RUGBY NEWS - The Xerox Golden Lions claimed the final semifinal berth on offer when they beat and eliminated the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 44-17 (half-time 13-10) in their Currie Cup Premier Division rugby match at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, on Saturday.
The result means the Lions will travel to face DHL Western Province in the first semi and the Sharks will host the Bulls in the other next weekend.
With only one spot in the semifinals up for grabs and possibly another by permutation, both teams were desperate for the win in what was essentially a “quarterfinal” situation.
The Cheetahs started the game with their Guinness PRO14 line-up, which is on a two-week break from the northern hemisphere competition. Only Sergeal Petersen and Francois Venter were not considered due to injuries.
The Lions strengthened their squad with Springboks Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan and Ross Cronje in the starting line-up with national team hooker Malcolm Marx on the bench.
The Lions turned down an early attempt at poles, opting for a lineout and the decision was a good one as the Lions spread it wide for left wing Skosan to score the easiest of tries in the fourth minute.
Flyhalf Jaco van der Walt added the extra two points.
Cheetahs flyhalf Ernst Stapelberg and Van der Walt exchanged penalties for the Lions to lead 10-3 after 18 minutes.
Van der Walt added another three almost on the half-hour but the Cheetahs struck back against the run of play on 35 minutes.
With the Lions on the attack, Cheetahs left wing Makazole Mapimpi intercepted the ball to speedily cover all of 70m to score under the posts at the other end.
