Lions stay fixed on log points

The Lions played in the only South African derby over the weekend against Cell C Sharks, going down to them 37-23 in a Super Rugby match.

This left the Lions stuck on their eight points, which they accumulated in the first two wins of the season. They are currently in the seventh position on the combined log. The match between the Lions and Cell C Sharks was played on Saturday March 8.

Cell C Sharks kept the top position on the log as they also took a bonus point for four tries.

The Vodacom Bulls delivered their best performance of the season. The three-time champions from Pretoria scored four tries to one in their impressive victory over the Blues at Loftus Versfeld – their first try-scoring bonus-point of 2014 in a 38-22 win.

The Cell C Sharks’ score over the Lions was similar – 37-23 – and they also got a bonus-point for four tries which, as in the Vodacom Bulls’ case, was scored very late in the match.

The two South African teams currently touring Down Under both lost; the Toyota Cheetahs by 43-33 against the Reds in Brisbane, while the DHL Stormers put in a very spirited performance in Christchurch, but ultimately lost by 14-13 against the Crusaders, their 33rd successive home win over teams from the Republic.

Two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the competition, the defending champion Chiefs and the Waratahs, had byes this weekend: Cell C Sharks37 (23) Lions 23 (9)

The Cell C Sharks cemented their position at the top of the log after beating the Lions by 37-23 in a hotly-contested local Vodacom Super Rugby derby at Growthpoint Kings Park.

Like they did in their season-opener against the Vodacom Bulls a few weeks ago, the Cell C Sharks bagged the four-try bonus-point, but only got it in the dying moments of the game, after having scored their third try in the 50th minute already.

After that, it seemed like the KwaZulu-Natalians went to sleep though, while their ill discipline also cost them some momentum during the match.

They did well upfront and looked in control, but the Cell C Sharks’ wheels came off a bit as a bunch of substitutions were made. The Lions pounced with two quick tries midway through the second half, which saw them trail by only seven points with a tad more than ten minutes remaining.

But the home team remained composed under pressure, and in the end they were simply better at finishing their opportunities, with Frans Steyn putting in a good performance at flyhalf after moving into the position, following the late withdrawal of Pat Lambie.

Scorers:

Cell C Sharks – Tries: Paul Jordaan, Cobus Reinach, Odwa Ndungane, Marcell Coetzee. Conversions: Frans Steyn (4). Penalty goals: Steyn (3).

Lions – Tries: Faf de Klerk, Deon van Rensburg. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2). Penalty goals: Boshoff (3).

Other results – Round 4:

Hurricanes 21 Brumbies 29 (Wellington)

Force 32 Rebels 7 (Perth)