Semifinal Ellis Park Lions 29 WP 20

This was the game to define whether the Lions had a realistic chance to win the Currie Cup for the first time in 12 years. Coached by John Mitchell and captained by No 8 Josh Strauss the Lions were not going to be influenced by WP’s five returning World Cup stars like captain Schalk Burger and former Lion Jaque Fourie. Semifinal Ellis Park Lions 16 WP 21

After the Lions won both earlier matches 26-23 at Ellis Park and 22-9 at Newlands, it was WP to turn the tables and score the winning try from a lineout drive in the dying minutes by loose forward Deon Fourie (above) to stun the home team. WP went on to win their first title in 11 years by shocking the heavily favoured Sharks 25-18 in the final.

Semifinal Newlands WP 33 Lions 16

Captained by flanker Derick Minnie the Lions only trailed 10-9 shortly before halftime, but then the magic of fullback Gio Aplon (above) and flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis put the game out of the Lions’ reach. Earlier the teams played to a 31-31 draw at Ellis Park and WP beat the Lions 36-23 at Newlands.

Final Newlands WP 19 Lions 16

Playing the percentage game WP did all the damage in the first half by leading 13-0 at the break. The Lions came storming back courtesy of a try through fullback Jaco van der Walt (above) to tie the scores at 13-13. Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff however had a nightmare in the strong south-eastern wind and pulled a penalty wide in the dying minutes which could have sent the final into extra time.

Final Ellis Park Lions 32 WP 24

It was the Lions’ final to lose after they went through the entire competition unbeaten. They completely outplayed Province in the first half with young Province flyhalf Robert du Preez (above) having a nightmare. But after conceding 60 points at Ellis Park just a few weeks prior to the final, Province at least went down with some sort of dignity intact.