Also on Saturday, former Junior Springbok wing Sergeal Petersen ran in a brace of tries as the Toyota Free State Cheetahs completed a 44-24 bonus-point home win over the ORC Griquas.
The win saw the Cheetahs leapfrog the Cell C Sharks and the Steval Pumas to move into fourth place on the log and keep their semifinal chances alive while the Griquas remain rooted to the bottom of the table after just one win from their seven matches.
DHL Western Province gained sweet revenge against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at DHL Newlands with a 29-14 victory in Cape Town on Friday evening.
The Pretoria side will rue a string of missed opportunities that cost them the chance of closing the gap on log leaders as handling errors and strong defence from Province meant they suffered their second loss of the campaign.
The Steval Pumas kept their slim semifinal hopes alive with a gritty 20-9 win over the Eastern Province Kings in their fixture at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.
The Pumas had come into the game off the back of two consecutive losses and were desperate to get back to winning ways. The victory has kept them in distant touch with the front-runners and was just enough to make them outside contenders for the playoffs. They did not collect a bonus point but the win could prove crucial at the end of the round-robin stage.
After seven rounds, the Lions are out in front on 33 points, followed by the Blue Bulls (25). Last year’s winners, DHL WP, are currently third on 24, followed by the Cheetahs on 17. The Cell C Sharks (13) and Pumas (also 13) follow next, then the Kings in seventh place (7) and Griquas (6).
Xerox Golden Lions (6) 26 Cell C Sharks (3) 18
Golden Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff got the first points of the match in the 28th minute when he landed a penalty goal. His Sharks counterpart, Joe Pietersen, kicked one of his own a few minutes later. Boshoff was again on target to give the Golden Lions a 6-3 half-time lead.
The second half started in the same fashion as the two kickers traded penalties – Boshoff slotting two more while Pietersen landed his attempt at goal. Golden Lions lock and man-of-the-match Lourens Erasmus had a storming match in his starting debut and it was fitting that he scored the opening try with 20 minutes left. His effort galvanised both teams as a further three tries were scored after that.
Lions wing Courtnall Skosan scored in the corner after a strong driving maul by his forwards and Pietersen ran in a try for the Sharks which started deep in their half.
The final minutes of the match belonged to the Sharks and some great interplay allowed flanker Francois Kleinhans to score a try in the 78th minute. Pietersen nailed the conversion to make the final score 26-18 to the Lions.
Scorers:
Xerox Golden Lions: Tries: Lourens Erasmus, Courtnall Skosan; Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (2); Penalties: Boshoff (4).
Cell C Sharks: Tries: Joe Pietersen, Francois Kleinhans; Conversion: Joe Pietersen; Penalties: Pietersen (2).
Toyota Free State Cheetahs (24) 44 ORC Griquas (10) 24
Left-wing Raymond Rhule opened the scoring in the fourth minute for the home side, which flyhalf Fred Zeilinga converted. Griquas struck back minutes later when Nel went over for a converted effort. The hosts regained the lead when Petersen crashed over for another converted try and a 14-7 lead.
Petersen was enjoying a fine half and he added to his try-tally when he went over for his second converted try, as the home team started to take control of proceedings. Griquas narrowed the deficit through a penalty by inside centre Clinton Swart, while Free State flyhalf Fred Zeilinga replied with a penalty to put his team 24-10 in front.
Zeilinga landed his second penalty eight minutes after the restart, before the hosts wrapped up the bonus point for scoring four times after scrumhalf Shaun Venter sniped over. Nel went over for his second try and Griquas narrowed the gap to 17 points.
They were right back in the contest when scrumhalf Tian Myer nipped over for a converted try with 15 minutes over.
However, Zeilinga nailed his third penalty with two minutes left to seal the victory. Replacement scrumhalf Zee Mkhabela dived over in the dying seconds as Free State ended with a flourish.
Scorers:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs: Tries: Raymond Rhule, Sergeal Petersen (2), Shaun Venter, Zee Mkhabela; Conversions: Fred Zeilinga (5); Penalties: Zeilinga (3).
ORC Griquas: Tries: Ruhan Nel (2), Tian Meyer; Conversions: Clinton Swart (3); Penalty: Swart.
DHL Western Province (15) 29 Vodacom Blue Bulls (9) 14
Province dominated the opening exchanges and within nine minutes were 12-0 up thanks to two tries from right wing Dillyn Leyds and inside centre Huw Jones. WP also dominated the Blue Bulls scrum and the breakdown. Flyhalf Robert du Preez converted one of the tries.
Visiting flyhalf Louis Fouché managed three penalties in the first half as Province mounted a strong defence in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
The second stanza resembled more of a Test match environment as the Blue Bulls tried to push home their territorial advantage, but it was the home side who picked up the points on offer through three penalties from Du Preez.
The visitors finally made headway with just seven minutes remaining as replacement flyhalf Tian Schoeman put the ball onto his boot for right wing Travis Ismaiel to touch down.
DHL WP replacement scrumhalf Jano Vermaak then scampered over to seal the win with the home side’s third try of the evening.
Scorers:
DHL Western Province: Tries: Dillyn Leyds, Huw Jones, Jano Vermaak; Conversion: Robert du Preez; Penalties: Du Preez (4).
Vodacom Blue Bulls: Try: Travis Ismaiel; Penalties: Louis Fouché (3).
Steval Pumas (17) 20 Eastern Province (9) 9
The Kings had promised much against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Port Elizabeth last weekend but they found repeating their heroics away from home against the Pumas a bridge too far. Two Scott van Breda penalties gave the Kings an early 6-0 lead.
The Pumas struck back with a skilful try when No.8 and Man of the Match Jason-Collin Fraser dotted down. Flyhalf Justin van Staden added the two points.
Kings flank Thembelani Bholi was yellow carded in 19th minute and Van Staden duly landed the penalty to put the home side 10-6 in front. The Pumas increased their lead when prolific try scorer Marnus Schoeman crashed over from a driving maul and Van Staden kicked the conversion.
Van Breda landed his third penalty to send to Pumas into a 17-9 half-time lead. Van Staden added another penalty after the restart as the Pumas took control. However, despite their dominance they were unable to add any further points.
Scorers:
Steval Pumas: Tries: Jason-Collin Fraser, Marnus Schoeman; Conversions: Justin van Staden (2); Penalties: Justin van Staden (2).
Eastern Province Kings: Penalties: Scott van Breda (3).