Golden Lions into quarters after impressive win

April 16 - The Golden Lions on Friday duly qualified for the Vodacom Cup quarter-finals when they beat the Welwitchias 51-20 at Johannesburg Stadium. It was a committed and slick performance by the Lions as they ran in seven tries - some the result of good interplay, others coming after poor work by the visitors who were sloppy in their execution and conceded too many turnovers. GLRU president Kevin de Klerk was a happy man afterwards. “We’ll take a win anywhere,” he said, emphasising that the right coaching structures are being put in place and that this was only the beginning of things to come. Captain Justin Wheeler afterwards made no bones about it: “We want to win the competition,” he said in his post-match interview. The win probably ensures that the Lions will finish second in the North section behind the unbeaten Blue Bulls. They have a points differential of 120 and can only be denied a second log place if defending champions Griquas beat the Valke by 90 points on Saturday. If the Lions do finish in second place they will play the third-placed side of the South section, still to be determined over the weekend’s remaining Round Seven matches. Western Province head the South table going into the final weekend and four sides are locked on 19 log points in a battle for the other three places. The home side scored three tries in the first half, to wing Henno Mentz, hooker Charles Emslie and eighthman Justin Wheeler to open up a 21-point gap at the break. This they extended to 41-6 after 57 minutes thanks to further scores by lock Wouter Moore and centre Pieter Engelbrecht, before a rearguard effort by the visitors netted them two well-worked tries and a certain respectability on the scoreboard. Impressive centre Llewellyn Winckler grabbed the first after 63 minutes with a well-timed support run before right wing Chrysander Botha scored the second four minutes later. Botha also converted both touchdowns. The Lions finished in style with tries to lock Jacques Lombard and replacement Shandré Frolick, who galloped 60 metres unopposed after the final hooter. Scorers: Lions: Tries: Henno Mentz, Charles Emslie, Justin Wheeler, Wouter Moore, Pieter Engelbrecht, Jacques Lombard, Shandré Frolick. Conversions: Earl Rose (5). Penalty: Rose. Drop goal: Rose. Welwitschias: Tries: Llewellyn Winckler, Chrysander Botha. Conversions: Botha (2). Penalties: Eugene Jantjies (2).