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October 2 – The MTN Golden Lions were in control of their Absa Under-21 match against the Free State in Bloemfontein on Saturday from the moment that Anthony Volmink scored the first of their three tries after only nine minutes. The Lions won 36-22.
And while the two sides both scored three tries, the home side’s one came right at the end of a match that had been settled by that time and where the Free State had to play catch-up after an early 3-0 lead.
Too many turnovers and especially penalties against the Lions in the first half, with the odd miscommunication on defence thrown in, allowed the Free State side to turn around behind by just a single point at halftime, 16-15. But then the Lions drew away to lead 36-15 until the 76th minute when the home side reduced the final margin to 36-22.
Volmink’s try was probably an indication of things to come after Wandile Mjekevu, playing at centre where he has for most of the season, cut the Free State defence open – and not for the last time – to set off on a run before sending Volmink over.
The other Lions tries were scored by Mjekevu’s centre partner Robert de Bruyn and fullback Ruan Combrinck, with Hein Cronje contributing three conversions, three penalties and a drop goal for an 18-point contribution. Combrinck also kicked a penalty.
The match, played on a wet field after an earlier deluge and rain also during the game, affected handling on both sides to some extent in a match that nevertheless produced some lovely rugby.
The victory by the fourth-placed Lions has ensured their place in the semi-finals. With only two rounds to be played, the Lions are 14 points ahead of fifth-placed Leopards. Although the Lions can still end up in third place, a second place seem unlikely. For that to happen, the Lions will have to take ten points from their last two matches with Western Province restricted to a single point.
This is not a likely scenario. Although the Lions can set the way with a win this coming weekend over WP, the Cape side then has an outing against the hapless Valke to finish off their season – a certain five-pointer against a side that has conceded exactly 700 points in their ten matches.
The Lions’ other match is in Durban against the Sharks, who also have to play the Leopards. The only way for the Lions to avoid the high-riding Blue Bulls in the semi-final is therefore to win both their remaining matches.
The current standing of the four top sides is (log points, matches played):
Blue Bulls 43, 11
WP 40, 10
Sharks 34, 34
Lions 32, 10
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