GOLDEN LIONS SHOW NO MERCY TO BORDER
Golden Lions give visitors 44-18 mauling in Johannesburg encounter
BORDER got their Craven Week campaign off to the worst possible start as the Golden Lions put them to the sword with a 44-8 hammering at St Stithians College in Randburg. Border held their own in the first half when they trailed 13-8 at the break, but the Lions drilled in 31 unanswered second half points as inside centre Yanga Hlalu scored a hat-trick.
After an enterprising start‚ Border were worn down by a relentless and well-drilled opposition who thrived in Johannesburg’s first Craven Week in 11 years.
With Western Province and Free State also scoring convincing wins‚ the top unions have set up an enticing Wednesday while Border may have to make do with one of the weaker unions.
Border started strongly through lock Stephan Niewenhuizen’s fourth-minute try.
From a snappy Hlumelo Ndudula pass‚ the lock dummied past his first man before powerfully straightening the line.
Border had the weaker pack but their tempo allowed them to keep the Lions at bay.
While Tinus Combrinck replied for the hosts in the 19th minute‚ Border were unfortunate to have David Coetzer’s try disallowed for an inconclusive grounding.
Wing Siphamandla Matsinya had cut the defence with a superb angled run at pace and Border’s support runners were on hand to provide clean and quick ball.
Coetzer’s normally reliable goalkicking let him down, having missed the conversion and the resultant penalty.
The Lions had a slick set of backs and Yanga Hlalu was on hand to score just before half time, after right wing David Cary seared down the right hand side.
However‚ Leon Mpeku’s forward pass to Cary was not picked by the match officials.
It gave the Lions the required momentum to get off to a fast second half start through Cary‚ who beat Jason Raubenheimer on his outside to score the Lions’ third try.
Hlalu ended the game as a contest in the 45th minute when he scored his second try.
The Lions forwards had by now taken hold of the game and asked questions their Border counterparts could not quite answer.
The difference, though, was in the back division, where Leon and Kennedy Mpeku with Hlalu and Cary, in tandem, created merry mayhem.