Lions overpower Sharks to reach play-offs
Emirates Lions clinch play-off spot in Super Rugby.
EMIRATES Lions are the team in South Africa to beat at this stage as they managed to reach the play-offs beating the Cell C Sharks at home.
The Johannesburg-based team played a humdinger of a match on Saturday, July 2, at Emirates Airline Park to clinch a spot in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby play-offs. They beat the side from Durban 37-10.
Emirates Lions are front runners in the African Conference 1 and are now 12 points ahead of the second-placed Cell C Sharks with just two weeks of matches left to play. They now have 47 points, the most by any side and bagged their 10th win from 13 outings.
The crowd of some 40 000 braved the ice-cold conditions to watch the South African derby, and the home supporters were rewarded by the Emirates Lions who played sparkling rugby.
The home side took the opportunity to outplay their visitors in all facets of the game and by half-time they were 27-0 up.
After the break they added 10 more points and it was only after the hour mark that the Durban side were able to score. Lwazi Mvovo and Chiliboy Ralepelle managed a try apiece during that period, but by then the Lions already had the game in the bag.
The Emirates Lions outscored the visitors by five tries to two for another bonus point win.
Ruan Combrinck, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Malcolm Marx, Ruan Ackermann, and Jaco Kriel each dotted down a try for the home side.
Scorers:
Emirates Lions – Tries: Ruan Combrinck, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Malcolm Marx, Ruan Ackermann and Jaco Kriel. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3). Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Cell C Sharks – Tries: Lwazi Mvovo and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
The DHL Stormers defeated the Rebels 57-31 in Melbourne, scoring seven tries in their bonus point away win on Saturday to enable them to nab the top spot in Africa Conference 1 accumulating 41 points. As things stand, the Cell C Sharks are in the wildcard position.
The Cape side’s tally of 57 points is their biggest score yet in a match on Australian turf.
The Toyota Cheetahs dominated the first half against the Western Force but then had to withstand a fierce fight back from the Australian side in the second half to edge the visitors 30-29 in their meeting in Bloemfontein.
The Highlanders defeated the Southern Kings 48-18 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday thanks to a late surge which saw them scoring four tries. They led 10-8 at the break.
In the last fixture of the weekend, the Jaguares beat the injury-hit Vodacom Blue Bulls 29-11 in Buenos Aires in very wet conditions to record their third win of the campaign.
Elsewhere, the Chiefs won their match 23-13 against the Crusaders in Suva on the island of Fiji on Friday, while the Brumbies proved too strong for the Reds and won 43-24. In Tokyo, the Sunwolves lost their home clash 57-12 against the Waratahs on Saturday and the Hurricanes defeated the Blues 37-27 in Wellington.
