Lions labour into playoffs

BATTLE: INEXPERIENCED PACK SEEMED TO LACK GRUNT

Skosan and hooker Corne Fourie both scored brace of tries.

The Golden Lions qualified for a likely away Currie Cup semifinal next weekend by beating the Pumas in an error-ridden contest 33-21 in Nelspruit last night, but on this uninspiring performance the Highveld team could find the going tough in the playoffs.

Leading 21-14 at the break the Lions eventually outscored the Pumas by five tries to three with wing Courtnall Skosan and hooker Corne Fourie scoring a brace each.

While the Lions showed some great touches especially through Springbok centre Lionel Mapoe and to a lesser extend flyhalf Elton Jantjes, the Lions passionate but vastly inexperienced forward pack however seem to lack the grunt to take the outfit past the semis, whether in Durban or Cape Town.

The first try was already scored in the second minute when Mapoe intercepted after the Pumas scrum was in retreat and the releaving pass from Pumas scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer was hurried for a Lions lead of 7-0.

The Pumas however hit back with their opening try by fullback Devon Williams in the sixth minute when play became unstructured and the Pumas took advantage of some uncertainty in the Lions defence when play broke down to level matters at 7-7.

But just eight minutes later the Lions again took the lead at 14-7 after hooker Corne Fourie scored a try from a maul, and at this stage the Lions were pushing to take control but a 17th minute try by Lions flanker James Venter was disallowed with a double movement ruled.

The Lions suffered a yellow card to centre Howard Mnisi in the 30th minute after a deliberate knock-down which delayed the promising momentum the Lions had built.

Instead it was the Pumas who drew level 14-14 in the 34th minute from a maul with No 8 Francois Kleynhans barging over, but just six minutes later Kleynhans was yellowed for a synical foul.

But the Lions managed to pull ahead again in the 37th minute when Mapoe caught the Pumas defence off-guard to off-load to Skosan for their third try and a 2114 lead at the break.

In the 41st minute the industrious Venter had another try disallowed, this time for alleged obstruction by Lions No Hacjivah Dayimani, which could have seen the Lions lead by 21 at the break and not just by seven.