Southern Kings lose to on form Emirates Lions

Apr 24 • General News, Super Rugby • 1404 Views • Comments Off on Southern Kings lose to on form Emirates Lions

The Southern Kings lost their round 9 Vodacom Super Rugby match against the on-form Emirates Lions at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Lions were quick out the gates and crossed the whitewash twice in quick succession, but both try attempts were disallowed after being referred to the TMO.

Ryan Combrinck’s crossed the whitewash first but was disallowed after the ball was lost forward a few phases earlier, while Howard Mnisi’s try was disallowed after he lost the ball in contact as he went over the try line.

The Lions did however manage to score four first half tries. The first through captain, Warren Whiteley at the start of the second quarter, Elton Jantjies added the extra two points with a successful conversion to take a 0 – 7 lead.

The Southern Kings retaliated with a try by right wing, Luzuko Vulindlu, who dotted down in the corner after after Louis Fouche missed two earlier penalties. Fouche also missed the conversion, leaving the Kings trailing by just two points after 30 minutes, 5 – 7.

But the Lions dominated the last ten of the first half, with left wing, Courtnall Skosan scoring the Lions’ second try. Jantjies added another successful conversion to take a 0 – 14 lead after 33 minutes.

Lions hooker, Armand van der Merwe scored his first try just before half-time, Jantjies added his third conversion as they took a 21 – 5 lead at half-time.

The Lions scored an extra four tries in the second half.

Right wing, Ruan Combrinck scored two of the four. The first a minute into the second half, Jantjies added the conversion to stretch their lead to 28 – 5.

Van der Merwe scored his second in the 45th minute, with Jantjies missing the conversion, taking the Lions to a 33 – 5 lead.

Brilliant interplay from Southern Kings fullback, Malcolm Jaer, saw the Kings score their second try through flank, Chris Cloete. Fouche was unable to add the extras as they trailed 10 – 33 with just over a quarter to go.

Combrinck proceeded to score his second of the evening to take the score to 10 – 38.

Replacement Rohan Janse van Rensburg scored the Lions final try, with Jantjies converting to take the final score to 10 – 45.

POINT SCORERS

Southern Kings (5) 10 – Tries: Luzuko Vulindlu, Chris Cloete.

Emirates Lions (21) 45 – Tries: Warren Whiteley, Courtnall Skosan, Armand van der Merwe (2), Ruan Combrinck (2), Rohan Janse van Rensburg. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (5)