Lions win encounter against the Highlanders
The Lions played their Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Highlanders on May 18 at Emirates Airlines Park.
Emirates Lions left it until late in the second half to pull away from the Highlanders to record a nail-biting win at home.
The Lions played their Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Highlanders on May 18 at Emirates Airlines Park.
To the delight of the fans, the local side notched up the most important win to add the much-needed log points on the Southern Conference.
It was a profitable weekend for teams in the South African Conference, with no losses to show and victories for the Vodacom Bulls, Jaguares and Emirates Lion, while the DHL Stormers managed a draw against the Crusaders in a pulsating Vodacom Super Rugby contest in Cape Town.
The Vodacom Bulls kicked off their Australasian tour on Friday with a 32-17 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne following the Jaguares’ 28-20 triumph over the Hurricanes in Wellington, while the Emirates Lions defeated the Hurricanes 38-29 in an entertaining clash in Joburg on Saturday.
The DHL Stormers held the Crusaders to a thrilling 19-all draw in the late Saturday afternoon match in Cape Town, while the Cell C Sharks had a bye weekend.
After 14 rounds of action, the Vodacom Bulls and Jaguares have 32 points each from 12 games, with the men from Pretoria on top of the SA log courtesy of a better points difference. The Highvelders are in third (30 points), followed by the Cell C Sharks (29) and DHL Stormers (26).
On Friday, the Vodacom Bulls are away to the Brumbies in Canberra, while on Saturday the Jaguares play the Waratahs in Sydney. The DHL Stormers host the Highlanders in Cape Town and the Cell C Sharks have a home derby in Durban against the Emirates Lions.
Gritty Emirates Lions beat Highlanders in Joburg try-fest
The Emirates Lions produced a gutsy performance to defeat the Highlanders 38-29 in their Vodacom Super Rugby encounter played in perfect conditions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Joburg outfit led 14-12 at half-time and proceeded to dominate possession and territory in the second half to clinch a massive result.
Stand-in captain Malcolm Marx (hooker), Kwagga Smith (No 8) and Elton Jantjies (fly half) were the standout players for the Highveld team. There was plenty of attacking intent from both sides, but the Emirates Lions won’t be happy with the number of handling errors they committed against the Kiwis.
Both teams scored five tries, but it was the accurate boot of Springbok fly half Jantjies that proved the difference in the end. The pivot succeeded with all five conversions and added an important penalty goal for a personal contribution of 13 points.
The Emirates Lions took a two-point advantage into the half-time break thanks to converted tries scored by Andries Coetzee (flank) and Smith. The visitors scored the match’s opening try through Sio Tomkinson and he was followed over the line by Tom Franklin.
The first stanza was characterised by a lot of big hits, open attacking play but also a lot of handling errors on both sides. The Highvelders scored the first try of the second half when Smith dotted down for his second. However, the Highlanders hit back with two quick tries through Jordan Hyland (right wing) and Matt Faddes (full back) to regain the lead at 22-21.
Jantjies slotted the game’s first penalty goal in the 63rd minute to reclaim the lead for his team with the score at 24-22. They soon extended their lead to nine points when Shaun Reynolds (replacement back) finished a great team try.
However, they were unable to prevent Josh Ioane (fly half) from scoring the Highlanders’ fifth try just a few minutes later that reduced the score to 31-29.
The Emirates Lions then put the result beyond any doubt when they secured the winning points with a well-worked try on the stroke of full time with Courtnall Skosan (wing) going over for their fifth try of the game. The deserved win enabled them to snap a losing run of three defeats to New Zealand opposition.
The full results of Round 14 are:
May 17
Hurricanes 20, Jaguares 28
Rebels 17, Vodacom Bulls 32
May 18
Blues 23, Chiefs 8
Reds 32, Waratahs 40
Emirates Lions 38, Highlanders 29
DHL Stormers 19, Crusaders 19
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