The EP Kings gave the Golden Lions a good run for their money at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday evening, despite reports of unpaid wages making headlines in the build-up to the match.
In their first encounter on the 8th of August at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth the visitors ran in six tries, four of them in the first sixteen minutes, and much of the same was expected for their return match in Johannesburg.
The Lions opened the scoring through a penalty try in the forth minute to take an early seven point lead after a successful conversion through flyhalf Jaco van der Walt. Two further tries followed, the first through Kwagga Smith and the second through outside centre Stokkies Hanekom. Van der Walt converted the second as they stretched their lead to 19 - 0 after thirteen minutes, and a sense of deja vu of the 51 - 14 defeat in Port Elizabeth seemed like the only logical outcome for the Kings.
The Kings, however, struck back with two converted tries, the first through right wing Siyanda Grey and the second through eighthman Paul Schoeman to trail 14 - 19 in the twenty fifth minute.
Lions flank Stephan de Wit scored their bonus-point try ten minutes before the break, with van der Walt adding another penalty on half-time to lead 27 - 14.
The Kings came out fighting in the second half as they scored their third converted try to bring the score within six points, 21 - 27.
Replacement flyhalf, Marnitz Boshoff kicked the Lions' first points of the second half as he slotted a penalty to give them an nine point buffer with ten minutes to go.
Discipline let the Kings down as time ran out for the visitors, first Eithal Bredekamp received a yellow card and then a red card for a dangerous clearance at the ruck for Hansie Graaff.
Ruan Combrink scored their fifth try in the eighty third minute as the game ended 37 - 21 after Boshoff added the extras.
After Saturday's win the Lions remain unbeaten at the top of the log on 25 points, the Kings remain seventh on the log, still winless, three points ahead of Griquas on 3.
Scorers:
Golden Lions (27) 37 - Tries: Penalty try, Kwagga Smith, Stokkies Hanekom, Stephan de Wit, Ruan Coombrinck. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (2), Marnitz Boshoff (1). Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (1), Marnitz Boshoff (1).
EP Kings (14) 21 - Tries: Paul Schoeman (2), Siyanda Grey. Conversions: Karlo Aspeling (3).
In their first encounter on the 8th of August at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth the visitors ran in six tries, four of them in the first sixteen minutes, and much of the same was expected for their return match in Johannesburg.
The Lions opened the scoring through a penalty try in the forth minute to take an early seven point lead after a successful conversion through flyhalf Jaco van der Walt. Two further tries followed, the first through Kwagga Smith and the second through outside centre Stokkies Hanekom. Van der Walt converted the second as they stretched their lead to 19 - 0 after thirteen minutes, and a sense of deja vu of the 51 - 14 defeat in Port Elizabeth seemed like the only logical outcome for the Kings.
The Kings, however, struck back with two converted tries, the first through right wing Siyanda Grey and the second through eighthman Paul Schoeman to trail 14 - 19 in the twenty fifth minute.
Lions flank Stephan de Wit scored their bonus-point try ten minutes before the break, with van der Walt adding another penalty on half-time to lead 27 - 14.
The Kings came out fighting in the second half as they scored their third converted try to bring the score within six points, 21 - 27.
Replacement flyhalf, Marnitz Boshoff kicked the Lions' first points of the second half as he slotted a penalty to give them an nine point buffer with ten minutes to go.
Discipline let the Kings down as time ran out for the visitors, first Eithal Bredekamp received a yellow card and then a red card for a dangerous clearance at the ruck for Hansie Graaff.
Ruan Combrink scored their fifth try in the eighty third minute as the game ended 37 - 21 after Boshoff added the extras.
After Saturday's win the Lions remain unbeaten at the top of the log on 25 points, the Kings remain seventh on the log, still winless, three points ahead of Griquas on 3.
Scorers:
Golden Lions (27) 37 - Tries: Penalty try, Kwagga Smith, Stokkies Hanekom, Stephan de Wit, Ruan Coombrinck. Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (2), Marnitz Boshoff (1). Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (1), Marnitz Boshoff (1).
EP Kings (14) 21 - Tries: Paul Schoeman (2), Siyanda Grey. Conversions: Karlo Aspeling (3).
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