Lions back at the Park
Following the away game against neighbours from across the Jukskei River, the Bulls and the Lions will be back at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday May 9.
The New Zealand team the Highlanders from Otago are the home side’s opponents, with kick-off at 15:00.
The Lion’s previous home game against the Cheetahs saw two Super Rugby players with Alberton connections there in action. Willie Brits, family member from the Potgieter family in Alberton for the Cheetahs and Jaco Kriel in the Lions starting line-up made Alberton proud. Over and above them, Alberton-born Renaldo Bothma is a star player for the Sharks and another Alberton-born player and Marais Viljoen past pupil, Marco Kotze, son of Dr. Kotzé who was Alberton rugby’s medical doctor in the seventies, played a significant role in the Reds from Queensland’s 18-17 victory over the Cheetahs one week before the Lions encounter.
Against the Cheetahs, the non-presence on the field of another experienced Alberton Lions player, Derick Minnie, was sadly missed. He was injured on the Tuesday and underwent an operation on the Wednesday of the week prior to the game, where the Lions contemplated that they would play in his honour.
On the field the Lions did exactly that by scoring a try in the third minute. But from there on the Lions made hard work of it in that eight-try thriller. So much so, that the home side was levelled 7-7 early on and trailed at halftime 7-10. Johan Ackerman’s usual stern team talk during the break shook up the Lions to see them starting that half exactly the same way as the first one. In the second minute Ruan Combrink finished off a brilliant try, followed immediately by a another one from Lionel Mapoe to put the Lions back in the lead 21-10.
However, after 25 minutes the Cheetahs were back in the game with the scoreboard level on 24-all. With the score on 34-14 after a Jantjies penalty and Faf de Klerk’s converted try, it seemed to be game over, but nobody told the visitors. They came back roaring with replacement Carel Greeff’s try in the 78th minute 34-29, which luckily for the home side was the final call. That gave the Lions five points and the no. eight log position prior to the Bulls game.
