MTN Golden Lions grab their semi final spot to play against DHL Western Province when the beat Griquas over the weekend.
The round-robin stages of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend reached an exciting conclusion, as DHL Western Province maintained their unbeaten run to retain the number one spot on the log, while the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and MTN Golden Lions secured their semi final berths.
Western Province will host the Lions in the first semi final in Cape Town this Saturday October 19, while The Sharks will meet the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Durban in the other pay-off match.
The Lions and Cheetahs finished the league stages level on 26 log points thanks to the four-try bonus point bagged by the Johannesburg team in their clash against GWK Griquas. But the regulations stipulate that in such instances log positions will be determined by the best points difference in the matches contested between the respective teams, which resulted in the Cheetahs finishing in third place and the Lions fourth. This despite the fact that the Lions boasted a better points difference overall than the Cheetahs.
In Saturday’s matches DHL Western Province edged The Sharks 17-13 at Growthpoint Kings Park, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls 22-7 at the Free State Stadium and the MTN Golden Lions beat GWK Griquas 35-28 at Ellis Park.
The clash in Johannesburg was gripping as GWK Griquas surprised the MTN Golden Lions with their strong start, which earned them a 16-3 lead by the 20th minute. This was partly due to the home team’s ill-discipline, which earned Griquas fullback Gouws Prinsloo seven penalties in the match. Three early penalties by Prinsloo and a fantastic try by Griquas wing Rocco Jansen from a chip-and-chase netted the team an encouraging 16-3 lead. But the Lions bounced back thanks to tries by Jacques van Rooyen and Anthony Volmink before the break. Prinsloo, however, had the last say as he slotted over another penalty shortly before half time for a 19-15 lead.
Tries by Lions hooker Willie Wepener and replacement looseforward Willie Britz to add to two penalties by flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, however, handed the hosts an edge, as Griquas only points in the second half were compliments of three more penalties by Gouws. The match marked the end of Griquas’ campaign, however, the team will face the Steval Pumas in home and away promotion-relegation games in the next two weeks to determine which of the sides will feature in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division next season.
Scorers: MTN Golden Lions 35 (15) – Tries: Anthony Volmink, Jacques van Rooyen, Willie Britz, Willie Wepener. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3). Penalties: Boshoff (3).
GWK Griquas 28 (19) – Try: Rocco Jansen. Conversion: Gouws Prinsloo. Penalties: Prinsloo (7).
