Lions top of the log despite loss

2019-08-11

The Xerox Golden Lions, despite losing narrowly by 31-26 to the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, managed to move to the top of the log after securing two bonus points.

Playing with a man down from the 20th minute the Blue Bulls displayedcharacter than they had hitherto this season as they rolled with the punchesand scrambled with dogged determination. 

The Lions were wasteful and routinely squandered possession. Their line-outswere a shambles. They struggled to get go-forward and their game was devoid ofthe continuity needed to break opposition operating with a man short.

They were on the board in 26 seconds profiting richly from lock Ruan Nortjegathering the Blue Bulls kick-off before the ball was transferred to the rightwhere Manie Libbok stepped neatly. He released the speeding Cornal Hendricks onthe right wing for the score.

They were struggling to get a foothold and as much as the Bulls were firedup, the hosts were the architects of their own demise.

In desperate search of a spark they appeared to get it when HacjivahDayimani tore away from a scrum and shrugged off his immediate marker toadvance the Lions well over the advantage line, before they earned a penaltyfrom a resultant ruck.

They opted for a touch finding penalty but then wasted their opportunity byover throwing at the line-out. It was the story of their half, if not thematch. 

The Lions made their one man advantage count by scrumming the Bulls intosubmission five metres out and duly earned a penalty try.

They were level six minutes later when flyhalf Shaun Reynolds scythed hisway through to the tryline but he botched the easy conversion.

With the first half nearing conclusion, the visitors held a six-pointadvantage after Libbok added penalties in the 31st and 35th minutes

Annemie Bester