Jaco Kriel, and coach, Johan Ackermann, paid tribute to the team spirit of the Johannesburg side.

“I want to thank our wonderful supporters. My team – there’s no team that’s got character like you guys,” an emotional Kriel said afterwards. Ackermann also had high praise for his side’s team spirit and he too made mention of the tremendous home support.

“We are one big family and the players really fight for each other. They worked so hard throughout the season and I am pleased for them. We made a good start and Province fought back bravely, but our incredible fans showed fantastic support and I am glad the guys could reward them with a good display,” said Ackermann.

The Lions outgunned the visitors with four tries to three, with scrumhalf Ross Cronje and Absa Man of the Match helping himself to two tries.

WP skipper Juan de Jongh also paid tribute to the faultless record of the Lions this season and commented on the WP’s fourth consecutive final and dashed hope for a second consecutive title win.

“To Jaco and his boys, well done on a great, perfect season,” said De Jongh. “We tried it in 2013. It’s awesome for you guys, whatever you’re building now it’s working for you. Credit to the Lions, they deserved the Cup because they had a wonderful season and today they were the better team,” said De Jongh.

“Our goal was to play in the final but we made too many errors in the first half. We fought back in the second half but the Lions defended very well. It’s very important that we go back and rectify our mistakes for next year,” added De Jongh, who also thanked the Western Province faithful for their support throughout the season.

Xerox Golden Lions vs DHL Western Province

The Cape side had to defend for much of the first half and after 37 minutes of play found themselves trailing 22-3. Province made a nervous start and conceded three penalties inside the first 10 minutes. Lions flyhalf, Marnitz Boshoff, missed his first two penalty attempts.

The Lions persisted with their high-tempo attacking game and inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg broke through a double tackle by De Jongh and Sikhumbuzo Notshe to set up a try for No 8, Warren Whiteley. Six minutes later Cronje broke through the defence for his first try. After 20 minutes the Lions were 14-0 up and firmly in control of the proceedings.

Province struggled to find any rhythm and young Robert du Preez could not hit the target with two early penalty attempts. He unfortunately kicked the ball out on the full and from the resultant lineout Whiteley broke away to send Cronje over for his second try. WP kept pressing and a minute before halftime Du Preez took advantage of a slow defence to burst through under the posts.

Immediately after the restart former Junior Bok midfielder Janse van Rensburg muscled his way through for another Lions try. Province fullback Cheslin Kolbe had a quiet afternoon due to the possession and territorial advantage of the Lions but showcased his skill on attack and his combined effort with Seabelo Senatla resulted in a try for WP No 8 Nizaam Carr and a nail biting score of 29-17.

Boshoff was on target with a long range effort and WP showed character to keep fighting back and scored for a third time when flanker Notshe crashed over the try-line after a rolling maul.

Scorers:

Xerox Golden Lions

Tries: Whiteley, Cronje (2) and Janse van Rensburg.

Conversions: Boshoff (3).

Penalties: Boshoff (2).

DHL Western Province

Tries: Du Preez, Carr and Notshe.

Conversions: Du Preez (2) and Kurt Coleman.

Penalty: Du Preez.

WP young guns, EP clinch junior titles

The DHL Western Province u.21s are the 2015 champions, after convincingly beating the Toyota Free State Cheetahs u.21s 52-17 in the final of the Absa provincial u.21 competition in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Having led by 20-10 at half-time Robbie Fleck’s all-conquering side, who finished on top of the log this season, losing just once in 14 games, ran in four brilliant second-half tries to secure Province’s third title in this age-group in the past six seasons.

Brandon Thomson, the Absa Man of the Match, scored one of his team’s six tries, also adding four conversions and four penalty goals for a match-haul of 25 points.

Eastern Province won the Absa u.19 competition when they edged the Vodacom Blue Bulls 25-23 in the final. It was the first ever title for the Eastern Cape youngsters, nowadays coached by former Springbok Sevens star, Mzandile Stick.