Perfect ending for unbeaten Xerox Golden Lions
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Loading...Xerox Golden Lions captain, Jaco Kriel, and coach, Johan Ackermann, paid tribute to the team spirit of the Johannesburg side who beat DHL Western Province 32-24 at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday to clinch the Absa Currie Cup and finish the season unbeaten.
The Lions achieved the rare feat of a perfect season with 12 out of 12 wins as they stormed home to lift the coveted Cup they last won in 2011 at the same ground. Although not filled to capacity, the noise of the home fans created an incredible atmosphere inside the famous Highveld stadium and carried the hosts to their eleventh title win of the competition.
“I want to thank our wonderful supporters. My team – there’s no team that’s got character like you guys,” an emotional Kriel said afterwards. Ackermann also had high praise for his side’s team spirit and he too made mention of the tremendous home support.
“We are one big family and the players really fight for each other. They worked so hard throughout the season and I am pleased for them. We made a good start and Province fought back bravely, but our incredible fans showed fantastic support and I am glad the guys could reward them with a good display,” said Ackermann.
The Lions outgunned the visitors with four tries to three, with scrumhalf Ross Cronje helping himself to two tries. He was awarded with the Absa Player of the Match prize afterwards.
WP skipper Juan de Jongh also paid tribute to the faultless record of the Lions this season.
“To Jaco and his boys, well done on a great, perfect season,” said De Jongh. “We tried it in 2013. It’s awesome for you guys, whatever you’re building now it’s working for you. Credit to the Lions, they deserved the Cup because they had a wonderful season and today they were the better team,” said De Jongh.
“Our goal was to play in the final but we made too many errors in the first half. We fought back in the second half but the Lions defended very well. It’s very important that we go back and rectify our mistakes for next year,” added De Jongh, who also thanked the Western Province faithful for their supporter throughout the season.
WP played in their fourth consecutive final and were aiming for a second consecutive title win. Last year they beat the Lions 19-16 in the cup final in Cape Town.
To access the match centre, please click on the score-link below.
Xerox Golden Lions (22) 32 DHL Western Province (10) 24
The Cape side had to defend for much of the first half and after 37 minutes of play they found themselves trailing 22-3. Province made a nervous start and conceded three penalties inside the first ten minutes. Marnitz Boshoff, the Lions fly half, surprisingly missed with two penalty attempts.
The Lions persisted with their high-tempo attacking game and inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg broke through a double tackle by De Jongh and Sikhumbuzo Notshe to set up a try for No 8 Warren Whiteley. Six minutes later Cronje broke through defence for his first try. After 20 minutes the Lions were 14-0 up and firmly in control of proceedings.
Province struggled to find any rhythm and young flyhalf Robert du Preez could not hit the target with two early penalty attempts. He unfortunately kicked the ball out on the full and from the resultant lineout Whiteley broke away to send Cronje over for his second try. WP kept pressing and a minute before halftime Du Preez took advantage of a slow defence to burst through under the posts.
However, immediately after the restart former Junior Bok midfielder Janse van Rensburg muscled his way through for another Lions try. Province fullback Cheslin Kolbe had a quiet afternoon due to the possession and territorial advantage of the Lions. But showcased his skill on attack just four minutes after the Lions try to combine well with Seabelo Senatla and that effort resulted in a try for WP No 8 Nizaam Carr (29-17).
Boshoff was on target with a long range effort and WP showed character to keep fighting back and they scored for a third time flanker Notshe crashed over after a rolling maul.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions – Tries: Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronje (2) Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3). Penalties: Boshoff (2).
DHL Western Province – Tries: Robert du Preez, Nizaam Carr, Sikhumbuzo Notshe. Conversions: Robert du Preez (2), Kurt Coleman. Penalty: Du Preez.
WP young guns, EP clinch junior titles
The DHL Western Province Under-21’s are the 2015 champions, after convincingly beating the Toyota Free State Cheetahs’ U21’s by 52-17 in the final of the Absa Provincial Under-21 Competition in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Having led by 20-10 at half-time, Robbie Fleck’s all-conquering side – who finished on top of the log this season, losing just once in 14 games – ran in four brilliant second-half tries to secure Province’s third title in this age-group in the past six seasons.
Flyhalf Brandon Thomson – the official Absa Man of the Match – scored one of his team’s six tries, also adding four conversions and four penalty goals for a match-haul of 25 points.
Eastern Province won the Absa Under-19 competition when they edged the Vodacom Blue Bulls 25-23 in the final. It was the first ever title for the Eastern Cape youngsters, nowadays coached by former Springbok Sevens star Mzandile Stick.
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