Golden Lions win, have early log lead

The Lions trailed 6-3 at the break, but then improved considerably and ran in five tries to one in the second half.

It was an error-ridden first half, but the Lions improved immeasurably after the break, keeping their patience and also control of the ball for long periods.

The Lions took the lead for the first time after 47 minutes through a try by Chris Jonck who had replaced Jano Vermaak at scrumhalf.

Tries by Johan van Deventer four minutes later and Justin Wheeler a further six minutes on seemed to take took the stuffing from the home side that defended really well throughout.

Wigan Pekeur, after a great chip kick from Ruan Boshoff, scored the try of the match and Jannie Boshoff also dotted down with Nico Engelbrecht touching down for the losers.

• The Free State showed that they too have the potential to make it to the serious play-off positions when they beat the Boland Cavaliers - giant-killers last weekend against Western province - in a high-scoring match in Bloemfontein, 37-29.

But do not discount the Cavaliers under a new coach and with some new faces. They fought back magnificently from 19-9 down at halftime to be tied at 29-all seven minutes before the final whistle.

Then Free State replacement forward Rudi Mathee was on hand to crash over for the bonus point try after hard-running outside centre Philip Snyman had scooped up a loose ball on Boland’s 22-metre line - and with a penalty added by Louis Strydom the Boland effort came to naught.

• The Blue Bulls did well in beating what is essentially the Pumas Currie Cup side 29-15 in Pretoria after an uninspiring first half.

The Blue Bulls scored 22 points in the second half against a physical and well coordinated pack but in the end did enough to earn their four-try bonus point.

These Pumas will be a handful in the competition, no doubt about that.

• Western Province hung on for deer life against the Sharks at Newlands before winning 26-23 - and despite a rather uninspiring game both these sides have the potential to win the competition, although their depth may be taxed by eventual unavoidable Super 14 call-ups.

To get to the semifinals, however, better finishing and option-taking by both sides are required.

• Nine tries by defending champions Griquas who lost to the Blue Bulls last weekend but atoned for that with a 59-31 win over the Griffons in Welkom, showed that the champions mean business and are determined to retain their title.

• Eastern Province had to pull out all the stops against the Border Bulldogs who looked a much better side the previous weekend when they went were trounced the Sharks XV. Eastern Province won 34-32 in Queenstown after leading 26-19, but relinquished the lead after 70 minutes when Border led 32-29. However, EP scrumhalf Marlon Lewis saw his side home with a converted try six minutes from time.

EP are thus unbeaten after drawing with the Pampas XV last weekend.

• The Welwitchias, as the did a few years ago, simply do not seem to have the talent to be competitive in this competition - and even the experience gained by the Namibia fringe players will probably be negated by the high scores run up against them.

The past weekend they lost 52-11 to the Platinum Leopards after conceding 45 points the previous week.

• The Argentinean side, the Pampas XV, didn’t play due to a boardroom dispute that saw their match against the SWD Eagles called off. It will probably be replayed at a later date.