Lions book home semi-final

Bandise Maku gets in for the Lions' first try against WP

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The Golden Lions maintained their position at the top of the Currie Cup table after a 42-25 win over Western Province on Saturday.

The Lions, who were playing in front of a fervent home crowd in Johannesburg, gave their supporters plenty to crow about and this result was sweet revenge for their 28-26 defeat to WP in Cape Town earlier this year.

The hosts took an early lead when Springbok hooker Bandise Maku barged over the tryline in the sixth minute.

The try was converted by Elton Jantjies and although the Cape side struck back with a drop-goal and a penalty by Demetri Catrakilis, the Lions were always in control of proceedings during the opening stanza.

Jantjies succeeded with two penalties and Catrakilis slotted another spot-kick of his own before Lions full-back Jaco Taute scored shortly before half-time.

Jantjies converted to give the hosts a 20-9 at the break.

However, Catrakilis brough WP back into the match when he succeeded with three further penalties to narrow the gap to two points.

Just when the visitors threatened to take the lead, Taute burrowed his way over the tryline in the 63rd minute after Jantjies did well in the build-up when he cut through WP's defence.

This try seemed to revitalise the hosts and shortly afterwards replacement hooker Martin Bezuidenhout got in for their bonus-point try after a fine run down the touchline.

WP struck back with a try by Deon Fourie, who crossed over after pouncing on a loose ball in the Lions back-line.

Jantjies had landed a penalty shortly before that, and with the score at 35-25, the visitors went in search of a bonus point for losing by less than seven points.

But even though they tried to cross the home side's tryline again they could not attain their goal.

Their misery was compounded when Derick Minnie barged over for his side's fifth try in injury time.

This win means that the Lions cannot be overtaken at the top of the points standings.

After 13 matches, they have 50 points and their closest rivals, the Cheetahs have 42 points afte the same number of matches.

WP are in fourth spot with 36 points from 13 matches. There is only one round of matches left before the play-offs take place on October 22.

The scorers:

For Golden Lions:
Tries: Taute 2, Maku, Bezuidenhout, Minnie
Cons: Jantjies 4
Pens: Jantjies 3

For Western Province:
Try: Fourie
Con: Catrakilis
Pens: Catrakilis 5
Drop-goal: Catrakilis

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (c), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Dylan des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage/Nic Groom, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Pieter Louw, 21 Groom/Louis Schreuder, 22 Johann Sadie..

Referee: Jaco Peyper