05-09-2005, 09:24 AM
Johannesburg - Western Province got their Currie Cup campaign back on track with a resounding 38-23 victory over the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions led 13-10 at the break.
Province outscored the home team by five tries to two, but more importantly showed that, although they were nowhere near their best, they could threaten at the business end of the competition.
Speedy left wing Zhahier Ryland was the hat-trick hero for the visitors, whenever the diminutive left-winger touched the ball he set pulses racing. He was named man-of-the-match.
Both teams were guilty of squandering possession
The first half was dull, but the second exploded into action and ultimately made for an absorbing encounter.
The Lions took the lead in the 3rd minute via a Tiaan Snyman penalty. Province though replied soon after when flyhalf Peter Grant levelled matters in the 7th minute.
Both teams were guilty of squandering possession in the opening quarter and the sparse crowd had little to shout about.
Whenever a move became promising it inevitably came to nought due to a plethora of dropped passes and wrong options. The defence of both teams more than did their respective duties and played a role in the fact that it took a further 18 minutes before the scorers were troubled.
It came from turnover ball when rapid Ryland, from Bo Kaap in Cape Town, snapped up the loose ball on his 10m line and kicked ahead.
He showed his blistering pace, beating both Wylie Human and a desperate Snyman before dotting down. Grant kicked the extras and the visitors led 10-3.
The Lions were stung into action and replied with their first try virtually from the re-start. Captain Wikus van Heerden, who had a fine game throughout, burst through the defensive line and fed Jorrie Muller who went over under the poles. Snyman's conversion again drew the teams level.
Grant missed a 33rd minute penalty attempt before Snyman kicked his team into the halftime lead with a late long-range penalty.
He increased that lead by three points four minutes into the second half, but it did not last long as the visitors hit their straps in spectacular style moments later.
A purple patch between the 51st and 58th minutes yielded three fabulous tries and took Province from 16-10 down to 31-16 ahead. The pick of that trio was undoubtedly the third to 23-year-old Ryland whose impressive turn of speed flummoxed Human, again.
Lions coach Frans Ludeke brought Nel Fourie on at flyhalf, but it was too little too late and the writing was already on the wall.
Oginga Siwundla did get his team's second try with 10 minutes left, but Ryland put the final nail in the coffin with his third three minutes from time.
Point-scorers:
LIONS 23 (13): Tries: Jorrie Muller, Oginga Siwundla. Conversions: Tiaan Snyman (1), Nel Fourie (1). Penalties: Snyman (3).
WESTERN PROVINCE 38 (10): Tries: Zhahier Ryland (3), Tonderai Chavhanga, De Wet Barry. Conversions: Peter Grant (5). Penalties:
Grant (1). - Sapa
The Lions led 13-10 at the break.
Province outscored the home team by five tries to two, but more importantly showed that, although they were nowhere near their best, they could threaten at the business end of the competition.
Speedy left wing Zhahier Ryland was the hat-trick hero for the visitors, whenever the diminutive left-winger touched the ball he set pulses racing. He was named man-of-the-match.
Both teams were guilty of squandering possession
The first half was dull, but the second exploded into action and ultimately made for an absorbing encounter.
The Lions took the lead in the 3rd minute via a Tiaan Snyman penalty. Province though replied soon after when flyhalf Peter Grant levelled matters in the 7th minute.
Both teams were guilty of squandering possession in the opening quarter and the sparse crowd had little to shout about.
Whenever a move became promising it inevitably came to nought due to a plethora of dropped passes and wrong options. The defence of both teams more than did their respective duties and played a role in the fact that it took a further 18 minutes before the scorers were troubled.
It came from turnover ball when rapid Ryland, from Bo Kaap in Cape Town, snapped up the loose ball on his 10m line and kicked ahead.
He showed his blistering pace, beating both Wylie Human and a desperate Snyman before dotting down. Grant kicked the extras and the visitors led 10-3.
The Lions were stung into action and replied with their first try virtually from the re-start. Captain Wikus van Heerden, who had a fine game throughout, burst through the defensive line and fed Jorrie Muller who went over under the poles. Snyman's conversion again drew the teams level.
Grant missed a 33rd minute penalty attempt before Snyman kicked his team into the halftime lead with a late long-range penalty.
He increased that lead by three points four minutes into the second half, but it did not last long as the visitors hit their straps in spectacular style moments later.
A purple patch between the 51st and 58th minutes yielded three fabulous tries and took Province from 16-10 down to 31-16 ahead. The pick of that trio was undoubtedly the third to 23-year-old Ryland whose impressive turn of speed flummoxed Human, again.
Lions coach Frans Ludeke brought Nel Fourie on at flyhalf, but it was too little too late and the writing was already on the wall.
Oginga Siwundla did get his team's second try with 10 minutes left, but Ryland put the final nail in the coffin with his third three minutes from time.
Point-scorers:
LIONS 23 (13): Tries: Jorrie Muller, Oginga Siwundla. Conversions: Tiaan Snyman (1), Nel Fourie (1). Penalties: Snyman (3).
WESTERN PROVINCE 38 (10): Tries: Zhahier Ryland (3), Tonderai Chavhanga, De Wet Barry. Conversions: Peter Grant (5). Penalties:
Grant (1). - Sapa