The win kept the Lions top of the table with 13 points.  The hosts scored first when inside centre Rynhardt Jonker went over the line in the 16th minute from a line-out lost by the Griquas.  The Lions scored again only three minutes later, courtesy of scrumhalf Nico Steyn, who dived under the posts. The conversion by flyhalf Sam Francis gave the Lions a 12 – 0 lead within the first quarter of the game.

The Griquas finally managed to score in the final 10 minutes of the half with flyhalf Lubabalo Dobelo slotting a penalty through the posts in the 31th minute.  The visitors scored an unconverted try two  minutes later when flanker Carl Els went over in the corner. 

Griquas had a lot of work to do in the second half with the score at 12 – 8, but the hosts again scored first with a penalty.  The visitors hit back quickly and a try by Zinedine Robertson put the Griquas within spitting distance at 15 – 13. But Dobela left his kicking boots at home, missing the conversion, as well as a scrum penalty kick almost in front of the posts.

Poor discipline by the men from Kimberley resulted in two quick yellow cards – the first to lock Athenkosi Khetani for cynical play in the ruck and the second to replacement lock Derik Pretorius for illegally bringing down a line-out powering over the line, which also resulted in a penalty try.

Another penalty for the Lions brought the score to 25 – 13, sealing the win for the Lions.

The Griquas is currently in fifth place on the table with six points. They will next face the Pumas in Mbombela on Friday, 26 July.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger