Lions 34 (21) vs Cheetahs 28 (11)

Lions drop themselves out of trouble

Cheetahs almost spoiled party at Coca-Cola Park 

The Lions started with a close win at home in their 2009 Super 14 campaign, grabbing victory with two drop goals from Pretorius and Rose after the scores were level at 28-all with just about 5 minutes left in the match. The Lions were helped by poor discipline from the Cheetahs, who had 2 players sin-binned during the match, and in the period where the Cheetahs played with 14 men, the Lions scored 3 of their 4 tries.

It was perfect conditions for rugby when Earl Rose started the match, nice temperature, no wind and no clouds.

The Lions had the first chance early in the match with a backline move down the right, but Henno Mentz was tackled by Meyer Bosman just short of the line and his pass to the inside went forward.

In the 9th minute Rose also missed a penalty kick from about halfway between the 22 meter line and the 10 meter line, and on about 15 meters from touch. Luckily the Lions scored shortly afterwards, they took the ball left down the backline and had a one man overlap in Henno Mentz, and when the cover stopped him he passed to the support on the inside, and eventually Cobus Grobbelaar went over for the try in the left corner. Rose kicked the conversion to put the Lions in a 7-0 lead.

In the 16th minute the Lions conceded a penalty and Potgieter kicked it to make the score 7-3 for the Lions.

The Cheetahs then hit back with a great try, helped by some poor defense from the Lions. Juan Smith broke away with the ball from a line-out on the halfway line, he was stopped by Willemse close to the 22 but passed outside to Brussouw, who passed to Frans Viljoen on the outside as he was stopped 5 meters to the tryline, and Viljoen scored the try. The pass looked forward but the try was awarded by the ref. The conversion attempt by Potgieter hit the left upright but the Cheetahs now in front 8-7.

28 minutes into the game there was a bit of a flare-up after a tackle by the Cheetahs on a Lions player, and Brussouw was given a yellow card for getting involved as the 3rd player. The Lions quickly capitalised on this, through tries from Willemse and Mentz, both converted by Rose to put the Lions ahead 21-8.

The Cheetahs were awarded a penalty right in front of the poles after the hooter when the Lions joined a ruck from the side, and Potgieter kicked it to make the score 21-11 at the break.

The Cheetahs started strong in the 2nd half and had the first chance to score but missed with a penalty just inside the Lions half, but shortly afterwards were awarded another inside the Lions 22 and this time Potgieter kicked it to make the score 21-14 for the Lions.

Clever replaced Mostert so he was getting about 35 mins of play. In the next move Bosman spear tackled Ludik and got a yellow card for his trouble. This created immediate space for the Lions and enabled Willemse to score his second after taking a pass from Vermaak who had a great run down the right. Rose converted to make it 28-14 for the Lions.

Petoors then replaced Doppies with about 25 minutes left in the match, with Rose moving to Inside Centre, and Hans van Dyk on for Wepener.

The Cheetahs then clawed one back when the Lions were caught napping at a ruck, the Cheetahs went blind and Heinrich Brussow basically walked over for the try. Potgieter converted to make it 28-21.

The Cheetahs were doing all the playing at this stage with the Lions defending, and they went over the Lions try-line in the left corner but the TMO ruled that it was held up, the Lions lucky not to concede a try.

Willemse and Van Zyl were replaced by Boshoff and Landman, but the Cheetahs then scored the try of the match, a kick from Mentz not going out and the Cheetahs running it right back and again poor defense from the Lions letting the Cheetahs run straight through, Potgieter scoring under the posts and converting to make it 28-28.

Andre Pretorius then put the Lions back in front with a great dropgoal after the Lions won a line-out on the Cheetahs 22 meter line, 31-28 the score.

Just before the hooter the Lions stole a line-out ball from the Cheetahs and attacked deep into the Cheetahs 22, and eventually the ball came to Rose who slotted a left-footed dropgoal. The final score 34-28 for the Lions. 


The scorers: