DHL Western Province are looking to make it two wins from two in their Carling Currie Cup campaign as they go up against the Lions in a midweek game at Emirates Airline Park.
Following on from their 48-24 win against the Vodacom Bulls, DHL WP have their sights set on a second win on the highveld, before they come back to Cape Town for two home games.
There are four changes to the starting line-up tonight with Tim Swiel in at fullback, Godlen Masimla at scrumhalf and Juarno Augustus and Marcel Theunissen slotting into the loose trio.
0 – Kick-off at a chilly but still Emirates Airline Park in Joburg where DHL WP are up against the Lions in the Carling Currie Cup and looking to back-up their opening win in Pretoria on Saturday.
2 – Both teams looking for territory with some early kicks.
4 – DHL WP go wide and Senatla retains it well under pressure, but Swiel loses it forward so the Lions have the first scrum.
6 – Cross-kick from Zeilinga into space, Senatla is across and hacks it into touch. Sibusiso Sangweni breaks through from the maul to score the opening try to put the Lions 5-0 up.
10 – Lions doing a lot of kicking as they look to pin DHL WP in their own half. Swiel and Van Reenen doing a lot of work fielding kicks at the back.
11 – The Lions come close again after Maxwane collects a chip kick, but Dillon Smit knocks it on over the line, so DHL WP have a defensive scrum.
13 – DHL WP clear well, the Lions come again from the line-out but the ball is ripped off them and kicked long.
15 – Lions go wide and they have advantage, it goes out to Rabz Maxwane and he scores in the corner to take their lead out to 10-0.
17 – DHL WP carrying with purpose and they get a breakdown penalty so Swiel kicks it into the corner as they go for a try.
20 – DHL WP forwards take control, two mauls in the corner before they have a go at the tryline. Good control and it is Juarno Trokkie Augustus who powers over eventually. That cuts the Lions’ lead to 10-7.
23 – DHL WP go forward at the scrum but get blown up, then the maul is sacked, but it was too late. The ref blows them up again, this time for ‘playing the supporter early’ after they won the ball back.
25 – After being blown up for just about every set-piece penalty there is at a scrum and then three line-outs, DHL WP concede a try which takes the Lions’ lead out to 17-7.
28 – DHL WP win the restart and win a penalty of their own this time. Tim Swiel kicks it over to reduce the Lions’ lead to 17-10.
32 – A few reset scrums for the Lions, DHL WP disrupting them on defence but then losing it forward.
34 – Great defence from DHL WP and they win the penalty. Taken quickly by Masimla who kicks ahead into the Lions 22. Zeilinga gets back and the Lions scramble it away.
37 – Lions win another penalty at the breakdown and kick it into the corner as they look for another try.
40 – Evan Roos shown a yellow card and the Lions go to the maul again. They force their way over, with lock Ruben Schoeman scoring to take their lead at half-time out to 24-10.
42 – Second half underway and the restart is lost forward. Lions shove the seven-man pack back and win a penalty.
44 – Lions forwards come from the maul and hooker PJ Botha scores to take their lead out to 31-10.
47 – DHL WP go through the phases, but the Lions have more numbers and are up quickly. An intercept from Maxwane and he runs from his own half to score and take their lead out to 38-10.
50 – DHL WP find some momentum on attack and surge into the 22 where they win a penalty and kick into the corner.
54 – A series of line-outs and a series of penalties conceded by the Lions, but no cards this time.
56 – JJ Kotze looks to have scored as he pounces on a loose ball, but the TMO calls a simultaneous grounding, so they will have a 5 metre scrum.
58 – Lions blown up for offside and still no card. Van Reenen takes it quickly but Du Toit went off his feet so the Lions can clear.
60 – DHL WP come from their own half and get some great offloads away, but it is lost forward in the tackle so the Lions have a scrum on halfway.
62 – Lions win a scrum penalty and kick it into the 22 as they look to extend their lead. They run phase after phase and win another penalty for a dangerous tackle.
65 – DHL WP win the ball back and run it out of the 22, but it is lost forward in the tackle so the Lions have a scrum.
67 – DHL WP win a scrum penalty, so they will have a chance to come from a line-out near halfway. Roos breaks the line and they are into the 22 where the Lions give away another penalty. This time there is a card for Jaco Visagie.
69 – They maul from the line-out and it is another yellow card for the Lions, with Schoeman sent off this time.
70 – Referee awards a penalty try and that makes it 38-17.
72 – DHL WP do not waste time from the restart. It goes wide to Rikus Pretorius who bursts down the touchline before giving it to Paul de Wet and he scores in the corner to cut the Lions’ lead to 38-24.
75 – DHL WP finishing like a freight train up in Joburg. They keep the pressure on and show great composure as it goes wide to Cornel Smit who steps to score the bonus point try. They trail 38-29 with five mins left now.
77 – One bonus point from the four tries and now a penalty from Tim Swiel puts DHL WP in range at 38-32 down heading into the last three mins. What a fight back.
80 – DHL WP throw everything at them as they look for an unlikely comeback victory, but the Lions hold out and claim the 38-32 win in the end.
