Lions are the kings of the Collard Jungle
Just like they did last year, the hosts, the Golden Lions, used the first day of the u18 Academy Week to fire some significant warning shots at their next two opponents.
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They started like a house on fire on Monday, as they ran away to a massive 65-25 victory over the Free State Cheetahs.
Inside centre, Noordheuwel’s Jarred Coetzee, scored the home side’s first try within a matter of seconds, capitalising on a mistake by the Free Staters from the kick-off.
From there, it appeared as if the men in the red and white jerseys played downhill for the entirety of the main match of day one.
Laying the platform up front, the Lions kept on bulldozing the visitors from the Free State backwards with impressive physicality and strong intimidating runs by their hungry pack.
This meant that the Lions’ backline, especially their speedy outside backs, enjoyed their first outing on Collard Field.
Jeppe’s Sanele Simelane, the younger brother of former Jeppe standout and current Western Province player, Wandile Simelane, made full use of the acres of space out wide. The Lions’ fullback revelled in joining the attacking line and was too good for the Cheetahs’ defenders on no less than three occasions as he trotted over for a well-deserved hat-trick of tries.
Simelane’s colleagues in the back three, Matthew Hunt (left wing) and Mbuso Methula (right wing) were equally impressive on the attack. Hunt rounded off twice for a double, while Methula seemed like he was gliding as he sped through for a five-pointer.
The fun day out for the backs wouldn’t have been possible without an exceptional performance by lock, Thomas Beling. He set up the phases time and time again with his strong ball carries, one of which resulted in a five-pointer of his own.
The talented Marais Viljoen flyhalf and one of the leaders for the Lions, Recce Gerber, stole the spotlight with his kicking boot. He converted seven tries and slotted two long-range penalties for a personal contribution of 20 points, which helped him bag the Man of the Match award.
In the curtain raiser, Boland nearly pulled off a spectacular comeback. After trailing 7-40, they made their old foes, Western Province sweat, clawing their way back to 45-47, with about 10 minutes to play.
In the first half, which belonged to the blue and white striped jerseys, it was Paarl Gimnasium’s openside flank, Johannes Koegelenberg, who shone. His clever attacking lines close to the try line resulted in a well-deserved hat-trick of tries.
Province’s game plan appeared simple: give the ball air and round off after play started opening up. Boland, however, started picking up on this, and in the second 35 minutes gave Province some of their own medicine. Both sides proved that it is extremely difficult to defend against a fast attacking and running game, hence the high-scoring affair.
Boalnd’s utility back, Lee Josop, especially, had the Province defenders guessing as he burst over for an entertaining brace of tries.
Unfortunately, for the Boland side and their supporters, Province had done enough in the first half, and they closed out the game with two converted tries to claim a thrilling 61-45 victory.
South Western Districts (SWD) fought hard to pick up a tough 22-19 victory over the Leopards on the Jake White Field.
Leading 12-0 at the break, SWD had to withstand a strong fightback from the team from the North West Province. In the end, a penalty by SWD’s utility back, Charles Vosloo, separated the sides.
In the final match on Jake White Field, Namibia’s Waldré Kotze, kicked South Africa’s neighbours to a 30-17 win over the Pumas.
Solid defence and relentless attacking from the Namibians had the side from Mpumalanga under severe pressure as they failed to score any points in the second half.
Scorers
Golden Lions 65 (45) – Tries: Sanele Simelane (3), Matthew Hunt (2), Thomas Beling, Ighnatius Jantjies, Jarred Coetzee, Mbuso Methula. Conversions: Recce Gerber (7). Penalties: Gerber (2). Free State 25 (6) – Tries: Tristan Maree, Agcobile Pati, SW van Heerden. Conversions: Jan-Hendrik van der Linde (2). Penalties: Van der Linde (2).
Western Province 61 (40) – Tries: Johannes Koegelenberg (3), Ismael Conrad, Collin-Paul Kemp, Matthew Kleyn, Luchen Meyer, Keenan Stoffels. Conversions: Chadwin Sellidon (7). Boland 45 (7) – Tries: Lee Josop (2), Lungi Mothibe, Lorenzo Kroutz, Ando Goosen, De Villiers Kotze, Wilfred Slingers. Conversions: Stefan van der Merwe (5).
South Western Districts 22 (12) – Tries: Liam Lightey, Asthon Abels, Christian Vorster. Conversions: Sidey Lourence, Charles Vosloo. Penalty: Vosloo. Leopards 19 (0) – Tries: Kenan Joseph (2), Dewald Potgieter. Conversions: Eduard Dreyer (2).
Namibia 30 (7). Pumas 17 (17) – Tries: Janco Aucamp, Luhan Greeff. Conversions: Carel Jacobz (2). Penalty: Jacobz.
The fixtures for day two are:
Collard field: 09:30 – Valke vs Leopards; 10:45 – Griffons vs South Western Districts; 12:00 – Griquas vs Free State; 13:15 – Western Province vs Eastern Province; 14:30 – Golden Lions vs Sharks.
Jake White field: 09:30 – Border vs LSEN XV; 10:45 – Pumas vs Border Country Districts; 12:00 – Namibia vs Limpopo Blue Bulls; 13:15 – Golden Lions XV vs Zimbabwe; 14:30 – Boland vs Bulls.
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