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October 29 - The MTN Golden Lions surprised the Blue Bulls in the final and deservedly won their Absa unde-19 match by 20-19 in the first curtain-raiser at Coca-Cola Park in Saturday.
With a surfeit of the territory and coming out square in the possession states, the Lions were unlucky to go into the break 6-3 down. But two lovely tries, set up by the forwards with aggressive phase played and good control and rounded off brilliantly by the backs with their wings Errol Jagger and Tiaan Putter scoring two of their tries after some good hands from the inside backs, with the other by Stephan Nel coming from a forward drive saw them claw their way back into the game.
Lions goal kicker Marais Schmidt had a difficult day, missing three kickable opportunities and that helped to keep the Blue Bulls in the game in a period where they were outplayed – and also to keep the crown in suspense until the very end of a match marred by too many penalties to call it outstandingly good.
But that it was tough and that the Lions stood up to the best the Blue Bulls could dish up, and that it was tense and hard as a final should be, cannot be denied.
The win was just reward for a side that equalled the most tries in the competition (55) and were extremely competitive throughout, with a noticeable upswing in their play in the second round of the competition. An the feat of the Lions in turning around to league loses of 43-24 and 37-25 in the first and second rounds respectively, should not be underestimated – nor their fight back when they were 16-8 down 20 minute before the final whistle.
It was then that the character of the season showed and they clinched the match against the favourites who were outscored by three tries to one.
Full marks to captain Mark Pretorius and his team!
Scorers:
MTN Golden Lions: tries: Errol Jaggers, Tiaan Putter, Stephan Nel. Conversion: Marais Schmist. Penalty: Schmidt.
Blue Bulls: Try: Wiaan Liebenberg. Conversion: Altonio Jantjies. Penalties: Jantjies (4)
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