Lions grind out big win

2019-03-23

The Emirates Lions handed the Sunwolves another blow as they romped to a 37-24 win in Singapore on Saturday. It was confirmed this week that the Sunwolves will drop out of Vodacom Super Rugby in 2020.

Hooker Malcolm Marx scored a first-half brace as the Lions led 12-7 at the break, while Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe and Hacjivah Dayimani all crossed in the second half.

The home side were first to score but their lead was short-lived. Less than 10 minutes later Marx crashed over from close range and his Springbok team mate Jantjies added the extras to level the scores at 7-7.

It was Marx again that put the Lions in front on 35 minutes, flopping over from the back of a driving lineout maul but this time Jantjies could not convert from out wide. Sunwolves were first on the score sheet immediately after the break with a Hayden Parker penalty. The Lions added to their try count on 50 minutes when scrumhalf Groom nipped around the side of a maul, sold a dummy and ghosted through the Sunwolves’ defence unopposed. Lions centre Mapoe got on the end of some slick handling after a clean line-break in the middle of the park for his side’s fifth try as the game entered the final quarter.

The Sunwolves showed some spirit and a try under the posts from Vosayaco kept their chances alive at 17-29. Jantjies steadied the ship for the Lions with a penalty, before replacement

Annemie Bester