The congested nature of the Currie Cup log was illustrated once again by the Lions’ 34-17 win over Griquas in Kimberley on Friday night.
By picking up a bonus point win, Swys de Bruin’s men moved from bottom of the log to third.
That’s bound to change when Western Province take on the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday but, more importantly, it confirms that the Lions have found some momentum again after a poor start to the campaign.
Who was the star in this match?
From the moment he was (unexpectedly) signed, Ryan Kankowski seemed like a good buy. The experienced No 8 is exactly the type of wise head you’re looking for in this tournament and his skill-set fits in at the Lions. He delivered a superb performance in this game, providing leadership, thrust in open play and sturdy defence. Not even a botched try could sour his night’s work.
Key moments and themes
Point scorers
Griquas 17 – Tries: Kyle Steyn, AJ Coertzen. Conversions: George Whitehead (2). Penalty: Whitehead (1).
Lions 34 – Tries: Cyle Brink, Kwagga Smith, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (4). Penalties: Van der Walt (2).
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