News

Lions feast on the Falcons

September 05 2008

The Lions were in rampant form as they crossed for thirteen tries in what was a comprehensive 83-14 victory over the Falcons at Bosman Stadium on Friday.

It was something of a non-contest as the fourth-placed Currie Cup visitors dominated immediatley following an early home score with scores aplenty for Eugen Eloff's men.

The man who starred in July's reverse fixture, Earl Rose, orchestrated well once again during his time on the field with scores flowing fluently as the Lions did their points difference no harm whatsoever.

Visiting coach Eloff predicted pre-game that if the contest were to become loose it would aid the Falcons' cause. However, his side's dominance at the breakdown and in all other facets proved too much for the hosts.

Opposing fly-half Len Olivier did, however, continue his impressive showings of late by dropping a series of kicks into no-man's-land, which ultimately cost the Lions as wing Dewald Pretorius grounded inside six minutes.

But that power spoken about was always in the Lions' locker and eventually told soon after as Rose capped some forward play with a long ball out that found Jaco Pretorius in the corner to bring the scores to 7-5. And one quickly became two tries on thirteen minutes as full-back Jaco van Schalkwyk showed his searing pace under the posts with Rose converting.

And there was so much more to come as the power and pace of Cobus Grobbelaar and Trompie Nontshinga respectively found lock Anton van Zyl who burrowed over - the scores now 7-19 in Brakpan with a bonus point sure to follow.

It came through the speed of Nontshinga from what was becoming deadly turnover ball on halfway. The flying wing streaked down the left flank with four scores completed in just less than twenty minutes.

The Lions hadn't finished with their opening onslaught though as fellow wing Michael Killian showed all his elusiveness following a rare period of competitive action. Quick thinking from Rose saw him tap and spread play 55 metres from the Valke whitewash. That found Killian who backed himself to the hilt as he evaded three tacklers en-route to the line on 30 minutes.

However, home cheers weren't too far in coming at the Bosman Stadium as an overlap found prop Gavin Whittingham to dive over for his first competition try, much to his delight.

But smiles were short-lived as a further Lions score materialised before the break with centre Doppies la Grange strolling over to stretch to healthy lead to 14-38 on half-time.

The in-form Lions' dominance abated as the teams returned though and it was, in fact, the hosts who showed strong character to compete for scraps. However, that was what the game had fizzled towards as fragmented play scuppered attacks with the points already in the Lions' pocket.

Rose then came to the fore once again as he ghosted through a hole before feeding Killian for his second score of the night. More braces swiftly followed; this time for van Schalkwyk and la Grange as the Lions' account progressed comfortably over the half-century.

Despite the seemingly one-sided contest there was a mass of off-the-ball activity, ultimately leading to van Schalkwyk being given a straight red card for taking out an opposing player in what appeared to be a spear tackle.

Replacement hooker Ethienne Reynecke then grabbed a couple of his own scores as the Lions' try account moved well into double figures with their hosts chasing shadows.

The scorers:

For the Falcons:

Tries: Pretorius, Whittingham

Con: van Rooyan 2

For the Lions:

Tries: Pretorius, Van Schalkwyk 2, Van Zyl, Nontshinga, Killian 2, La Grange 2, Reynecke 2, Benjamin 2

Con: Rose 6, Strydom 3

Red card: Jaco van Schalkwyk - the Lions (dangerous tackle on 65 minutes)

Falcons: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Ernie Kruger, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Johan Swartz, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Poerie van Rooyen, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Johan de Bruin, 6 Warren Perkins, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Ruhan van Jaarsveld, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Gavin Whittingham.

Replacements: 16 Jody Jeneker, 17 Frik Venter, 18 Wouter Moore, 19 Reg Muller/Emile Verster, 20 Gerrie Odendaal, 21 Showan Smith, 22 Jeff Perkins.

Lions: 15 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Derick Minnie, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Walter Venter, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Rayno Benjamin.

Referee: Marius Jonker

Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peter de Bruin

Television match official: Michael Cupido

Assessor: Eugene Daniels