The MTN Golden Lions had to withstand a second half fight back from the Ford Pumas, but managed to hold on as they stayed at the top of the Absa Currie Cup pile after winning this Premier Division game by 34-20 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
After the visitors dominated the first half and went into the break 27-6 ahead, the Ford Pumas turned the tide in the second half as they managed to control possession better and made the Golden Lions work hard on defence.
The Ford Pumas outscored the Golden Lions by two tries to one after the break and were only seven points behind at the end of normal time, but the team from Johannesburg managed to get replacement lock Johan Snyman over for a bonus point try after the hooter had sounded.
It was the MTN Golden Lions’ seventh victory from eight games and with six games to go in the league phase of the Absa Currie Cup, they are on track to a home semi-final.
Scorers:
- Ford Pumas – Tries: Corné Steenkamp, MJ Mentz. Conversions: Coenie van Wyk (2). Penalties: Van Wyk (2).
- MTN Golden Lions – Tries: Michael Killian, Michael Rhodes, Jaco Taute, Johan Snyman. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4). Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Teams:
- Ford Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Tian Meyer, 11 Wilhelm Looch, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corne Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Rudi Matthee, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Dawie Steyn. Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 RW Kember, 20 Martin Sithole, 21 Tiaan Marx, 22 Johan Jackson.
- MTN Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Joshua Strauss, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis.
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log:
Pos. Team – P – W – D – L – PF – PA – PD – TF – TA – BPts – Pts
- MTN Golden Lions – 8 – 7 – 0 – 1 – 274 – 178 – 96 – 30 – 17 – 4 – 32
- DHL Western Province – 8 – 5 – 1 – 2 – 242 – 165 – 77 – 24 – 13 – 5 – 27
- The Sharks – 8 – 6 – 0 – 2 – 225 – 192 – 33 – 19 – 16 – 2 – 26
- Toyota Free State Cheetahs – 8 – 4 – 0 – 4 – 306 – 183 – 123 – 37 – 18 – 7 – 23
- GWK Griquas – 8 – 4 – 1 – 3 – 230 – 253 – -23 – 26 – 33 – 5 – 23
- Vodacom Blue Bulls – 8 – 4 – 0 – 4 – 198 – 227 – -29 – 22 – 23 – 2 – 18
- Ford Pumas – 8 – 0 – 0 – 8 – 158 – 275 – -117 – 17 – 32 – 5 – 5
- Platinum Leopards – 8 – 1 – 0 – 7 – 142 – 302 – -160 – 17 – 40 – 1 – 5
Absa Currie Cup First Division Log:
Pos. Team – P – W – D – L – PF – PA – PD – TF – TA – BPts – Pts
- Eastern Province Kings – 7 – 7 – 0 – 0 – 327 – 158 – 169 – 46 – 20 – 5 – 33
- Regent Boland Cavaliers – 7 – 6 – 0 – 1 – 316 – 120 – 196 – 42 – 15 – 7 – 31
- SWD Eagles – 6 – 3 – 0 – 3 – 186 – 232 – -46 – 23 – 30 – 2 – 14
- Tasol Solar Griffons – 7 – 1 – 0 – 6 – 201 – 293 – -92 – 26 – 41 – 7 – 11
- Valke – 6 – 2 – 0 – 4 – 161 – 227 – -66 – 24 – 29 – 2 – 10
- Border Bulldogs – 7 – 1 – 0 – 6 – 181 – 342 – -161 – 22 – 48 – 3 – 7
