Bizarre try end Lions massive comeback at Loftus

Sigma Lions ..................... 37 Vodacom Bulls ................. 43

CAPE TOWN – A bizarre try at the death helped the Vodacom Bulls stop a second-half onslaught to beat a very strong Sigma Lions team 43-37 in their Carling Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld yesterday.

After leading 35-17 at the break after five tries in the first half, the second was the opposite as the Lions piled on the pressure and dominated every facet of play, bringing the scoreline to 38-37 with minutes to go in the end and pressing hard for a massive comeback win.

But a break by David Kriel settled one of the better games of the season in the favour of the home side. Kriel’s break saw the ball intercepted by Edwill van der Merwe behind the tryline. The ball was passed to captain Burger Odendaal, who tried to run out and passed the ball inside into the hands of Kriel’s younger brother Richard in the dead ball area, prompting the replacement fullback to simply dot down.

MASSIVE MORAL VICTORY

It was also a massive moral victory for the Vodacom Bulls, especially as they picked a second-string side while the Lions’ decision to go with a URC-laden side into the Currie Cup game backfired spectacularly on them.

Under pressure after player movements that were announced this week and with a Currie Cup record that is the worst in the history of the union, the Lions earlier this week decided to shunt aside Currie Cup coach Mzwhake Nkosi and bring in the URC coaching team under Ivan van Rooyen and the strongest side available to give them a rare victory.

It may have been done under the guise of giving the URC side a game before they leave for Wales next week for their final URC game against the Dragons, but it was clearly to give the side some positive news after weeks of poor results in the Currie Cup and stories of players leaving.

Still, on the night, the Bulls took another step towards a home semifinal, led by their inspirational captain Lizo Gqoboka, who was easily their man of the match, and the young side produced for the first half and then hung on in the second to ensure the win.