The Xerox Golden Lions reasserted their authority on the Absa Currie Cup log, staving off the Eastern Province Kings with a 37—21 win on 5 September at Emirates Airline Park.
The Kings were searching in vain for their first 2015 Currie Cup win. Although they would have fancied their chances in the second half, the Kings suffered an expected loss to the top team. A good performance at times was perhaps not enough to account for distress in the camp, as rumours were abounding in the preceding week of players striking due to wage arguments.
Lions coach, Johan Ackermann acknowledged the disputes, “We sympathise with what is happening there, it is not easy on any rugby player but we can’t read too much into that from a preparations point of view.”
True to his word, the Lions showed no mercy as they forced a penalty try from the Kings in just the fourth minute. Another two tries followed quickly as flank, Kwagga Smith charged over the line before centre, Stokkies Hanekom charged down a kick from the Kings fly-half, Karlo Aspeling, and gathered to score the third try.
Just as the game looked cut and dry, the Kings fought back with a try of their own from wing, Siyanda Grey, before entering into the second half with a new zest. They managed to fight their way all the way back to a six point deficit. It was not to be, however, as replacement Lions fly-half, Marnitz Boshoff, put the game two scores away with a successful penalty kick. The Lions ended the game with a fifth try after the full-time whistle to please the few die-hard fans that made it to the game despite the cold weather.
The Lions would have been disappointed not to start Warren Whiteley due to a last-minute calf injury but showed good depth in the absence of key players like Jaco Kriel and Franco Mostert. Captain, Howard Mnisi, performed admirably to keep the Joburg outfit a point above the Blue Bulls on the log and on track for their Currie Cup hopes.
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